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Her adoptive parents used her design talent to make a fortune for twenty years. But once their biological daughter was found, she was framed and expelled from home. Unexpectedly, her supposedly poor biological parents turned out to be the richest people in the city. She became the daughter of a top wealthy family and was spoiled by them! ===== "Brenna, why must it come to this? Yes, we've found our biological daughter, but that doesn't mean you have to leave. You know our family's wealth--taking care of one more person isn't a burden. If you ask me, you should stay. Your mom and I will treat you no differently than before." At the Barrett family's residence in Shirie, in the cramped, airless attic on the third floor, Brenna Barrett was packing her belongings. Meanwhile, the grand living room on the first floor buzzed with conversation, guests swirling glasses of champagne as they exchanged pleasantries. A towering banner with the words "Welcome Home, Beloved Daughter" stretched across the entrance. "But if you're determined to leave, I won't stop you. Still, your family is barely scraping by. I doubt they can even send a car to pick you up. Take this money--at least let it cover your travel expenses." Alec Barrett, Brenna's adoptive father, stood before her, an envelope in his hand. He set it down gently before Brenna, his face lined with feigned reluctance. Brenna's eyes flicked to the slim envelope. She was already certain it held no more than a thousand dollars. Without a hint of hesitation, she pushed it back toward Alec, her expression cold. "I don't need it. My parents have already sent a car for me." She scoffed inwardly. What a laughable attempt to make her stay. Persuading her to stay while already offering her travel money? The Barrett family had taken her in when she was barely past her second birthday, a replacement for the daughter Ruby Barrett had lost--a child stolen from the hospital the day she was born. Drowning in grief, Ruby had grasped at the idea of adoption, convincing herself it would ease the ache of her loss. But Brenna had never been a daughter for the Barrett family in anything more than name. She had spent her childhood in hand-me-downs from discount racks, scraping by on leftovers while serving as a servant in the Barrett household. When she had gotten older, Alec had stumbled upon her natural flair for design. Even her casual sketches outshone those of seasoned professionals, their market value undeniable. That was when everything changed. The Barrett family had stopped her from going to school. She had become their hidden asset, locked away to draft blueprints for car parts and even entire vehicles. They knew exactly how much of their wealth was earned by her. Without Brenna, they would have never broken into Shirie's elite circles, never had the means to throw this lavish welcome party for their biological daughter, with influential figures from all walks of life attending. And now that their fortune had just begun to flourish, they didn't want to keep Brenna anymore. The Barretts were eager to kick her out of the family, their selfishness laid bare. Alec sighed and shoved the envelope into Brenna's bag. He said, "They've sent a car to pick you up? I find that hard to believe. I looked into your biological family. Your parents have two sons, and your only uncle is bedridden, unable to care for himself. They live in a struggling village--barely making ends meet. They don't have the luxury to come pick you up. You've been living in comfort here, spending freely. Are you sure you're ready for that kind of hardship? Just take the money..." Brenna pulled the envelope out of her bag and placed it on the table with quiet finality. "Goodbye." She didn't notice Isabella Barrett, Alec and Ruby's biological daughter, slipping something into the side pocket of her backpack. Without another glance, Brenna hoisted her black backpack over one shoulder and strode downstairs, leaving the Barretts behind. Ruby, watching Brenna disappear down the stairs, clenched her jaw. "Look at that! She showed me no gratitude at all. I housed and fed her for twenty years, and she didn't have a single word of thanks before leaving me? Someone like that is bound to end up begging in the streets!" Isabella looped her arm through Ruby's, her voice soft, almost soothing. "Mom, don't let her get to you. She never even finished school and was thrown into social circles at ten. How could she possibly have proper manners? She's walking away from a privileged life now--she'll be lucky if she doesn't starve. It's understandable if she's in a foul mood. Let me go see her off." Ruby frowned, grabbing Isabella's wrist to stop her. "Why bother? She's ungrateful. She doesn't deserve it." "Mom," Isabella said, her smile sweet, "since I came back, Brenna has treated me well. This might be the last time we ever see each other. It's only right that I say goodbye to her properly." She gave the jewelry box in her hand a little shake, her eyes twinkling. "Besides, I have a parting gift for her." With that, she hurried after Brenna, Alec and Ruby following behind. "Brenna!" Isabella called out, her voice warm and sweet as she lightly jogged forward. "You're leaving so quickly? I haven't given you the gift I got for you." She extended her palm, revealing a square red box. Inside lay a white jade bracelet, its surface smooth and luminous. It was undoubtedly of high quality. Brenna gave it a brief glance. She recognized the bracelet's good quality--it was probably worth a decent sum. Her voice was cold as she said, "No, thanks. You keep it." Isabella's expression didn't falter as she nudged the box into Brenna's hand. "You should take it. I spent over a hundred thousand on this bracelet. If things ever get tough, you can sell it for emergencies. It could come in handy someday." Before Brenna could refuse again, Isabella snapped the box shut and tucked it into Brenna's backpack herself. Just then, a flustered maid rushed over and exclaimed, "Miss Barrett, terrible news! The engagement necklace Mr. Barton gifted you is missing!" Chapter 2 Accused Of Stealing Isabella froze mid-motion upon hearing that, the jewelry box still clutched in her fingers as she slipped it into Brenna's backpack. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you just say? That gemstone necklace is a gift from Jordy. It costs one million and eight hundred thousand! It has ten top-tier gems, each hand-selected. I left it on the table. How could it just vanish? Are you sure you checked properly?" Brenna observed the unfolding scene intently, her expression impassive. She could already see the setup, the neatly arranged trap. The servant's name was Sadie Brown. Her face went ghostly white, her hands visibly trembling. "Miss Barrett, I searched everywhere--every corner, every drawer--but it's gone. Could someone have taken it?" With that, Sadie's eyes landed on Brenna, suspicion darkening her expression. She didn't need to say it outright--her eyes did the accusing for her. Isabella shot her a sharp look. "What are you staring at? Just because Brenna's real family is poor doesn't mean she'd resort to stealing. Anyway, is anything else missing from my room?" Sadie hesitated, then swallowed hard. "Yes... The design plans you drew a few days ago. They're gone too." A strange glint flickered in Sadie's eyes. Without warning, she strode toward Brenna and yanked at a thin chain peeking out from her backpack. Isabella gasped, her shock perfectly timed as she took the necklace from Sadie's hand. "Brenna," she murmured, feigning hurt, "how did the engagement necklace Jordy gave me end up in your bag?" She clutched the piece, looking disappointed. "If you needed money, why not just ask Dad? He has supported you all these years--he wouldn't mind giving you more money. But stealing? This would break Mom's and Dad's hearts." At that moment, Alec and Ruby walked over. Alec scowled, disappointment carving deep lines into his face. He exhaled sharply, his tone laced with disapproval as he said, "I offered you money, and you turned it down--only to do this? If you needed help, you could have said something instead of resorting to this disgraceful behavior. This is really shameful! Why did you do this?" Ruby's temper flared instantly. "She must have thought the money was too little! What else could it be? A thousand for travel expenses wasn't enough for her, so she helped herself to something more valuable. One million and eight hundred thousand--her real parents' entire family couldn't make that much in a lifetime!" Isabella reached for Ruby's hand, a pained expression settling on her face. "Mom, please stop. If you keep saying such things, how will Brenna ever face anyone again? I don't think she did it on purpose--maybe she took it by mistake." Alec and Ruby remained silent, though the disdain in their eyes was clear. Inwardly, they had already written Brenna off as a thief. Isabella managed a gentle smile, but a flicker of triumph danced in her eyes as she glanced at the gathering guests around them. This was perfect. With Brenna marked as a thief, she would never find help from Shirie's upper circles. The Barrett family's influence would be forever out of her reach. Isabella turned to Brenna. "Brenna, I'd give you anything, but not this necklace. It's Jordy's engagement gift to me. I know it must be hard--watching him choose me when you were supposed to be engaged to him. But feelings can't be forced, right? Jordy and I love each other deeply. Please, don't come between us. If you need money, I'll give you all my jewelry, okay? Just not this one." As Isabella spoke, tears welled in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks like she had just suffered a great injustice. Seeing this, Brenna let out a short, cold laugh. What a waste of talent. Isabella should have been an actress with her acting skills. She believed since they had already staged this drama, it would be impolite not to play along. Brenna flung a glance at the necklace, unimpressed. The chain was thick, the gemstones sizable, but the craftsmanship left much to be desired. The color, cut, and overall design... They were far from top-tier. "I wouldn't be caught dead wearing something this poorly made," Brenna remarked coolly. "There must be some mistake. When I packed my things in the attic, that necklace wasn't in my bag. But I do recall you holding it in your hand earlier, dear sister. Could it be that you accidentally dropped it into my backpack?" She scoffed, refusing to shoulder the blame. With deliberate calm, she set her backpack on the floor and tipped it over, spilling its contents onto the cold surface. "Go ahead. See if there's anything else from the Barrett family in my backpack. If there is, take it. I'd rather not carry the label of a thief." Among the scattered items, a blue folder slid into view. Isabella's eyes widened in feigned shock. "Aren't these my design drafts for new energy auto parts? Brenna, how did they end up in your bag?" She crouched, picking up the folder and flipping through its pages with practiced disbelief. Inside were intricate sketches of mechanical components. She looked at Brenna, shaking her head, disappointment etched across her features. "I never imagined you'd stoop this low. You didn't even finish grade school--what could you possibly want with my design drafts? Planning to sell them?" Brenna rolled her eyes. She didn't need to check--she already knew what those papers were. The nuclear-powered cargo ship component blueprints she had spent an entire night perfecting. How had they become Isabella's? Brenna blinked, suddenly realizing something. Yesterday, Isabella had spent the day seated at the grand dining table, sketching exaggerated designs in an attempt to flaunt her mechanical expertise. The entire household had seen it. That gave Isabella the chance to frame her now. Isabella continued, pointing at the drafts, "You stole them. Just admit it. Since we're family, I'll let it slide." Ruby stepped closer, snatching the folder and scanning its contents. The moment she saw the sketches, her face twisted with fury. "How could I have raised someone like you?" she said to Brenna. "You are such a disgrace!" Brenna remained silent. Her blueprints had clear, unmistakable markings. The title, written in a foreign language, identified them as designs for nuclear-powered cargo ship components. Didn't any of them notice that? Right there in the lower right corner, her personal anti-counterfeit signature gleamed--proof that no one could claim her work as their own. Brenna faced Alec and Ruby. "You both know what I'm capable of," she stated, her voice steady. "A decade ago, you were running a small auto parts factory, barely making about five hundred thousand a year, living in a modest duplex. At that time, you saw my potential. That's why you kept me from school and forced me to stay home and design advanced components for you." Chapter 3 I Thought Your Design Drafts Were Trash Brenna looked at the Barrett family with clear contempt, her expression calm as she revealed the truth to the surrounding guests. "For over a decade, this family has capitalized on my designs--transforming a modest auto parts business into a full-fledged car-manufacturing empire, even securing a public listing. But now that they've outgrown their need for me, they're framing me for theft, all to protect their real daughter. How touching," she said with a snort. Alec's face darkened with fury, his voice rising. "What kind of nonsense is this? You barely made it through grade school. How could you possibly understand mechanical design?" Brenna held her designs up for the gathering guests to see. "Take a good look. This isn't a blueprint for new energy auto parts. It's an advanced cargo ship design. I have no reason to steal from anyone, least of all Isabella." Now, the regret hit her hard. In the past, she had been too young to see through Alec's schemes. She had been too trusting to realize why he had insisted on putting his name on her designs. It was painfully clear now--Alec had been setting this up from the very beginning. Brenna tapped a line of component names on the blueprint. "Read this carefully. It's in Amland's language, and it translates to 'nuclear-powered cargo ship propulsion system'." Tilting the paper slightly, she pointed to the faint watermark in the lower right corner, which shimmered under the shifting light. "This is my personal mark. You can compare it to Isabella's so-called 'designs'. Her designs are garbage," she said. Just as she finished speaking, Sarah Moss, one of the servants, hesitantly stepped forward, holding an identical folder. "Miss Barrett... I thought these were trash, so I threw them in the trash can. These are your design drafts..." Brenna let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Did you hear that? Even Sarah recognized them as trash." Isabella's face burned with humiliation. She shot Sarah a murderous glare before yanking the folder from her hands and flipping through it in a panic. Then, with a furious growl, she slammed it down. "These designs aren't mine!" she exclaimed. Sarah paled, stammering, "I-I didn't mean to say they were trash! I just... mistakenly thought they were and threw them away..." She trailed off, glancing around awkwardly and realizing there was no way to clarify this without making things worse. Ruby, unwilling to let Isabella be humiliated any further, immediately shifted the attack back onto Brenna. "Oh, please! Look at yourself. Do you really expect us to believe that someone who never even finished grade school designed a nuclear-powered cargo ship propulsion system? You must have stolen this! People like you bring nothing but disgrace. Don't you dare associate yourself with the Barrett family again from now on!" Brenna didn't spare Ruby a glance. She simply flipped open both her own design drafts and Isabella's, setting them side by side for the crowd to compare. Alec's and Ruby's faces immediately turned dark. Alec clenched his fists, his entire body tense with barely restrained anger. Then, he barked, "Enough with this nonsense! Do you really think you made our family rich? The Barrett family's success is built on my and your brother's hard work. You had nothing to do with it! We clothed and fed you for years, and this is how you repay us? You ungrateful brat--get out now!" Ruby, feeding off his rage, didn't hesitate to pile on the lies. "We took you in, gave you everything, spent millions raising you--and you dare act like you're the victim here? Do you think the scraps of talent you brought to this family mean anything compared to what we gave you?" Brenna's eyes turned ice-cold. She believed there was no point in arguing with them. She was leaving, and once she walked out that door, the Barrett family's problems would no longer be hers. "Fine. We will have nothing to do with each other from now on," she said. She bent down to grab her laptop from the floor. However, Isabella was faster. She snatched the sleek black device before Brenna could reach it, holding it tightly in her grasp. "You're so stubborn, Brenna. I was kind enough to offer you a way out earlier, but in return, you throw dirt on me and my family? You make mistakes, refuse to apologize, then try to turn it around on us? This computer must contain confidential information about the Barrett family. You can't take it with you!" Before anyone could react, Isabella grabbed a glass of water from a nearby guest's hand and poured it directly over the keyboard of the laptop. Without warning, Brenna sl**ped Isabella across the face. Then she grabbed the drenched laptop and immediately began drying it off. "How dare you hit me?" Isabella gasped, her face twisted with fury. She raised a trembling hand to strike back--only to be sl**ped again by Brenna. Ruby, a second too late, lunged forward, incensed. "The Barrett family raised you, and this is how you repay us now? By attacking our real daughter?" For years, Ruby had treated Brenna as a convenient target for her frustration, an outlet for her anger. But never--not once--had Brenna retaliated. Ruby wanted to hit Brenna. But something in Brenna's eyes made Ruby falter, her raised hand hanging mid-air. "Mom, she hit me!" Isabella exclaimed, clutching her stinging cheek, her eyes burning with resentment. Ruby grasped Isabella's hand, her breath catching at the sight of the glaring red imprint on her precious daughter's face. "Does it hurt, Isabella?" she asked. Isabella shot Brenna a venomous glare, her fury boiling over as she lifted her leg, aiming a kick at Brenna while she gathered her belongings. Brenna dodged instinctively, smoothly. Securing the last of her things, she turned to face them, her voice icy. "Oh? So it hurts? Mom, when you used me as a punching bag all these years, did you ever ask if I felt hurt? You had no problem beating me senseless, but the second I lay a single hand on your precious daughter, you act like you are heartbroken?" Ruby's eyes flickered with unease for a moment. Then, she recovered quickly, her lips curling in disdain. "And what do you think we took you in for? To pamper you?" "So you're finally admitting what you did to me." Brenna swept a frosty look over the Barrett family, then swung her backpack over her shoulder. Without a word, she turned to leave. Chapter 4 What Do You Think? The July sun blazed mercilessly. Brenna stood beneath the shade of a tree, waiting for her real family, the Harpers' car to arrive. Half an hour had passed, but no one had come. Just then, Brenna's phone suddenly vibrated with a friend request. A note accompanied it. "Hello, I'm Rosie Harper, your sister." Brenna accepted the request without hesitation, and within seconds, she received a message from Rosie. "Hello, I'm Rosie, your sister. Mom, Dad, and our elder brothers are tied up with work today, so they want you to go to Flavor Restaurant first. They've arranged lunch for you there." Doubt crept into Brenna's mind. Was this some kind of scam? Why send her to a restaurant instead of simply giving her the Harper family's address? But not many people knew she was heading to the Harper residence today. Whoever this was had to be a member of the Harper family. A weight settled in Brenna's chest. Her first day home, and they couldn't even bother to pick her up? That said enough about how little they valued her. She doubted this family would be any better than the Barrett family. Another message from Rosie popped up. "Brenna, I'll be waiting for you." Brenna responded with a single word, "Okay." It was nearly impossible to get a taxi at this hour. With no other choice, Brenna took the bus, getting off at Flavor Restaurant. The establishment was the pinnacle of luxury in Shirie, a favorite haunt of the city's elite. Dining here meant dropping at least ten thousand dollars. The moment Brenna pushed the door open and entered the restaurant, a blast of crisp, cool air wrapped around her, shielding her from the suffocating summer heat. Her lungs felt lighter instantly. The restaurant was quiet, nearly empty. No one paid her any attention--except for a waitress who approached her with a polite smile. The waitress was a young woman, pretty and probably in her early twenties. She wore a tailored red uniform, exuding professionalism. "Welcome, Miss. Are you Brenna Harper?" "Yes. The Harpers asked me to meet them here. Could you tell me which room they're in?" Brenna's eyes scanned the space. No one seemed to be waiting for her, which meant the Harper family was likely in a private room. The waitress kept her polished smile intact, subtly studying Brenna's casual outfit--a plain white T-shirt featuring a video game character, layered under an oversized striped shirt that draped past her frayed denim shorts. A worn baseball cap sat atop her head, partially hiding wavy hair streaked with deep blue. Brenna's skin was smooth, her facial features delicate yet striking. The bold blue lipstick added an edge to her look. Her voice was crisp, clear, effortlessly drawing attention from nearby tables. "Miss, please follow me." The waitress gestured toward a table before continuing, "A woman from the Harper family waited for you here for over an hour but had to leave for something urgent. She'll be back shortly. She ordered for you, so please sit down. The dishes will arrive soon." The table was set for six. Brenna chose the chair facing the door, tossing her backpack onto the seat beside her. Moments later, the waitress returned with a glass of fresh orange juice. "Please enjoy. The food will be out shortly," she said politely. Brenna nodded and thanked the waitress, though confusion lingered in her mind. Wasn't the Harper family supposed to be struggling financially? Why invite her to a restaurant this extravagant? She couldn't make sense of what the Harper family was up to. Pulling out her phone, she sent Rosie a message. "I'm here already. When will you join me?" Rosie responded soon, "I'm in a meeting right now. Might take a while. Go ahead and eat--no need to wait for me." A meeting? Brenna furrowed her brows upon seeing the message. Weren't the Harpers supposed to live in a poor, remote village? If that were true, how was Rosie in a meeting? Could the information she had gotten about the Harper family be false? She glanced around, noting the semi-private booths by the windows. The occupants were hidden from view, but the soft murmur of conversation trickled through the air. Soon, the waitress wheeled over a cart, and in moments, the table was filled with beautifully plated dishes--small portions, but meticulously crafted. Meanwhile, in one of the semi-private booths, three women sat around a table, their table adorned with steak and orange juice. A woman in a white dress set her phone down, a faint smile curving her lips. "So? What do you think?" This was Rosie Harper. She was actually Brenna's cousin. But she was raised by Brenna's parents after her own parents had passed away. Brenna's parents treated her like she was their daughter. Sitting across from her were her friends, Sylvie Higgins and Vivian Morrison, both from prominent families. Their outfits were impeccable, their makeup flawless, their table manners practiced to perfection. The three had been inseparable since childhood, sharing everything. Sylvie tilted her head. "Her face is decent, but her fashion sense is a disaster," she remarked, snapping a few photos. She then arranged them into a collage. The centerpiece of the collage was a photo of Brenna eating, her face blurred out. Sylvie soon posted the photos. The caption read, "Flavor Restaurant, spotted a beauty." Vivian casually liked the post before saying, "She's got a bit of a wild look." Then, with a teasing smirk, she cast a sideways glance at Rosie and added, "Ethan might find that appealing." Rosie's smile faltered. The last thing she wanted was for her fiancé to take an interest in Brenna. The marriage agreement between the Mitchell and Harper families required a Harper member to marry the son of the Mitchell family--but it had never specified who. She shot Vivian a warning look. "Don't say things like that." Sylvie leaned in, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Vivian's got a point. Brenna's got the kind of figure men tend to notice. Imagine Ethan's reaction if he saw her like this." Rosie scowled as she responded, "It doesn't matter how pretty she is or what kind of figure she has. After today's events, Ethan won't spare her a second glance." The three shared a quiet laugh. Sylvie's eyes flicked toward Brenna's table, where most of the food had already been eaten. "She's got quite the appetite," she remarked. "Maybe the Barretts didn't feed her well? Just look at the way she's devouring everything--it's obvious she has never had gourmet dining before." Chapter 5 You Really Shouldn't Have Come Here In The First Place Sylvie set her phone on the table, tilting the screen toward her two friends as she shook her head in mock disbelief. Clicking her tongue, she smirked. "Who would've guessed? The Barretts' adopted daughter didn't even finish grade school and started mingling in social circles at ten. Hey, how many boyfriends do you think she's had?" Rosie picked up the phone, her eyes narrowing as she read the information about Brenna. There were also photos of Brenna from different periods, her rebellious fashion sense on full display. Some shots showed her in bold, dramatic makeup, and some showed her surrounded by men--none of the men looked ordinary, and a few were noticeably older than her. "Where did you get this from?" Rosie asked, intrigued. "I tried digging into her background before but came up with nothing." Sylvie leaned back with a proud smile. "I had my brother ask his friend to investigate. Turns out, Brenna has been skipping school and picking fights since she was a kid. At one point, she even had to leave the country because she couldn't stay here anymore." Rosie was stunned, her brows raised. "If she becomes a member of my family, won't that be a disaster?" Sylvie's grin widened. "Isn't that the best part?" After a while, Rosie chuckled. "I suppose it is." Brenna ate without pretense, not because she had poor manners but because of sheer hunger. By the time she had cleared half the dishes, she finally felt a lot better. Yet, the Harper family was still nowhere to be seen. She glanced at her phone--it was two in the afternoon. No word from them. She sent a message to Rosie. "When are you coming?" Rosie's reply came almost instantly. "Sorry, I might not make it today. Just leave when you're done eating. I'll cover the bill." A slow, knowing smirk crept onto Rosie's lips as she sent the message. She then swiftly typed another to the waitress. As if on cue, the waitress who had been attending to Brenna approached her again, moving at a leisurely pace. By now, Brenna had pulled out her bulky black laptop and opened a stock trading page, the screen glowing faintly. The waitress, noticing the outdated model of Brenna's laptop, barely concealed her disdain but tried hard to keep her tone polished. "Miss, could you please settle the bill?" Brenna blinked, caught off guard. She hadn't even indicated she was ready to leave, yet the waitress was already rushing her to pay? When had the Flavor Restaurant's customer service become so terrible? She turned the screen of her phone toward the waitress, showing her Rosie's message, her voice calm. "My friend said she'd handle the bill. Her name is Rosie Harper." The waitress didn't drop her professional smile. "I'm sorry, Miss, but I don't know your friend. The total is one hundred and nine thousand eight hundred dollars. If you're unable to pay, I'll have no choice but to call the police." From the booth, Rosie watched the scene with delight. She was curious to see what Brenna would do. Would she grovel to the Barretts for help? Or would she work off the debt scrubbing dishes for a year? Or perhaps she would resort to a classic dine-and-dash, flexing the street smarts she was rumored to have? Her fingers tightened around her phone as she silently recorded the scene. Just then, Vivian and Sylvie sauntered toward Brenna's table. The commotion had also drawn the attention of nearby diners, who discreetly raised their phones, capturing the scene. Vivian's eyes swept over Brenna with thinly veiled contempt. "Miss, if you can't afford to eat here, you really shouldn't have come here in the first place. This place is for the elite. You'd be better off at a restaurant more suited to your status." Sylvie smirked and folded her arms. "The minimum spend here is ten grand. I doubt you make that in a month. Tell you what, my family's looking for someone to clean the toilets. Work for my family for a month, and I'll cover your bill. What do you say?" Vivian let out a soft chuckle. "That's generous, Sylvie. If you'd rather not scrub toilets, Miss, I can pay for you instead. No cleaning necessary--just get on your knees and polish my shoes. Then I'll settle the bill for you." Clicks echoed through the room as more people snapped photos, some already posting the drama online. Seeing this, Rosie was very pleased. The people she had hired were doing their job perfectly, each capturing the scene and sharing it on social media. She believed that soon enough, Brenna's name would be dragged through the mud, and neither the Harper family nor Ethan would want anything to do with her. In an attempt to portray herself as the kind person who cleaned up the mess for Brenna later, Rosie sneaked out into the scorching heat, closely monitoring the chaos within. Vivian turned to the waitress, reaching into her designer bag. "How much is her bill?" she asked, pulling out a thick stack of cash and dropping it onto the table. She looked at Brenna. "Do as we say, and we'll cover your bill." The waitress answered promptly, "One hundred and nine thousand eight hundred dollars." Brenna leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her eyes shifting between the two women before her. Judging by their outfits and attitudes, they were definitely from wealthy families--spoiled, entitled, and clearly here to target her. She hadn't offended them before, yet here they were, going out of their way to humiliate her. Someone was obviously pulling the strings behind the scenes. "Who do you think you are, barking in front of me? I don't even know you," she said. Before either Sylvie or Vivian could respond, Brenna glanced toward the staircase. A tall man had just arrived, his presence instantly commanding the room. His eyes gleamed like polished obsidian beneath perfectly arched brows. He had a chiseled nose, thin yet defined lips, and a jawline so precise that it looked sculpted by a master artisan. The man frowned as he surveyed the scene, his handsome face darkened by unmistakable displeasure. It was clear he had already pieced together what was happening. And yet, even with such a stunning man in the room, Brenna remained unaffected. A handsome face wouldn't distract her from the fools still yapping in front of her. Sylvie and Vivian, not seeing the man behind them, were fuming. Vivian, seething from Brenna's insult, raised her hand, ready to sl*p Brenna across the face. But the next second, a firm hand gripped her wrist, stopping her. Vivian's breath caught as she turned sharply, ready to lash out--until her eyes locked onto the man holding her back. Her heart sank. Why was Ethan Mitchell here? "E-Ethan?" she stammered. ...... What happens next? 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Her adoptive parents used her design talent to make a fortune for twenty years. But once their biological daughter was found, she was framed and expelled from home. Unexpectedly, her supposedly poor biological parents turned out to be the richest people in the city. She became the daughter of a top wealthy family and was spoiled by them! ===== "Brenna, why must it come to this? Yes, we've found our biological daughter, but that doesn't mean you have to leave. You know our family's wealth--taking care of one more person isn't a burden. If you ask me, you should stay. Your mom and I will treat you no differently than before." At the Barrett family's residence in Shirie, in the cramped, airless attic on the third floor, Brenna Barrett was packing her belongings. Meanwhile, the grand living room on the first floor buzzed with conversation, guests swirling glasses of champagne as they exchanged pleasantries. A towering banner with the words "Welcome Home, Beloved Daughter" stretched across the entrance. "But if you're determined to leave, I won't stop you. Still, your family is barely scraping by. I doubt they can even send a car to pick you up. Take this money--at least let it cover your travel expenses." Alec Barrett, Brenna's adoptive father, stood before her, an envelope in his hand. He set it down gently before Brenna, his face lined with feigned reluctance. Brenna's eyes flicked to the slim envelope. She was already certain it held no more than a thousand dollars. Without a hint of hesitation, she pushed it back toward Alec, her expression cold. "I don't need it. My parents have already sent a car for me." She scoffed inwardly. What a laughable attempt to make her stay. Persuading her to stay while already offering her travel money? The Barrett family had taken her in when she was barely past her second birthday, a replacement for the daughter Ruby Barrett had lost--a child stolen from the hospital the day she was born. Drowning in grief, Ruby had grasped at the idea of adoption, convincing herself it would ease the ache of her loss. But Brenna had never been a daughter for the Barrett family in anything more than name. She had spent her childhood in hand-me-downs from discount racks, scraping by on leftovers while serving as a servant in the Barrett household. When she had gotten older, Alec had stumbled upon her natural flair for design. Even her casual sketches outshone those of seasoned professionals, their market value undeniable. That was when everything changed. The Barrett family had stopped her from going to school. She had become their hidden asset, locked away to draft blueprints for car parts and even entire vehicles. They knew exactly how much of their wealth was earned by her. Without Brenna, they would have never broken into Shirie's elite circles, never had the means to throw this lavish welcome party for their biological daughter, with influential figures from all walks of life attending. And now that their fortune had just begun to flourish, they didn't want to keep Brenna anymore. The Barretts were eager to kick her out of the family, their selfishness laid bare. Alec sighed and shoved the envelope into Brenna's bag. He said, "They've sent a car to pick you up? I find that hard to believe. I looked into your biological family. Your parents have two sons, and your only uncle is bedridden, unable to care for himself. They live in a struggling village--barely making ends meet. They don't have the luxury to come pick you up. You've been living in comfort here, spending freely. Are you sure you're ready for that kind of hardship? Just take the money..." Brenna pulled the envelope out of her bag and placed it on the table with quiet finality. "Goodbye." She didn't notice Isabella Barrett, Alec and Ruby's biological daughter, slipping something into the side pocket of her backpack. Without another glance, Brenna hoisted her black backpack over one shoulder and strode downstairs, leaving the Barretts behind. Ruby, watching Brenna disappear down the stairs, clenched her jaw. "Look at that! She showed me no gratitude at all. I housed and fed her for twenty years, and she didn't have a single word of thanks before leaving me? Someone like that is bound to end up begging in the streets!" Isabella looped her arm through Ruby's, her voice soft, almost soothing. "Mom, don't let her get to you. She never even finished school and was thrown into social circles at ten. How could she possibly have proper manners? She's walking away from a privileged life now--she'll be lucky if she doesn't starve. It's understandable if she's in a foul mood. Let me go see her off." Ruby frowned, grabbing Isabella's wrist to stop her. "Why bother? She's ungrateful. She doesn't deserve it." "Mom," Isabella said, her smile sweet, "since I came back, Brenna has treated me well. This might be the last time we ever see each other. It's only right that I say goodbye to her properly." She gave the jewelry box in her hand a little shake, her eyes twinkling. "Besides, I have a parting gift for her." With that, she hurried after Brenna, Alec and Ruby following behind. "Brenna!" Isabella called out, her voice warm and sweet as she lightly jogged forward. "You're leaving so quickly? I haven't given you the gift I got for you." She extended her palm, revealing a square red box. Inside lay a white jade bracelet, its surface smooth and luminous. It was undoubtedly of high quality. Brenna gave it a brief glance. She recognized the bracelet's good quality--it was probably worth a decent sum. Her voice was cold as she said, "No, thanks. You keep it." Isabella's expression didn't falter as she nudged the box into Brenna's hand. "You should take it. I spent over a hundred thousand on this bracelet. If things ever get tough, you can sell it for emergencies. It could come in handy someday." Before Brenna could refuse again, Isabella snapped the box shut and tucked it into Brenna's backpack herself. Just then, a flustered maid rushed over and exclaimed, "Miss Barrett, terrible news! The engagement necklace Mr. Barton gifted you is missing!" Chapter 2 Accused Of Stealing Isabella froze mid-motion upon hearing that, the jewelry box still clutched in her fingers as she slipped it into Brenna's backpack. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you just say? That gemstone necklace is a gift from Jordy. It costs one million and eight hundred thousand! It has ten top-tier gems, each hand-selected. I left it on the table. How could it just vanish? Are you sure you checked properly?" Brenna observed the unfolding scene intently, her expression impassive. She could already see the setup, the neatly arranged trap. The servant's name was Sadie Brown. Her face went ghostly white, her hands visibly trembling. "Miss Barrett, I searched everywhere--every corner, every drawer--but it's gone. Could someone have taken it?" With that, Sadie's eyes landed on Brenna, suspicion darkening her expression. She didn't need to say it outright--her eyes did the accusing for her. Isabella shot her a sharp look. "What are you staring at? Just because Brenna's real family is poor doesn't mean she'd resort to stealing. Anyway, is anything else missing from my room?" Sadie hesitated, then swallowed hard. "Yes... The design plans you drew a few days ago. They're gone too." A strange glint flickered in Sadie's eyes. Without warning, she strode toward Brenna and yanked at a thin chain peeking out from her backpack. Isabella gasped, her shock perfectly timed as she took the necklace from Sadie's hand. "Brenna," she murmured, feigning hurt, "how did the engagement necklace Jordy gave me end up in your bag?" She clutched the piece, looking disappointed. "If you needed money, why not just ask Dad? He has supported you all these years--he wouldn't mind giving you more money. But stealing? This would break Mom's and Dad's hearts." At that moment, Alec and Ruby walked over. Alec scowled, disappointment carving deep lines into his face. He exhaled sharply, his tone laced with disapproval as he said, "I offered you money, and you turned it down--only to do this? If you needed help, you could have said something instead of resorting to this disgraceful behavior. This is really shameful! Why did you do this?" Ruby's temper flared instantly. "She must have thought the money was too little! What else could it be? A thousand for travel expenses wasn't enough for her, so she helped herself to something more valuable. One million and eight hundred thousand--her real parents' entire family couldn't make that much in a lifetime!" Isabella reached for Ruby's hand, a pained expression settling on her face. "Mom, please stop. If you keep saying such things, how will Brenna ever face anyone again? I don't think she did it on purpose--maybe she took it by mistake." Alec and Ruby remained silent, though the disdain in their eyes was clear. Inwardly, they had already written Brenna off as a thief. Isabella managed a gentle smile, but a flicker of triumph danced in her eyes as she glanced at the gathering guests around them. This was perfect. With Brenna marked as a thief, she would never find help from Shirie's upper circles. The Barrett family's influence would be forever out of her reach. Isabella turned to Brenna. "Brenna, I'd give you anything, but not this necklace. It's Jordy's engagement gift to me. I know it must be hard--watching him choose me when you were supposed to be engaged to him. But feelings can't be forced, right? Jordy and I love each other deeply. Please, don't come between us. If you need money, I'll give you all my jewelry, okay? Just not this one." As Isabella spoke, tears welled in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks like she had just suffered a great injustice. Seeing this, Brenna let out a short, cold laugh. What a waste of talent. Isabella should have been an actress with her acting skills. She believed since they had already staged this drama, it would be impolite not to play along. Brenna flung a glance at the necklace, unimpressed. The chain was thick, the gemstones sizable, but the craftsmanship left much to be desired. The color, cut, and overall design... They were far from top-tier. "I wouldn't be caught dead wearing something this poorly made," Brenna remarked coolly. "There must be some mistake. When I packed my things in the attic, that necklace wasn't in my bag. But I do recall you holding it in your hand earlier, dear sister. Could it be that you accidentally dropped it into my backpack?" She scoffed, refusing to shoulder the blame. With deliberate calm, she set her backpack on the floor and tipped it over, spilling its contents onto the cold surface. "Go ahead. See if there's anything else from the Barrett family in my backpack. If there is, take it. I'd rather not carry the label of a thief." Among the scattered items, a blue folder slid into view. Isabella's eyes widened in feigned shock. "Aren't these my design drafts for new energy auto parts? Brenna, how did they end up in your bag?" She crouched, picking up the folder and flipping through its pages with practiced disbelief. Inside were intricate sketches of mechanical components. She looked at Brenna, shaking her head, disappointment etched across her features. "I never imagined you'd stoop this low. You didn't even finish grade school--what could you possibly want with my design drafts? Planning to sell them?" Brenna rolled her eyes. She didn't need to check--she already knew what those papers were. The nuclear-powered cargo ship component blueprints she had spent an entire night perfecting. How had they become Isabella's? Brenna blinked, suddenly realizing something. Yesterday, Isabella had spent the day seated at the grand dining table, sketching exaggerated designs in an attempt to flaunt her mechanical expertise. The entire household had seen it. That gave Isabella the chance to frame her now. Isabella continued, pointing at the drafts, "You stole them. Just admit it. Since we're family, I'll let it slide." Ruby stepped closer, snatching the folder and scanning its contents. The moment she saw the sketches, her face twisted with fury. "How could I have raised someone like you?" she said to Brenna. "You are such a disgrace!" Brenna remained silent. Her blueprints had clear, unmistakable markings. The title, written in a foreign language, identified them as designs for nuclear-powered cargo ship components. Didn't any of them notice that? Right there in the lower right corner, her personal anti-counterfeit signature gleamed--proof that no one could claim her work as their own. Brenna faced Alec and Ruby. "You both know what I'm capable of," she stated, her voice steady. "A decade ago, you were running a small auto parts factory, barely making about five hundred thousand a year, living in a modest duplex. At that time, you saw my potential. That's why you kept me from school and forced me to stay home and design advanced components for you." Chapter 3 I Thought Your Design Drafts Were Trash Brenna looked at the Barrett family with clear contempt, her expression calm as she revealed the truth to the surrounding guests. "For over a decade, this family has capitalized on my designs--transforming a modest auto parts business into a full-fledged car-manufacturing empire, even securing a public listing. But now that they've outgrown their need for me, they're framing me for theft, all to protect their real daughter. How touching," she said with a snort. Alec's face darkened with fury, his voice rising. "What kind of nonsense is this? You barely made it through grade school. How could you possibly understand mechanical design?" Brenna held her designs up for the gathering guests to see. "Take a good look. This isn't a blueprint for new energy auto parts. It's an advanced cargo ship design. I have no reason to steal from anyone, least of all Isabella." Now, the regret hit her hard. In the past, she had been too young to see through Alec's schemes. She had been too trusting to realize why he had insisted on putting his name on her designs. It was painfully clear now--Alec had been setting this up from the very beginning. Brenna tapped a line of component names on the blueprint. "Read this carefully. It's in Amland's language, and it translates to 'nuclear-powered cargo ship propulsion system'." Tilting the paper slightly, she pointed to the faint watermark in the lower right corner, which shimmered under the shifting light. "This is my personal mark. You can compare it to Isabella's so-called 'designs'. Her designs are garbage," she said. Just as she finished speaking, Sarah Moss, one of the servants, hesitantly stepped forward, holding an identical folder. "Miss Barrett... I thought these were trash, so I threw them in the trash can. These are your design drafts..." Brenna let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Did you hear that? Even Sarah recognized them as trash." Isabella's face burned with humiliation. She shot Sarah a murderous glare before yanking the folder from her hands and flipping through it in a panic. Then, with a furious growl, she slammed it down. "These designs aren't mine!" she exclaimed. Sarah paled, stammering, "I-I didn't mean to say they were trash! I just... mistakenly thought they were and threw them away..." She trailed off, glancing around awkwardly and realizing there was no way to clarify this without making things worse. Ruby, unwilling to let Isabella be humiliated any further, immediately shifted the attack back onto Brenna. "Oh, please! Look at yourself. Do you really expect us to believe that someone who never even finished grade school designed a nuclear-powered cargo ship propulsion system? You must have stolen this! People like you bring nothing but disgrace. Don't you dare associate yourself with the Barrett family again from now on!" Brenna didn't spare Ruby a glance. She simply flipped open both her own design drafts and Isabella's, setting them side by side for the crowd to compare. Alec's and Ruby's faces immediately turned dark. Alec clenched his fists, his entire body tense with barely restrained anger. Then, he barked, "Enough with this nonsense! Do you really think you made our family rich? The Barrett family's success is built on my and your brother's hard work. You had nothing to do with it! We clothed and fed you for years, and this is how you repay us? You ungrateful brat--get out now!" Ruby, feeding off his rage, didn't hesitate to pile on the lies. "We took you in, gave you everything, spent millions raising you--and you dare act like you're the victim here? Do you think the scraps of talent you brought to this family mean anything compared to what we gave you?" Brenna's eyes turned ice-cold. She believed there was no point in arguing with them. She was leaving, and once she walked out that door, the Barrett family's problems would no longer be hers. "Fine. We will have nothing to do with each other from now on," she said. She bent down to grab her laptop from the floor. However, Isabella was faster. She snatched the sleek black device before Brenna could reach it, holding it tightly in her grasp. "You're so stubborn, Brenna. I was kind enough to offer you a way out earlier, but in return, you throw dirt on me and my family? You make mistakes, refuse to apologize, then try to turn it around on us? This computer must contain confidential information about the Barrett family. You can't take it with you!" Before anyone could react, Isabella grabbed a glass of water from a nearby guest's hand and poured it directly over the keyboard of the laptop. Without warning, Brenna sl**ped Isabella across the face. Then she grabbed the drenched laptop and immediately began drying it off. "How dare you hit me?" Isabella gasped, her face twisted with fury. She raised a trembling hand to strike back--only to be sl**ped again by Brenna. Ruby, a second too late, lunged forward, incensed. "The Barrett family raised you, and this is how you repay us now? By attacking our real daughter?" For years, Ruby had treated Brenna as a convenient target for her frustration, an outlet for her anger. But never--not once--had Brenna retaliated. Ruby wanted to hit Brenna. But something in Brenna's eyes made Ruby falter, her raised hand hanging mid-air. "Mom, she hit me!" Isabella exclaimed, clutching her stinging cheek, her eyes burning with resentment. Ruby grasped Isabella's hand, her breath catching at the sight of the glaring red imprint on her precious daughter's face. "Does it hurt, Isabella?" she asked. Isabella shot Brenna a venomous glare, her fury boiling over as she lifted her leg, aiming a kick at Brenna while she gathered her belongings. Brenna dodged instinctively, smoothly. Securing the last of her things, she turned to face them, her voice icy. "Oh? So it hurts? Mom, when you used me as a punching bag all these years, did you ever ask if I felt hurt? You had no problem beating me senseless, but the second I lay a single hand on your precious daughter, you act like you are heartbroken?" Ruby's eyes flickered with unease for a moment. Then, she recovered quickly, her lips curling in disdain. "And what do you think we took you in for? To pamper you?" "So you're finally admitting what you did to me." Brenna swept a frosty look over the Barrett family, then swung her backpack over her shoulder. Without a word, she turned to leave. Chapter 4 What Do You Think? The July sun blazed mercilessly. Brenna stood beneath the shade of a tree, waiting for her real family, the Harpers' car to arrive. Half an hour had passed, but no one had come. Just then, Brenna's phone suddenly vibrated with a friend request. A note accompanied it. "Hello, I'm Rosie Harper, your sister." Brenna accepted the request without hesitation, and within seconds, she received a message from Rosie. "Hello, I'm Rosie, your sister. Mom, Dad, and our elder brothers are tied up with work today, so they want you to go to Flavor Restaurant first. They've arranged lunch for you there." Doubt crept into Brenna's mind. Was this some kind of scam? Why send her to a restaurant instead of simply giving her the Harper family's address? But not many people knew she was heading to the Harper residence today. Whoever this was had to be a member of the Harper family. A weight settled in Brenna's chest. Her first day home, and they couldn't even bother to pick her up? That said enough about how little they valued her. She doubted this family would be any better than the Barrett family. Another message from Rosie popped up. "Brenna, I'll be waiting for you." Brenna responded with a single word, "Okay." It was nearly impossible to get a taxi at this hour. With no other choice, Brenna took the bus, getting off at Flavor Restaurant. The establishment was the pinnacle of luxury in Shirie, a favorite haunt of the city's elite. Dining here meant dropping at least ten thousand dollars. The moment Brenna pushed the door open and entered the restaurant, a blast of crisp, cool air wrapped around her, shielding her from the suffocating summer heat. Her lungs felt lighter instantly. The restaurant was quiet, nearly empty. No one paid her any attention--except for a waitress who approached her with a polite smile. The waitress was a young woman, pretty and probably in her early twenties. She wore a tailored red uniform, exuding professionalism. "Welcome, Miss. Are you Brenna Harper?" "Yes. The Harpers asked me to meet them here. Could you tell me which room they're in?" Brenna's eyes scanned the space. No one seemed to be waiting for her, which meant the Harper family was likely in a private room. The waitress kept her polished smile intact, subtly studying Brenna's casual outfit--a plain white T-shirt featuring a video game character, layered under an oversized striped shirt that draped past her frayed denim shorts. A worn baseball cap sat atop her head, partially hiding wavy hair streaked with deep blue. Brenna's skin was smooth, her facial features delicate yet striking. The bold blue lipstick added an edge to her look. Her voice was crisp, clear, effortlessly drawing attention from nearby tables. "Miss, please follow me." The waitress gestured toward a table before continuing, "A woman from the Harper family waited for you here for over an hour but had to leave for something urgent. She'll be back shortly. She ordered for you, so please sit down. The dishes will arrive soon." The table was set for six. Brenna chose the chair facing the door, tossing her backpack onto the seat beside her. Moments later, the waitress returned with a glass of fresh orange juice. "Please enjoy. The food will be out shortly," she said politely. Brenna nodded and thanked the waitress, though confusion lingered in her mind. Wasn't the Harper family supposed to be struggling financially? Why invite her to a restaurant this extravagant? She couldn't make sense of what the Harper family was up to. Pulling out her phone, she sent Rosie a message. "I'm here already. When will you join me?" Rosie responded soon, "I'm in a meeting right now. Might take a while. Go ahead and eat--no need to wait for me." A meeting? Brenna furrowed her brows upon seeing the message. Weren't the Harpers supposed to live in a poor, remote village? If that were true, how was Rosie in a meeting? Could the information she had gotten about the Harper family be false? She glanced around, noting the semi-private booths by the windows. The occupants were hidden from view, but the soft murmur of conversation trickled through the air. Soon, the waitress wheeled over a cart, and in moments, the table was filled with beautifully plated dishes--small portions, but meticulously crafted. Meanwhile, in one of the semi-private booths, three women sat around a table, their table adorned with steak and orange juice. A woman in a white dress set her phone down, a faint smile curving her lips. "So? What do you think?" This was Rosie Harper. She was actually Brenna's cousin. But she was raised by Brenna's parents after her own parents had passed away. Brenna's parents treated her like she was their daughter. Sitting across from her were her friends, Sylvie Higgins and Vivian Morrison, both from prominent families. Their outfits were impeccable, their makeup flawless, their table manners practiced to perfection. The three had been inseparable since childhood, sharing everything. Sylvie tilted her head. "Her face is decent, but her fashion sense is a disaster," she remarked, snapping a few photos. She then arranged them into a collage. The centerpiece of the collage was a photo of Brenna eating, her face blurred out. Sylvie soon posted the photos. The caption read, "Flavor Restaurant, spotted a beauty." Vivian casually liked the post before saying, "She's got a bit of a wild look." Then, with a teasing smirk, she cast a sideways glance at Rosie and added, "Ethan might find that appealing." Rosie's smile faltered. The last thing she wanted was for her fiancé to take an interest in Brenna. The marriage agreement between the Mitchell and Harper families required a Harper member to marry the son of the Mitchell family--but it had never specified who. She shot Vivian a warning look. "Don't say things like that." Sylvie leaned in, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Vivian's got a point. Brenna's got the kind of figure men tend to notice. Imagine Ethan's reaction if he saw her like this." Rosie scowled as she responded, "It doesn't matter how pretty she is or what kind of figure she has. After today's events, Ethan won't spare her a second glance." The three shared a quiet laugh. Sylvie's eyes flicked toward Brenna's table, where most of the food had already been eaten. "She's got quite the appetite," she remarked. "Maybe the Barretts didn't feed her well? Just look at the way she's devouring everything--it's obvious she has never had gourmet dining before." Chapter 5 You Really Shouldn't Have Come Here In The First Place Sylvie set her phone on the table, tilting the screen toward her two friends as she shook her head in mock disbelief. Clicking her tongue, she smirked. "Who would've guessed? The Barretts' adopted daughter didn't even finish grade school and started mingling in social circles at ten. Hey, how many boyfriends do you think she's had?" Rosie picked up the phone, her eyes narrowing as she read the information about Brenna. There were also photos of Brenna from different periods, her rebellious fashion sense on full display. Some shots showed her in bold, dramatic makeup, and some showed her surrounded by men--none of the men looked ordinary, and a few were noticeably older than her. "Where did you get this from?" Rosie asked, intrigued. "I tried digging into her background before but came up with nothing." Sylvie leaned back with a proud smile. "I had my brother ask his friend to investigate. Turns out, Brenna has been skipping school and picking fights since she was a kid. At one point, she even had to leave the country because she couldn't stay here anymore." Rosie was stunned, her brows raised. "If she becomes a member of my family, won't that be a disaster?" Sylvie's grin widened. "Isn't that the best part?" After a while, Rosie chuckled. "I suppose it is." Brenna ate without pretense, not because she had poor manners but because of sheer hunger. By the time she had cleared half the dishes, she finally felt a lot better. Yet, the Harper family was still nowhere to be seen. She glanced at her phone--it was two in the afternoon. No word from them. She sent a message to Rosie. "When are you coming?" Rosie's reply came almost instantly. "Sorry, I might not make it today. Just leave when you're done eating. I'll cover the bill." A slow, knowing smirk crept onto Rosie's lips as she sent the message. She then swiftly typed another to the waitress. As if on cue, the waitress who had been attending to Brenna approached her again, moving at a leisurely pace. By now, Brenna had pulled out her bulky black laptop and opened a stock trading page, the screen glowing faintly. The waitress, noticing the outdated model of Brenna's laptop, barely concealed her disdain but tried hard to keep her tone polished. "Miss, could you please settle the bill?" Brenna blinked, caught off guard. She hadn't even indicated she was ready to leave, yet the waitress was already rushing her to pay? When had the Flavor Restaurant's customer service become so terrible? She turned the screen of her phone toward the waitress, showing her Rosie's message, her voice calm. "My friend said she'd handle the bill. Her name is Rosie Harper." The waitress didn't drop her professional smile. "I'm sorry, Miss, but I don't know your friend. The total is one hundred and nine thousand eight hundred dollars. If you're unable to pay, I'll have no choice but to call the police." From the booth, Rosie watched the scene with delight. She was curious to see what Brenna would do. Would she grovel to the Barretts for help? Or would she work off the debt scrubbing dishes for a year? Or perhaps she would resort to a classic dine-and-dash, flexing the street smarts she was rumored to have? Her fingers tightened around her phone as she silently recorded the scene. Just then, Vivian and Sylvie sauntered toward Brenna's table. The commotion had also drawn the attention of nearby diners, who discreetly raised their phones, capturing the scene. Vivian's eyes swept over Brenna with thinly veiled contempt. "Miss, if you can't afford to eat here, you really shouldn't have come here in the first place. This place is for the elite. You'd be better off at a restaurant more suited to your status." Sylvie smirked and folded her arms. "The minimum spend here is ten grand. I doubt you make that in a month. Tell you what, my family's looking for someone to clean the toilets. Work for my family for a month, and I'll cover your bill. What do you say?" Vivian let out a soft chuckle. "That's generous, Sylvie. If you'd rather not scrub toilets, Miss, I can pay for you instead. No cleaning necessary--just get on your knees and polish my shoes. Then I'll settle the bill for you." Clicks echoed through the room as more people snapped photos, some already posting the drama online. Seeing this, Rosie was very pleased. The people she had hired were doing their job perfectly, each capturing the scene and sharing it on social media. She believed that soon enough, Brenna's name would be dragged through the mud, and neither the Harper family nor Ethan would want anything to do with her. In an attempt to portray herself as the kind person who cleaned up the mess for Brenna later, Rosie sneaked out into the scorching heat, closely monitoring the chaos within. Vivian turned to the waitress, reaching into her designer bag. "How much is her bill?" she asked, pulling out a thick stack of cash and dropping it onto the table. She looked at Brenna. "Do as we say, and we'll cover your bill." The waitress answered promptly, "One hundred and nine thousand eight hundred dollars." Brenna leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her eyes shifting between the two women before her. Judging by their outfits and attitudes, they were definitely from wealthy families--spoiled, entitled, and clearly here to target her. She hadn't offended them before, yet here they were, going out of their way to humiliate her. Someone was obviously pulling the strings behind the scenes. "Who do you think you are, barking in front of me? I don't even know you," she said. Before either Sylvie or Vivian could respond, Brenna glanced toward the staircase. A tall man had just arrived, his presence instantly commanding the room. His eyes gleamed like polished obsidian beneath perfectly arched brows. He had a chiseled nose, thin yet defined lips, and a jawline so precise that it looked sculpted by a master artisan. The man frowned as he surveyed the scene, his handsome face darkened by unmistakable displeasure. It was clear he had already pieced together what was happening. And yet, even with such a stunning man in the room, Brenna remained unaffected. A handsome face wouldn't distract her from the fools still yapping in front of her. Sylvie and Vivian, not seeing the man behind them, were fuming. Vivian, seething from Brenna's insult, raised her hand, ready to sl*p Brenna across the face. But the next second, a firm hand gripped her wrist, stopping her. Vivian's breath caught as she turned sharply, ready to lash out--until her eyes locked onto the man holding her back. Her heart sank. Why was Ethan Mitchell here? "E-Ethan?" she stammered. ...... What happens next? 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Her adoptive parents used her design talent to make a fortune for twenty years. But once their biological daughter was found, she was framed and expelled from home. Unexpectedly, her supposedly poor biological parents turned out to be the richest people in the city. She became the daughter of a top wealthy family and was spoiled by them! ===== "Brenna, why must it come to this? Yes, we've found our biological daughter, but that doesn't mean you have to leave. You know our family's wealth--taking care of one more person isn't a burden. If you ask me, you should stay. Your mom and I will treat you no differently than before." At the Barrett family's residence in Shirie, in the cramped, airless attic on the third floor, Brenna Barrett was packing her belongings. Meanwhile, the grand living room on the first floor buzzed with conversation, guests swirling glasses of champagne as they exchanged pleasantries. A towering banner with the words "Welcome Home, Beloved Daughter" stretched across the entrance. "But if you're determined to leave, I won't stop you. Still, your family is barely scraping by. I doubt they can even send a car to pick you up. Take this money--at least let it cover your travel expenses." Alec Barrett, Brenna's adoptive father, stood before her, an envelope in his hand. He set it down gently before Brenna, his face lined with feigned reluctance. Brenna's eyes flicked to the slim envelope. She was already certain it held no more than a thousand dollars. Without a hint of hesitation, she pushed it back toward Alec, her expression cold. "I don't need it. My parents have already sent a car for me." She scoffed inwardly. What a laughable attempt to make her stay. Persuading her to stay while already offering her travel money? The Barrett family had taken her in when she was barely past her second birthday, a replacement for the daughter Ruby Barrett had lost--a child stolen from the hospital the day she was born. Drowning in grief, Ruby had grasped at the idea of adoption, convincing herself it would ease the ache of her loss. But Brenna had never been a daughter for the Barrett family in anything more than name. She had spent her childhood in hand-me-downs from discount racks, scraping by on leftovers while serving as a servant in the Barrett household. When she had gotten older, Alec had stumbled upon her natural flair for design. Even her casual sketches outshone those of seasoned professionals, their market value undeniable. That was when everything changed. The Barrett family had stopped her from going to school. She had become their hidden asset, locked away to draft blueprints for car parts and even entire vehicles. They knew exactly how much of their wealth was earned by her. Without Brenna, they would have never broken into Shirie's elite circles, never had the means to throw this lavish welcome party for their biological daughter, with influential figures from all walks of life attending. And now that their fortune had just begun to flourish, they didn't want to keep Brenna anymore. The Barretts were eager to kick her out of the family, their selfishness laid bare. Alec sighed and shoved the envelope into Brenna's bag. He said, "They've sent a car to pick you up? I find that hard to believe. I looked into your biological family. Your parents have two sons, and your only uncle is bedridden, unable to care for himself. They live in a struggling village--barely making ends meet. They don't have the luxury to come pick you up. You've been living in comfort here, spending freely. Are you sure you're ready for that kind of hardship? Just take the money..." Brenna pulled the envelope out of her bag and placed it on the table with quiet finality. "Goodbye." She didn't notice Isabella Barrett, Alec and Ruby's biological daughter, slipping something into the side pocket of her backpack. Without another glance, Brenna hoisted her black backpack over one shoulder and strode downstairs, leaving the Barretts behind. Ruby, watching Brenna disappear down the stairs, clenched her jaw. "Look at that! She showed me no gratitude at all. I housed and fed her for twenty years, and she didn't have a single word of thanks before leaving me? Someone like that is bound to end up begging in the streets!" Isabella looped her arm through Ruby's, her voice soft, almost soothing. "Mom, don't let her get to you. She never even finished school and was thrown into social circles at ten. How could she possibly have proper manners? She's walking away from a privileged life now--she'll be lucky if she doesn't starve. It's understandable if she's in a foul mood. Let me go see her off." Ruby frowned, grabbing Isabella's wrist to stop her. "Why bother? She's ungrateful. She doesn't deserve it." "Mom," Isabella said, her smile sweet, "since I came back, Brenna has treated me well. This might be the last time we ever see each other. It's only right that I say goodbye to her properly." She gave the jewelry box in her hand a little shake, her eyes twinkling. "Besides, I have a parting gift for her." With that, she hurried after Brenna, Alec and Ruby following behind. "Brenna!" Isabella called out, her voice warm and sweet as she lightly jogged forward. "You're leaving so quickly? I haven't given you the gift I got for you." She extended her palm, revealing a square red box. Inside lay a white jade bracelet, its surface smooth and luminous. It was undoubtedly of high quality. Brenna gave it a brief glance. She recognized the bracelet's good quality--it was probably worth a decent sum. Her voice was cold as she said, "No, thanks. You keep it." Isabella's expression didn't falter as she nudged the box into Brenna's hand. "You should take it. I spent over a hundred thousand on this bracelet. If things ever get tough, you can sell it for emergencies. It could come in handy someday." Before Brenna could refuse again, Isabella snapped the box shut and tucked it into Brenna's backpack herself. Just then, a flustered maid rushed over and exclaimed, "Miss Barrett, terrible news! The engagement necklace Mr. Barton gifted you is missing!" Chapter 2 Accused Of Stealing Isabella froze mid-motion upon hearing that, the jewelry box still clutched in her fingers as she slipped it into Brenna's backpack. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you just say? That gemstone necklace is a gift from Jordy. It costs one million and eight hundred thousand! It has ten top-tier gems, each hand-selected. I left it on the table. How could it just vanish? Are you sure you checked properly?" Brenna observed the unfolding scene intently, her expression impassive. She could already see the setup, the neatly arranged trap. The servant's name was Sadie Brown. Her face went ghostly white, her hands visibly trembling. "Miss Barrett, I searched everywhere--every corner, every drawer--but it's gone. Could someone have taken it?" With that, Sadie's eyes landed on Brenna, suspicion darkening her expression. She didn't need to say it outright--her eyes did the accusing for her. Isabella shot her a sharp look. "What are you staring at? Just because Brenna's real family is poor doesn't mean she'd resort to stealing. Anyway, is anything else missing from my room?" Sadie hesitated, then swallowed hard. "Yes... The design plans you drew a few days ago. They're gone too." A strange glint flickered in Sadie's eyes. Without warning, she strode toward Brenna and yanked at a thin chain peeking out from her backpack. Isabella gasped, her shock perfectly timed as she took the necklace from Sadie's hand. "Brenna," she murmured, feigning hurt, "how did the engagement necklace Jordy gave me end up in your bag?" She clutched the piece, looking disappointed. "If you needed money, why not just ask Dad? He has supported you all these years--he wouldn't mind giving you more money. But stealing? This would break Mom's and Dad's hearts." At that moment, Alec and Ruby walked over. Alec scowled, disappointment carving deep lines into his face. He exhaled sharply, his tone laced with disapproval as he said, "I offered you money, and you turned it down--only to do this? If you needed help, you could have said something instead of resorting to this disgraceful behavior. This is really shameful! Why did you do this?" Ruby's temper flared instantly. "She must have thought the money was too little! What else could it be? A thousand for travel expenses wasn't enough for her, so she helped herself to something more valuable. One million and eight hundred thousand--her real parents' entire family couldn't make that much in a lifetime!" Isabella reached for Ruby's hand, a pained expression settling on her face. "Mom, please stop. If you keep saying such things, how will Brenna ever face anyone again? I don't think she did it on purpose--maybe she took it by mistake." Alec and Ruby remained silent, though the disdain in their eyes was clear. Inwardly, they had already written Brenna off as a thief. Isabella managed a gentle smile, but a flicker of triumph danced in her eyes as she glanced at the gathering guests around them. This was perfect. With Brenna marked as a thief, she would never find help from Shirie's upper circles. The Barrett family's influence would be forever out of her reach. Isabella turned to Brenna. "Brenna, I'd give you anything, but not this necklace. It's Jordy's engagement gift to me. I know it must be hard--watching him choose me when you were supposed to be engaged to him. But feelings can't be forced, right? Jordy and I love each other deeply. Please, don't come between us. If you need money, I'll give you all my jewelry, okay? Just not this one." As Isabella spoke, tears welled in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks like she had just suffered a great injustice. Seeing this, Brenna let out a short, cold laugh. What a waste of talent. Isabella should have been an actress with her acting skills. She believed since they had already staged this drama, it would be impolite not to play along. Brenna flung a glance at the necklace, unimpressed. The chain was thick, the gemstones sizable, but the craftsmanship left much to be desired. The color, cut, and overall design... They were far from top-tier. "I wouldn't be caught dead wearing something this poorly made," Brenna remarked coolly. "There must be some mistake. When I packed my things in the attic, that necklace wasn't in my bag. But I do recall you holding it in your hand earlier, dear sister. Could it be that you accidentally dropped it into my backpack?" She scoffed, refusing to shoulder the blame. With deliberate calm, she set her backpack on the floor and tipped it over, spilling its contents onto the cold surface. "Go ahead. See if there's anything else from the Barrett family in my backpack. If there is, take it. I'd rather not carry the label of a thief." Among the scattered items, a blue folder slid into view. Isabella's eyes widened in feigned shock. "Aren't these my design drafts for new energy auto parts? Brenna, how did they end up in your bag?" She crouched, picking up the folder and flipping through its pages with practiced disbelief. Inside were intricate sketches of mechanical components. She looked at Brenna, shaking her head, disappointment etched across her features. "I never imagined you'd stoop this low. You didn't even finish grade school--what could you possibly want with my design drafts? Planning to sell them?" Brenna rolled her eyes. She didn't need to check--she already knew what those papers were. The nuclear-powered cargo ship component blueprints she had spent an entire night perfecting. How had they become Isabella's? Brenna blinked, suddenly realizing something. Yesterday, Isabella had spent the day seated at the grand dining table, sketching exaggerated designs in an attempt to flaunt her mechanical expertise. The entire household had seen it. That gave Isabella the chance to frame her now. Isabella continued, pointing at the drafts, "You stole them. Just admit it. Since we're family, I'll let it slide." Ruby stepped closer, snatching the folder and scanning its contents. The moment she saw the sketches, her face twisted with fury. "How could I have raised someone like you?" she said to Brenna. "You are such a disgrace!" Brenna remained silent. Her blueprints had clear, unmistakable markings. The title, written in a foreign language, identified them as designs for nuclear-powered cargo ship components. Didn't any of them notice that? Right there in the lower right corner, her personal anti-counterfeit signature gleamed--proof that no one could claim her work as their own. Brenna faced Alec and Ruby. "You both know what I'm capable of," she stated, her voice steady. "A decade ago, you were running a small auto parts factory, barely making about five hundred thousand a year, living in a modest duplex. At that time, you saw my potential. That's why you kept me from school and forced me to stay home and design advanced components for you." Chapter 3 I Thought Your Design Drafts Were Trash Brenna looked at the Barrett family with clear contempt, her expression calm as she revealed the truth to the surrounding guests. "For over a decade, this family has capitalized on my designs--transforming a modest auto parts business into a full-fledged car-manufacturing empire, even securing a public listing. But now that they've outgrown their need for me, they're framing me for theft, all to protect their real daughter. How touching," she said with a snort. Alec's face darkened with fury, his voice rising. "What kind of nonsense is this? You barely made it through grade school. How could you possibly understand mechanical design?" Brenna held her designs up for the gathering guests to see. "Take a good look. This isn't a blueprint for new energy auto parts. It's an advanced cargo ship design. I have no reason to steal from anyone, least of all Isabella." Now, the regret hit her hard. In the past, she had been too young to see through Alec's schemes. She had been too trusting to realize why he had insisted on putting his name on her designs. It was painfully clear now--Alec had been setting this up from the very beginning. Brenna tapped a line of component names on the blueprint. "Read this carefully. It's in Amland's language, and it translates to 'nuclear-powered cargo ship propulsion system'." Tilting the paper slightly, she pointed to the faint watermark in the lower right corner, which shimmered under the shifting light. "This is my personal mark. You can compare it to Isabella's so-called 'designs'. Her designs are garbage," she said. Just as she finished speaking, Sarah Moss, one of the servants, hesitantly stepped forward, holding an identical folder. "Miss Barrett... I thought these were trash, so I threw them in the trash can. These are your design drafts..." Brenna let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Did you hear that? Even Sarah recognized them as trash." Isabella's face burned with humiliation. She shot Sarah a murderous glare before yanking the folder from her hands and flipping through it in a panic. Then, with a furious growl, she slammed it down. "These designs aren't mine!" she exclaimed. Sarah paled, stammering, "I-I didn't mean to say they were trash! I just... mistakenly thought they were and threw them away..." She trailed off, glancing around awkwardly and realizing there was no way to clarify this without making things worse. Ruby, unwilling to let Isabella be humiliated any further, immediately shifted the attack back onto Brenna. "Oh, please! Look at yourself. Do you really expect us to believe that someone who never even finished grade school designed a nuclear-powered cargo ship propulsion system? You must have stolen this! People like you bring nothing but disgrace. Don't you dare associate yourself with the Barrett family again from now on!" Brenna didn't spare Ruby a glance. She simply flipped open both her own design drafts and Isabella's, setting them side by side for the crowd to compare. Alec's and Ruby's faces immediately turned dark. Alec clenched his fists, his entire body tense with barely restrained anger. Then, he barked, "Enough with this nonsense! Do you really think you made our family rich? The Barrett family's success is built on my and your brother's hard work. You had nothing to do with it! We clothed and fed you for years, and this is how you repay us? You ungrateful brat--get out now!" Ruby, feeding off his rage, didn't hesitate to pile on the lies. "We took you in, gave you everything, spent millions raising you--and you dare act like you're the victim here? Do you think the scraps of talent you brought to this family mean anything compared to what we gave you?" Brenna's eyes turned ice-cold. She believed there was no point in arguing with them. She was leaving, and once she walked out that door, the Barrett family's problems would no longer be hers. "Fine. We will have nothing to do with each other from now on," she said. She bent down to grab her laptop from the floor. However, Isabella was faster. She snatched the sleek black device before Brenna could reach it, holding it tightly in her grasp. "You're so stubborn, Brenna. I was kind enough to offer you a way out earlier, but in return, you throw dirt on me and my family? You make mistakes, refuse to apologize, then try to turn it around on us? This computer must contain confidential information about the Barrett family. You can't take it with you!" Before anyone could react, Isabella grabbed a glass of water from a nearby guest's hand and poured it directly over the keyboard of the laptop. Without warning, Brenna sl**ped Isabella across the face. Then she grabbed the drenched laptop and immediately began drying it off. "How dare you hit me?" Isabella gasped, her face twisted with fury. She raised a trembling hand to strike back--only to be sl**ped again by Brenna. Ruby, a second too late, lunged forward, incensed. "The Barrett family raised you, and this is how you repay us now? By attacking our real daughter?" For years, Ruby had treated Brenna as a convenient target for her frustration, an outlet for her anger. But never--not once--had Brenna retaliated. Ruby wanted to hit Brenna. But something in Brenna's eyes made Ruby falter, her raised hand hanging mid-air. "Mom, she hit me!" Isabella exclaimed, clutching her stinging cheek, her eyes burning with resentment. Ruby grasped Isabella's hand, her breath catching at the sight of the glaring red imprint on her precious daughter's face. "Does it hurt, Isabella?" she asked. Isabella shot Brenna a venomous glare, her fury boiling over as she lifted her leg, aiming a kick at Brenna while she gathered her belongings. Brenna dodged instinctively, smoothly. Securing the last of her things, she turned to face them, her voice icy. "Oh? So it hurts? Mom, when you used me as a punching bag all these years, did you ever ask if I felt hurt? You had no problem beating me senseless, but the second I lay a single hand on your precious daughter, you act like you are heartbroken?" Ruby's eyes flickered with unease for a moment. Then, she recovered quickly, her lips curling in disdain. "And what do you think we took you in for? To pamper you?" "So you're finally admitting what you did to me." Brenna swept a frosty look over the Barrett family, then swung her backpack over her shoulder. Without a word, she turned to leave. Chapter 4 What Do You Think? The July sun blazed mercilessly. Brenna stood beneath the shade of a tree, waiting for her real family, the Harpers' car to arrive. Half an hour had passed, but no one had come. Just then, Brenna's phone suddenly vibrated with a friend request. A note accompanied it. "Hello, I'm Rosie Harper, your sister." Brenna accepted the request without hesitation, and within seconds, she received a message from Rosie. "Hello, I'm Rosie, your sister. Mom, Dad, and our elder brothers are tied up with work today, so they want you to go to Flavor Restaurant first. They've arranged lunch for you there." Doubt crept into Brenna's mind. Was this some kind of scam? Why send her to a restaurant instead of simply giving her the Harper family's address? But not many people knew she was heading to the Harper residence today. Whoever this was had to be a member of the Harper family. A weight settled in Brenna's chest. Her first day home, and they couldn't even bother to pick her up? That said enough about how little they valued her. She doubted this family would be any better than the Barrett family. Another message from Rosie popped up. "Brenna, I'll be waiting for you." Brenna responded with a single word, "Okay." It was nearly impossible to get a taxi at this hour. With no other choice, Brenna took the bus, getting off at Flavor Restaurant. The establishment was the pinnacle of luxury in Shirie, a favorite haunt of the city's elite. Dining here meant dropping at least ten thousand dollars. The moment Brenna pushed the door open and entered the restaurant, a blast of crisp, cool air wrapped around her, shielding her from the suffocating summer heat. Her lungs felt lighter instantly. The restaurant was quiet, nearly empty. No one paid her any attention--except for a waitress who approached her with a polite smile. The waitress was a young woman, pretty and probably in her early twenties. She wore a tailored red uniform, exuding professionalism. "Welcome, Miss. Are you Brenna Harper?" "Yes. The Harpers asked me to meet them here. Could you tell me which room they're in?" Brenna's eyes scanned the space. No one seemed to be waiting for her, which meant the Harper family was likely in a private room. The waitress kept her polished smile intact, subtly studying Brenna's casual outfit--a plain white T-shirt featuring a video game character, layered under an oversized striped shirt that draped past her frayed denim shorts. A worn baseball cap sat atop her head, partially hiding wavy hair streaked with deep blue. Brenna's skin was smooth, her facial features delicate yet striking. The bold blue lipstick added an edge to her look. Her voice was crisp, clear, effortlessly drawing attention from nearby tables. "Miss, please follow me." The waitress gestured toward a table before continuing, "A woman from the Harper family waited for you here for over an hour but had to leave for something urgent. She'll be back shortly. She ordered for you, so please sit down. The dishes will arrive soon." The table was set for six. Brenna chose the chair facing the door, tossing her backpack onto the seat beside her. Moments later, the waitress returned with a glass of fresh orange juice. "Please enjoy. The food will be out shortly," she said politely. Brenna nodded and thanked the waitress, though confusion lingered in her mind. Wasn't the Harper family supposed to be struggling financially? Why invite her to a restaurant this extravagant? She couldn't make sense of what the Harper family was up to. Pulling out her phone, she sent Rosie a message. "I'm here already. When will you join me?" Rosie responded soon, "I'm in a meeting right now. Might take a while. Go ahead and eat--no need to wait for me." A meeting? Brenna furrowed her brows upon seeing the message. Weren't the Harpers supposed to live in a poor, remote village? If that were true, how was Rosie in a meeting? Could the information she had gotten about the Harper family be false? She glanced around, noting the semi-private booths by the windows. The occupants were hidden from view, but the soft murmur of conversation trickled through the air. Soon, the waitress wheeled over a cart, and in moments, the table was filled with beautifully plated dishes--small portions, but meticulously crafted. Meanwhile, in one of the semi-private booths, three women sat around a table, their table adorned with steak and orange juice. A woman in a white dress set her phone down, a faint smile curving her lips. "So? What do you think?" This was Rosie Harper. She was actually Brenna's cousin. But she was raised by Brenna's parents after her own parents had passed away. Brenna's parents treated her like she was their daughter. Sitting across from her were her friends, Sylvie Higgins and Vivian Morrison, both from prominent families. Their outfits were impeccable, their makeup flawless, their table manners practiced to perfection. The three had been inseparable since childhood, sharing everything. Sylvie tilted her head. "Her face is decent, but her fashion sense is a disaster," she remarked, snapping a few photos. She then arranged them into a collage. The centerpiece of the collage was a photo of Brenna eating, her face blurred out. Sylvie soon posted the photos. The caption read, "Flavor Restaurant, spotted a beauty." Vivian casually liked the post before saying, "She's got a bit of a wild look." Then, with a teasing smirk, she cast a sideways glance at Rosie and added, "Ethan might find that appealing." Rosie's smile faltered. The last thing she wanted was for her fiancé to take an interest in Brenna. The marriage agreement between the Mitchell and Harper families required a Harper member to marry the son of the Mitchell family--but it had never specified who. She shot Vivian a warning look. "Don't say things like that." Sylvie leaned in, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Vivian's got a point. Brenna's got the kind of figure men tend to notice. Imagine Ethan's reaction if he saw her like this." Rosie scowled as she responded, "It doesn't matter how pretty she is or what kind of figure she has. After today's events, Ethan won't spare her a second glance." The three shared a quiet laugh. Sylvie's eyes flicked toward Brenna's table, where most of the food had already been eaten. "She's got quite the appetite," she remarked. "Maybe the Barretts didn't feed her well? Just look at the way she's devouring everything--it's obvious she has never had gourmet dining before." Chapter 5 You Really Shouldn't Have Come Here In The First Place Sylvie set her phone on the table, tilting the screen toward her two friends as she shook her head in mock disbelief. Clicking her tongue, she smirked. "Who would've guessed? The Barretts' adopted daughter didn't even finish grade school and started mingling in social circles at ten. Hey, how many boyfriends do you think she's had?" Rosie picked up the phone, her eyes narrowing as she read the information about Brenna. There were also photos of Brenna from different periods, her rebellious fashion sense on full display. Some shots showed her in bold, dramatic makeup, and some showed her surrounded by men--none of the men looked ordinary, and a few were noticeably older than her. "Where did you get this from?" Rosie asked, intrigued. "I tried digging into her background before but came up with nothing." Sylvie leaned back with a proud smile. "I had my brother ask his friend to investigate. Turns out, Brenna has been skipping school and picking fights since she was a kid. At one point, she even had to leave the country because she couldn't stay here anymore." Rosie was stunned, her brows raised. "If she becomes a member of my family, won't that be a disaster?" Sylvie's grin widened. "Isn't that the best part?" After a while, Rosie chuckled. "I suppose it is." Brenna ate without pretense, not because she had poor manners but because of sheer hunger. By the time she had cleared half the dishes, she finally felt a lot better. Yet, the Harper family was still nowhere to be seen. She glanced at her phone--it was two in the afternoon. No word from them. She sent a message to Rosie. "When are you coming?" Rosie's reply came almost instantly. "Sorry, I might not make it today. Just leave when you're done eating. I'll cover the bill." A slow, knowing smirk crept onto Rosie's lips as she sent the message. She then swiftly typed another to the waitress. As if on cue, the waitress who had been attending to Brenna approached her again, moving at a leisurely pace. By now, Brenna had pulled out her bulky black laptop and opened a stock trading page, the screen glowing faintly. The waitress, noticing the outdated model of Brenna's laptop, barely concealed her disdain but tried hard to keep her tone polished. "Miss, could you please settle the bill?" Brenna blinked, caught off guard. She hadn't even indicated she was ready to leave, yet the waitress was already rushing her to pay? When had the Flavor Restaurant's customer service become so terrible? She turned the screen of her phone toward the waitress, showing her Rosie's message, her voice calm. "My friend said she'd handle the bill. Her name is Rosie Harper." The waitress didn't drop her professional smile. "I'm sorry, Miss, but I don't know your friend. The total is one hundred and nine thousand eight hundred dollars. If you're unable to pay, I'll have no choice but to call the police." From the booth, Rosie watched the scene with delight. She was curious to see what Brenna would do. Would she grovel to the Barretts for help? Or would she work off the debt scrubbing dishes for a year? Or perhaps she would resort to a classic dine-and-dash, flexing the street smarts she was rumored to have? Her fingers tightened around her phone as she silently recorded the scene. Just then, Vivian and Sylvie sauntered toward Brenna's table. The commotion had also drawn the attention of nearby diners, who discreetly raised their phones, capturing the scene. Vivian's eyes swept over Brenna with thinly veiled contempt. "Miss, if you can't afford to eat here, you really shouldn't have come here in the first place. This place is for the elite. You'd be better off at a restaurant more suited to your status." Sylvie smirked and folded her arms. "The minimum spend here is ten grand. I doubt you make that in a month. Tell you what, my family's looking for someone to clean the toilets. Work for my family for a month, and I'll cover your bill. What do you say?" Vivian let out a soft chuckle. "That's generous, Sylvie. If you'd rather not scrub toilets, Miss, I can pay for you instead. No cleaning necessary--just get on your knees and polish my shoes. Then I'll settle the bill for you." Clicks echoed through the room as more people snapped photos, some already posting the drama online. Seeing this, Rosie was very pleased. The people she had hired were doing their job perfectly, each capturing the scene and sharing it on social media. She believed that soon enough, Brenna's name would be dragged through the mud, and neither the Harper family nor Ethan would want anything to do with her. In an attempt to portray herself as the kind person who cleaned up the mess for Brenna later, Rosie sneaked out into the scorching heat, closely monitoring the chaos within. Vivian turned to the waitress, reaching into her designer bag. "How much is her bill?" she asked, pulling out a thick stack of cash and dropping it onto the table. She looked at Brenna. "Do as we say, and we'll cover your bill." The waitress answered promptly, "One hundred and nine thousand eight hundred dollars." Brenna leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her eyes shifting between the two women before her. Judging by their outfits and attitudes, they were definitely from wealthy families--spoiled, entitled, and clearly here to target her. She hadn't offended them before, yet here they were, going out of their way to humiliate her. Someone was obviously pulling the strings behind the scenes. "Who do you think you are, barking in front of me? I don't even know you," she said. Before either Sylvie or Vivian could respond, Brenna glanced toward the staircase. A tall man had just arrived, his presence instantly commanding the room. His eyes gleamed like polished obsidian beneath perfectly arched brows. He had a chiseled nose, thin yet defined lips, and a jawline so precise that it looked sculpted by a master artisan. The man frowned as he surveyed the scene, his handsome face darkened by unmistakable displeasure. It was clear he had already pieced together what was happening. And yet, even with such a stunning man in the room, Brenna remained unaffected. A handsome face wouldn't distract her from the fools still yapping in front of her. Sylvie and Vivian, not seeing the man behind them, were fuming. Vivian, seething from Brenna's insult, raised her hand, ready to sl*p Brenna across the face. But the next second, a firm hand gripped her wrist, stopping her. Vivian's breath caught as she turned sharply, ready to lash out--until her eyes locked onto the man holding her back. Her heart sank. Why was Ethan Mitchell here? "E-Ethan?" she stammered. ...... What happens next? 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Due to his unique biology, he needed a woman every month to put out the fire. This time, they sent him a damaged Omega. Her skin was so pale it looked bloodless, marred by savage whip marks. The raw crimson scorched his nerves—his cock hardened instantly, craving to ram itself into this broken woman."Get down. On your knees," his icy command made her pussy clench. When his thick shaft slammed inside, she whimpered, only to have her mouth smothered instantly. Watching her obediently swallow his thick cum made him burn hotter."Inside. The bedroom—now!""Yes, Alpha."Those words made his balls tighten again... ----- Chapter 1 Auren POV The morning air was cool as I hurried through the pack house, balancing a tray of breakfast plates. The faint smell of caramel and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the halls, but it did little to soothe the anxiety brewing in my chest. Today was my birthday—my eighteenth—the day I would smell my mate who would take me away from this cursed life. Life as an orphan omega in our pack was riddled with hardships and misery. “Do you plan on making me wait all morning, Auren?” Maris’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts like a whip as I entered the dining room. Maris was Alpha Bram’s betrothed. He was thirty-three years old and still unmated. Maris was twenty-seven and daughter of the Alpha of Iron Pine pack. They had met each other in the annual mating ball about a year ago. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, bowing my head. Her dark, carefully fashioned curls shimmered in the sunlight filtering through the wide windows of the dining hall, and her perfectly manicured nails tapped against the table impatiently. Everyone knew Maris would be the Luna soon. She carried herself like it, with a sharp tongue and a sharper glare. She narrowed her eyes at the tray in my hands. “Where’s my almond latte? I specifically asked for it.” “It’s coming, Maris—” I stopped myself, flinching. “I’ll get it right away.” Her lips curved into a cruel sneer. “See that you do. I’d hate to have to speak to Bram about your incompetence.” I didn’t know why was it that she hated me so much. It was like she was always finding an excuse to punish me. The other maids, already standing around the table, exchanged knowing looks. One of them, a tall brunette named Reya, a sycophant, shot me a glare. “Honestly, Auren, you should be more careful. Lady Maris has enough to deal with without you messing up her morning.” “Right,” chimed in another maid, Hyra, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “She’s practically running this pack already. You should be grateful she even lets you serve her.” I nodded, clutching the tray tighter to keep my hands from trembling. “Yes, of course.” As I turned to leave, Maris’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “And don’t call me Maris like we’re equals. It’s Luna Maris to you.” Her words were laced with venom, and the maids chuckled. My cheeks burned, but I didn’t argue. She wasn't a Luna, but she liked others to call her Luna. In the kitchen, I prepared the latte with trembling hands, still feeling hurt about how they all loved to humiliate me for no reason. And no one remembered my birthday. Usually everyone got a note from the Alpha wishing them Happy Birthday, but not me. My reflection in the polished metal of the coffee pot caught my eye. A slim girl with wide, gray eyes stared back at me, her blonde hair pulled into a loose braid. My face looked paler than usual and my expression was weary. It was a known fact that we got our wolves at sixteen and smelled our mates as soon as we turned eighteen, but why didn’t I smell mine? “It’s just another day,” I whispered to myself. “Keep your head down, and it’ll be fine.” But it didn’t feel like just another day. The air felt charged. I allowed that little hope to bubble inside my chest. After delivering the latte and enduring another round of scornful looks and remarks, I retreated to the laundry room to catch my breath. That’s when it hit me—a scent unlike anything I’d ever smelled before. Warm and earthy, like pine trees after a rainstorm, with a hint of musk. My pulse quickened. My heart thundered. ‘Mate.’ The words of my wolf, Siena, echoed in my mind, both thrilling and terrifying. The mouthwatering scent tugged at me, pulling me out of the laundry room and down the hall. My feet moved on their own, guided by an invisible thread. The scent made my chest tighten, pulling me as if it had wrapped around me. Down the quiet hallway, the smell grew stronger, drowning out everything else around me. It was so strong and intoxicating that I couldn’t think of anything else. All my wolf wanted was to coat herself in it, roll in it. ‘That’s our mate!’ Siena said enthusiastically. ‘Go fast. I want my mate.’ The scent grew stronger as I stepped outside onto the training grounds. Warriors trained in the morning light. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the source. And then I saw him. Alpha Bram Thorne. I couldn’t believe that the moon goddess had made Alpha Bram my mate. Shock mingled with awe. The world around me faded as irresistible desire rippled through me. A deep sense of completion overcame me, as if I’ve found a missing part of my soul. He stood at the center of the field, towering over the others with graceful confidence. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his sharp features were set in a look of concentration as he demonstrated a fighting move. The sunlight caught the sweat on his brow, making him seem almost otherworldly. My breath hitched as our eyes met. Hope swelled in my chest when I saw recognition in his eyes. This was it. My mate. My Alpha. He was going to pull me out of my wretched life. Before I could stop myself, my feet carried me towards him. I stared at him like he was my God. He was so beautiful and strong that every girl in the Crimson Howl pack had a crush on him. All I wanted was to reach him and fall into his arms as he wrapped them around me. ‘Mate,’ I whispered, my cheeks flushing. But, why was he behaving so coldly? Didn’t he recognize me? When I was only a few feet away, his expression shifted. His body stiffened, and his warm, amber eyes turned cold. The flicker of recognition in his gaze was quickly replaced by a harsh disappointment and anger. It cut deep and so I hesitated. ‘No, go to him!’ Siena urged. When I took a few more steps toward him, Maris came into my peripheral vision, heading straight to Alpha Bram. “Alpha Bram!” she chirped excitedly, elbowing me roughly, nudging past me, making me stumble to the side. He looked at her and beamed as if I wasn’t even there. He opened his arms for Maris who rushed to him and hugged him tightly. She tipped her head up and he pressed a kiss to her lips. My heart sank. I stood frozen, unable to move. The warmth I’d felt moments ago evaporated, leaving an intense ache in its place. The weight of his horrible rejection settled over me. His betrayal felt like a knife was plunged in my chest and then twisted. Siena howled inside me out of rage and jealousy. ‘No, he is our mate.’ She wanted to come out and tear Maris away from him, but I knew that she was a weak wolf. If she surfaced, Alpha Bram would kill her instantly. For years, I’d dreamed of this moment—the day I’d find my mate, the one person destined to see me for who I truly was, who would love me, cherish me. But now, that dream lay shattered at my feet. Tears sprang in my eyes. Alpha Bram glared at me, daring to come close. Maris also turned to look at me with narrowed eyes. Dread plummeted in my stomach. I was afraid that if I went nearer and declare that I was his mate, they would throw me in the dungeons. So I turned and walked away, my shoulders slumping with miserable rejection I hadn’t even heard spoken aloud. The scent of him lingered, bittersweet and unbearable. By the time I reached the pack house, tears blurred my vision. I thought today might be different, that I could finally have someone to share it with. Instead, I was left with a heart full of despair. Weren't mates supposed to look after each other? I hid inside the laundry room and started crying. Was there a way to get out of this pack? The idea of rejection was so painful. How would I serve him now? I curled up on the cold floor, my arms wrapped around my knees as tears streamed down my face. The ache in my chest felt unbearable. It was like a deep, raw wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding. I didn’t know what to do or who to go to for comfort. Alpha Bram’s cold, distant stare replayed in my mind over and over. My mate. He didn’t even want to acknowledge me. Suddenly, the door opened. Chapter 2 Auren POV Being an orphan had always been hard for me. According to our previous Alpha, who was Alpha Bram’s father, my parents died in a pack war. He was kind enough to give me shelter in his packhouse and even allowed education in a school for omegas. However, a few years later when he died and Bram became the Alpha, he pulled me out of the school, made me pack’s servant and gave me lowly jobs, clearing stating that if I had to stay in the pack, I had to earn my living. His lusty gaze would often linger on me, and I would shy away, afraid of his intentions. But then he would snap his gaze away from me as if he saw vermin. I was born with a tattoo the size of a squash ball on my back. A golden moon shackled by dark thorn vines curving around it. The Shaman had kindly warned me that it was a mark of a curse and so I had to keep it hidden at all times, afraid that if anyone saw it, they would kill me. Suddenly, the door opened, snapping me from my thoughts. I hurriedly wiped my tears, but it was too late. Maris stood in the doorway, her arms crossed and a smug smile playing on her lips and her face donned with a wicked expression. “Well, well,” she said, stepping closer. “If it isn’t our little orphan, sniveling like a child.” I didn’t respond, keeping my head down. My whole body trembled in fear even though Siena wanted to come out and attack Maris. “I know what happened,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. “You think you’re special because Bram is your mate? Let me tell you something, Auren.” She crouched down, her face close to mine. “We knew it long back. But you’re nothing. You’ll always be nothing. Bram doesn’t want you. He’ll reject you soon enough, and when he does, you’ll wish you’d never set foot in this pack.” I swallowed hard, trying to fight back the fresh wave of tears. “If you tell anyone—anyone—about this,” she continued, her voice low and dangerous, “I’ll make sure you regret it. Do you understand?” I nodded weakly, too scared to speak. Maris straightened, brushing invisible dust off her skirt. “Good. Now clean yourself up. You’re pathetic. I don’t want anyone to see you crying because if they do, they will ask you the reason. I swear you’ll regret it if they come to know the reason.” Saying that, she turned sharply, flicking her hair and marched out. The weight of her words crushed me further. I brought my knees against my chest and hugged them tightly. Mates were supposed to take care of each other. His betrayal was worse than all my years of enduring servitude. And they knew that I was his mate? The revelation shocked me. When I finally stepped out of the laundry room, the humiliation didn’t end. Reya was waiting for me in the kitchen. “You are reassigned to work in the toilets!” she barked at me. “Stay there until you get a new duty. Don’t you come out of that place!” I balked as I stared at her. “What?” Toilets were the worst place to work. She slapped me hard across my cheek. I screamed in pain as I fell down. Her lips curled into a sneer. “Did you not listen to what I said? Clean all the toilets. Now!” Scared, I made my way to the toilets, sure that this was Maris’s order. Over the next few days, Maris, always clever with her schemes, pointed fingers at me for things I hadn’t done. A broken vase, a spilled drink, and suddenly, I was everyone’s scapegoat. The other pack members whispered and sneered, their remarks cutting me like knives. They would accuse me of everything and anything. And Alpha Bram just turned a blind eye to all the bullying. Things settled a bit, but one morning when I woke up and hurried to the kitchen, I heard Reya shouting at others. When I entered, Reya threw very expensive cutlery directly on the floor near me. Maris walked in just at that time like she was waiting for this moment, as if on cue. “Reya, don’t let her get away with that,” she said, her tone filled with anger. “She’s nothing but trouble.” It didn’t take much for Reya to agree. She and Maris cornered me by the pantry, their faces contorted in anger. I sensed something was wrong, but I had no time to react. “You’ve caused enough problems,” Reya sneered immediately. “It’s time you learn a lesson.” And then came the blows. “No,” I cried and screamed and begged them to leave me, but no one came to rescue me. “What’s going on?” A loud growl came. It was Alpha Bram, my mate. Was he coming to save me? “Alpha Bram,” Maris immediately changed her facial expression and said in a honeyed voice. “Auren threw broken glass at me. See, I am bleeding.” She showed him a little cut on her finger that she got while beating me. “No, it’s not–” “How dare you?” Alpha Bram cut me off and roared in anger. “Throw her in the dungeons!” he ordered. I was stunned. It was me, his mate, who was bleeding, and he didn’t even have a heart to respond to that. How naive of me to think of his coming to save me. This was just a perfect plan for them to get rid of me. And just like that, Maris and Reya dragged me to the dungeons—a dark, damp hole beneath the pack house where air was thick and musty, and the only light was coming from a single flickering torch. “You’ll stay here until we decide you’ve learned your place,” Maris said, her voice laced with poison. She gave me one last triumphant smile before slamming the door shut. “Fucking bitch.” Seven days passed in darkness. My body ached from the cold stone floor, and hunger clawed at my stomach. The only company I had was my wolf, Siena, who tried to comfort me, though her own pain mirrored mine. But on the seventh day, the door opened. Reya stood there with her usual scorn. “Get up,” she said sharply. “Alpha Bram has called for you.” I staggered to my feet, weak and disoriented. Surprise flickered through me. Did he finally want me? But her next words were like some had splashed icy cold water on me. “He’s going to offer you to Alpha Lucien. You know what that means, don’t you? His bride will never last. You’ll be dead within a year.” She gave me a sly smile. My heart dropped to my stomach. “What?” I said in a weak voice. “He can't do that. I— I—” It was worse than being in the dungeons. Everyone knew about Alpha Lucien. He was cursed, just like every Alpha in his family, and so ruthless that he killed first and talked later. “Shut up!” Reya shouted. When I scrambled back, she came over, pulled me roughly and dragged me out of the dungeon. “You dimwit,” she retorted. “Did you really think you could ever compete with Lady Maris? Now look how nicely she has got rid of you by convincing Alpha Bram. No one wants to marry Alpha Lucien. By offering you to him, she will win his alliance for Alpha Bram. And you? You’ll be nothing more than a breeder for the cursed Alpha. So it’s a neat little arrangement that benefits both packs beautifully.” Chapter 3 Auren POV As Reya dragged me out of the dungeons, my heart drummed against my ribcage out of pure fear. I couldn’t even think of marrying Alpha Lucien, not just because he was cursed, but also because Alpha Bram was my mate. The idea was abhorrent. It was better to die than to marry Alpha Lucien. Summoning up whatever little energy I had left in me, I pulled my hand out of Reya’s and thought of running towards the forest that surrounded our pack. Once I got away from here, I was sure I would find help. But the truth was cruel. I stood up, and the next second, my legs felt weak and my body collapsed. With a loud “bump”, I fell to the ground, so did my hope. The dust stung my lungs, my tears welling up in an instant. “No–” I struggled. “Ha, you think you can escape?” Reya caught my neck with great force, turning my face to her. I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I assumed an evil smile there. “Get her.” She ordered before throwing me to the ground. Two warriors jumped right in front of me. My eyes widened in horror. “Please leave me alone!” I begged them. “Let me live.” As if my words irritated her, Reya came into my line of vision again. She directly charged at me and tackled me to the ground. She punched my side and I heard a crack. It meant that one of my ribs had fractured. A scream ripped out of my throat as my body turned numb in pain. “Live? You are so pathetic. Pick her up!” she ordered the warriors. One of them hauled me over his shoulder with no mercy to my fractured rib. As I screamed and cried and begged them to leave me, they carried me all the way to a little room in the omegas’ quarters and slammed the door shut behind them. I pounded on the door, shouting, coughing blood. “Please leave me. Please.” But no one listened. Eventually, I slipped down on the floor with blood-stained clothes. I don’t know how many hours went by when I heard the door creak open. I lifted my head only to see the pack's healer. “Luna Maris has sent me to you. Drink this draft,” he ordered. “It will reduce your pain.” “C—can I talk to her?” I asked. He clenched his jaw and without replying to me, forced me to have the draft and left, locking the door behind him. I felt so weak and helpless that I sat against the wall as fresh tears sprang from my eyes. “This is not justified, goddess,” I said aloud. “It is not my fault that you bestowed Alpha Bram as my mate.” Alpha Lucien was the most ruthless Alpha in the north. “What have you written for me in this life?” The door opened again and this time Alpha Bram walked in. He narrowed his eyes at me and scrunched his face. Shaking his head, he said, “How could the moon goddess bestow you as my mate? There must have been some mistake. You are so pathetic!” With my eyes wide open, I stared at him with rage simmering in my chest. Feeling horrible under his gaze, I retorted, “I am not pathetic. You are pathetic! You are rejecting your moon-mate.” He let out a growl and in a flash of a second, he grabbed my throat with his large hands. “Auren!” he shouted. “How dare you say that to your Alpha? You had the guts to run away and defy my orders.” I started sputtering and coughing as he squeezed my airway. “Bram!” Maris entered the room and shouted at him. “Don’t do that. Tomorrow she is going forever!” Alpha Bram shoved me away and got up, still growling. And then came out the poisoned words, “I, Alpha Bram Reed of the Crimson Howl Pack, reject you, Auren Cressida as my mate.” “Noooo!” I shrieked as sharp pain stabbed my stomach and heart. My vision blurred and I doubled over, unable to move. Through my blurry vision, I saw Alpha Bram and Maris glaring at me coldly. Maris smirked and holding his hand, she walked out of the room, locking the door behind me. “I will send Reya to dress her up tomorrow,” I heard her voice before I fainted. When I woke up next, I felt numbness in my body. Seina had howled and whimpered all night and eventually rolled up in a ball and tucked away somewhere, where I couldn’t reach her. She was more hurt than I was. Morning light was filtering in my room. It was a morning of doom. I didn’t have the strength to get up and do anything. I had lost my appetite. When the door opened again, I saw Reya entering with a box in her hand, followed by a maid. She chuckled. “What a wretched bitch!” She pulled me up roughly. “Luna Maris has sent me to dress you up. But first you need a bath. You stink like a rotten critter.” She dragged me to the bathroom where she opened a cold water shower. I shivered under it uncontrollably, but she was least bothered. When I came out, she threw a dress at me. “Wear this. Alpha Lucien will be here in an hour.” I gaped at her with horror. Alpha Lucien was coming so fast? The dress loosely hung over my shoulders. From the smell of it, I knew it was Maris’s old one. Reya’s face lit up with a shrewd grin. “Congratulations, Auren. You are getting married to the most unwanted Alpha in the north. Consider yourself lucky that you will live another year while serving as his breeder.” Chills ran down my body at the way she said it to me, and my knees felt wobbly. I walked shakily behind her until I reached the main hall. The place was buzzing with activity. All the omegas were preparing for Alpha Lucien’s arrival. Maris was giving orders to them and as soon as she saw me, she sniggered. She jerked her chin to Reya who nodded and took me to a corner of the room. My eyes went to Alpha Bram who was talking to some people. Why was it that the rejection affected me and not him? Did his wolf not feel the pain? Tears came into my eyes again, but this time I refused to let them out because I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me broken and shattered. A few minutes later, he went out and when he returned, he was with Alpha Lucien. The most terrifyingly beautiful wolf I’d ever seen. Towering at over six feet, his broad shoulders and chiseled physique radiated raw power. Midnight-black hair framed a cold, sharp, angular face, with dark eyes that seemed to pierce your soul. There were tattoos of vines and thorns on his muscular arms. His presence was magnetic yet menacing, like that of a silent, dangerous predator cloaked in charm. When our gazes locked, I gasped and my cheeks heated. Chapter 4 Lucien POV The council chamber of the Shadowfang Pack was stifling, filled with the heavy presence of my pack’s Elders. They had serious expression, their faces weathered with age and experience and their eyes carrying the weight of centuries of tradition. I stood before them, my arms crossed, my jaw tight as they droned on about duty and heirs. “You cannot keep delaying this, Lucien,” Elder Orlan said in a sharp voice. “The pack needs an heir. Without one, we risk losing everything we’ve built.” I clenched my fists, the sharp points of my claws pressing into my palms. “And what happens to the woman you force me to marry?” My voice was cold, laced with a simmering anger I couldn’t contain. “She will die, just like the others who died marrying my ancestors.” I really wanted to put an end to this. Elder Ryna, the oldest among them, leaned forward, her pale gray eyes penetrating. “We know the cost of the curse. But the survival of the Shadowfang pack must come first. Your power keeps us strong, but strength alone will not secure our future.” Their words were like iron chains around me, dragging me back to the nightmare I lived every day. The curse—a cruel legacy of my bloodline—had claimed every bride my forefathers had taken. On the night of the full moon after our bond was sealed, death would come for them, slowly, silent and final. Within a year they all died. How many women will die just to carry my bloodline? It was said that centuries ago, the moon goddess cursed our Alpha bloodline for betraying love or breaking a sacred bond. Rejections happened all the time, but I don’t know why did the goddess curse my forefather? What was special about that mate bond? I turned away, pacing to the window. The moon hung low in the sky, veiled by storm clouds. “You think an heir will fix this?” I said bitterly. “The curse will take them too. It doesn’t just stop with my bride.” Orlan sighed heavily. “We don’t know that. There is a chance...” “There is no chance!” I snapped, spinning to face them. “This curse is absolute. It doesn’t matter how strong I am or how much the Alphas of the North grovel for my alliance. They want my strength, not my curse.” Ryna’s gaze didn’t waver. “Strength is what keeps us alive, Lucien. That’s why they seek you, despite the curse. It’s why we must ensure your bloodline continues. Without you, the North falls.” Their words were upsetting, not because I disagreed, but because I knew they were right. The Shadowfang pack thrived because of me—because of the power I wielded. Alphas from all corners sought my favor. Their alliances were a testament to my strength. Yet beneath it all, I was hollow, bound by a curse that tainted everything it touched. Elder Orlan said, “There is an offer from Alpha Bram. An alliance in exchange for one of his omegas as your bride. She’s expendable to him, but this alliance will secure his loyalty. It is a solution that benefits us all. He has been seeking your alliance from a long time.” An omega. My stomach churned at the thought. I had no use for alliances built on the backs of weak and innocent. As such I disliked Bram. He was a slimy bastard. I closed my eyes, the weight of their stares pressing on me. “If I agree, this alliance must serve the pack above all else.” “Of course,” Ryna said, leaning back in her chair with satisfaction. The decision settled like a stone in my chest. I would take another bride, knowing her fate, because I had no other choice. I was twenty-seven already and hadn't found my mate. And I knew that I couldn’t love my forced bride. Ever. --- The journey to Crimson Howl was uneventful, but my thoughts roiled with every mile. When we arrived, I noticed the pack house was bustling. Bram greeted me with a wide smile. “It’s a pleasure to have you here, Alpha Lucien.” I grunted in response. He guided me to the main hall of his packhouse. “The omega I promised,” he said, gesturing toward the far corner. “Auren.” My gaze followed his hand, landing on her. My breath hitched. Auren had golden hair that caught the light. She was small, barely reaching my shoulder, and she was trembling like a deer in headlight. Her face was soft like that of an elf, her presence fragile. She looked pale and thin as if she hadn’t had food for days. Her head was slightly bowed, but not out of submission—it felt like she was trying to disappear. As she stepped forward, her scent hit me—a sweet, warm fragrance of apples that stirred my wolf. For a moment, she lifted her eyes to mine. They were gray, like that of a pale moon veiled in mist. “Alpha Lucien,” Alpha Bram said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I hope she will serve the purpose,” he added like she was a commodity. He stood beside me exuding false camaraderie. His grin was tight and it wasn't difficult to see through him. This was not a gesture of goodwill—it was a business transaction, plain and simple. I didn’t like the way his gaze lingered on her. As for Auren, I didn’t care for her fragility or her fear. What roiled my insides was the blatant manipulation behind this so-called alliance. I had no intention of entertaining this charade. Yet I had no choice. “Prepare the treaty,” I said flatly, not sparing her another glance. Bram's face flickered with excitement. “Of course, Alpha Lucien. I’ll have it drawn up immediately.” I turned to leave, but a commotion stopped me in my tracks. “Worthless girl!” Maris’s voice rang out, dripping with venom. I knew who Maris was. Bram’s future Luna. A gold digger. Her father had approached me to marry her, but I had refused not because I had come to know of her plans of divorcing me and taking away half my money in less than a month, but because she was a repulsive creature. And now she found Bram. They fitted well. I pivoted, my sharp gaze locking onto the scene. Auren was being yanked by her arm by Maris’s rough grip. The poor girl winced, her free hand attempting to shield herself. Maris’s lips twisted into a sneer. “You should be grateful for this opportunity. You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as us, let alone be offered as a bride to Alpha Lucien. And now you’re making us look bad?” “That’s enough.” My voice cut through the air like a blade. Maris froze, her grip slackening on Auren’s arm. She turned to face me, her expression quickly shifting to one of false innocence. “Alpha Lucien, I was just—” “I don’t care for your justifications,” I said coldly. “Behave yourself.” Maris’s face reddened, but she protested, “She’s just an omega. She should know her place that she is nothing but a breeder.” I took a step forward, my presence towering over hers. “Her place is no concern of yours. Do not test me.” Surprised, Maris swallowed hard as she left her. “I—I’m sorry,” she muttered. I shifted my attention back to Bram. “Ensure your pack members know how to act in front of me,” I said, my tone laced with a warning. Bram clenched his teeth, glaring at Maris. “Yes, I’m sorry Alpha Lucien.” His gaze landed on Auren again, and this time I could see the lust. Not liking it one bit, I gestured to Tarian, my beta. “Handle her,” I said curtly, referring to Auren. “Get her packed and ready. We leave in two hours.” Tarian nodded with a neutral expression, approaching her. As I turned to leave, I felt the faintest pull of something—a whisper in the back of my mind urging me to look back. I ignored it. This was not my choice, and I would not let sentiment cloud my judgment. Chapter 5 Auren POV The SUV rumbled over the gravel road as we started towards the Shadowfang Pack. No one came to see me off from my pack. I was good riddance for them. As the car sped out of my pack, I looked out one last time, a knot twisting in my gut. Would I ever come back? I highly doubted that because I wouldn’t be welcomed by anyone. I felt like crying but I blinked my tears away and turned my head to look outside the window. I had cried enough for those who didn’t want me. After a few hours, I saw the territory of the Shadowfang Pack and noticed that its lands stretched endlessly in every direction. My heart fluttered as the imposing compound came into view—massive buildings made of dark stone, surrounded by tall fences. The entire place screamed power, control and wealth. The pack was so much bigger than the Crimson Howl pack judging on the fact that our car was running for the past hour, and we still hadn’t reached Alpha’s house. Alpha Lucien sat beside me. His eyes were fixed out the window, his jaw set in a hard line. He hadn’t said a word since we left Crimson Howl, and his silence was deafening. As for me, I huddled up in a corner, scared to even breathe in presence of the strongest Alpha in the north. I wrapped my arms around a small bag that contained all my belongings. When we arrived, Lucien got out first, his movements sharp in anger. I hesitated, but his Beta, Tarian, opened the door for me and gestured for me to follow. “This way,” Tarian said, in a curt tone, assessing me. The main building was as intimidating as the Alpha himself—high ceilings, white marble stone floors, and an air that felt like it could crush you if you lingered too long. Lucien walked ahead, his long strides carrying him into a room that had sleek furniture and a massive fireplace. He stopped near the mantle. “I want you to leave,” he said to Tarian. “I have to speak with her alone.” Tarian bowed and left, leaving me alone with Alpha Lucien. A wave of dread washed over me. “Sit,” he ordered, not even looking at me. I perched on the edge of a leather chair, my hands fidgeting in my lap. The silence stretched until Alpha Lucien finally turned to me with a thunderous expression. “I didn’t ask for this,” he began, his voice a low growl. “I don’t know what kind of game Alpha Bram is playing, but understand this—I don’t want a Luna, and I definitely don’t want you.” I flinched at his words but stayed quiet. He leaned against the mantle, arms crossed. “My pack Elders want an heir. That’s the only reason I agreed to this. So here’s how it’s going to work: we’ll marry for the sake of appearances and I’ll mark you. In public, we’ll act like a proper Alpha and Luna. But outside of that, you’ll stay out of my way.” I nodded, and in a shaky voice said, “Okay.” Lucien’s eyes narrowed. “Okay? That’s it?” I tilted my head slightly. “Yes,” I replied meekly. What else did he want me to say? His frustration deepened, but he continued. “And here are the rules: You’ll have no say in pack matters. You’ll live in the west wing, far from my quarters. You won't sit with me. You won't eat with me. And more importantly, you won't demand anything from me. Do you understand?” I swallowed hard but nodded again. “I understand.” His brow furrowed, as if he hadn’t expected me to agree so easily. “And you’re…fine with this?” I blinked up at him, genuinely confused. He brought me here for that purpose. “Yes, I’m fine,” I replied. At least here, no one will throw me in a dungeon for burning a toast or forgetting to fluff a pillow just right. “Do you even understand the weight of this situation?” he asked. My brows drew together. “Yes. You said we’re getting married tomorrow, and I’ll stay out of your way unless you need… an heir.” My cheeks flushed at the last part, and I quickly dropped my gaze. Lucien exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Great. Fine,” he muttered. “We leave it at that. Tarian will show you to your room. The wedding will happen tomorrow. Someone will be there to prepare you for it.” I stood hesitantly, unsure if I should thank him or just leave. “Alpha Lucien?” “Thank you,” I said softly anyway. His brows furrowed. “What?” he asked, unable to believe that I was thanking him for my situation. I hesitated. Then I asked a genuine question. “I have a question. What if I get hungry? Am I allowed in the kitchen, or should I wait for someone to bring me food? I’d hate to upset you by sneaking into the pantry.” Moreover, since in my pack, I was hardly given meals twice a day, I wondered if he would give me good meals since I was nothing but a breeder. Alpha Lucien’s eyes widened. “You’re worried about food right now?” “Well, yes,” I said, my cheeks warming under his intense gaze. Lucien stared at me, his expression a mix of disbelief and exasperation. “No. No sneaking. Eat whenever you want. Just stay out of my way.” “Oh, that’s easy,” I said. “You’re not hard to miss,” I blurted without thinking. His eyes flashed with irritation. “What do you mean?” I bit my lip, realizing too late for what I had done. So in order to mitigate the situation, I added, “You’re like a… thundercloud?” Alpha Lucien narrowed his eyes. “A thundercloud?” I flushed again, wringing my hands. “It’s a compliment. Thunderclouds are powerful and… dramatic.” Goddess, someone stop my verbal diarrhea. He clenched his jaw so tightly that I wondered if he cracked his molars. “You’re unbelievable.” His hands clenched into fists at his side. “It doesn’t matter. Just remember what I said. Don’t expect anything more than what I’ve offered.” I nodded, my wide eyes sincere. “Understood.” “Good,” he said and marched out. I watched him leaving, my heart thudding a little faster despite his anger. He might be scary and stern, but he hadn’t thrown me into a dungeon. That was already better than what I was used to. As the door closed behind him, I slumped back into my seat, my cheeks burning. Somehow, I’d survived that conversation, but I had a feeling life here was going to be anything but easy. Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly. Chapter 6 Auren POV Tarian reappeared and led me out, with a kind but cautious expression. “Don’t take it personally,” he said quietly as we walked down the long hallway. Was he listening to us? But with sharp hearing senses, what else could I expect from the Beta of the most powerful Alpha? “I didn’t,” I lied. Even though Lucien was cold, distant, and angry, I felt safer here than I ever had back at Crimson Howl. Tarian led me through the grand halls of the pack house, his boots echoing against the polished floors. I followed close behind, keeping my gaze low to avoid staring at the beautiful but intimidating surroundings. Everything about this place felt unwelcoming, much like its Alpha. The sadness of Alpha Bram’s rejection came back, and I took a deep breath in to stop myself from crying. He had smartly not only rejected me, an omega, as his mate, but he had ensured that I would die in a year. At the same time, because of me, he formed an alliance with Alpha Lucien. When I was just leaving the pack, Bram had come to my room. He stood too close to me and traced my jawline with his fingers. I wanted to lean into him, but I stopped after what he did to me. “You better serve your purpose nicely, Auren. If I come to know that you’ve escaped, I’ll personally hunt you and kill you.” And then he leaned down and kissed my brushed my cheeks with his lips. I felt sick, so I pushed him away, but he chuckled and sauntered away. “This will be your room,” Tarian said, snapping me from my memories. We had reached a door at the far end of a hallway. He stopped and turned to me, opening the door. I peeked inside, half-expecting something dreary, but it was surprisingly clean, comfortable and better than anything I had ever lived in. The room had a bed with a plush blanket, a simple wooden table by the window, and a wardrobe. Sunlight poured through the window, making the space seem warmer than I’d imagined. “You can explore the pack house if you want,” Tarian continued in a steady but kind voice. “But stay away from the north wing. That’s Alpha Lucien’s quarters, and he doesn’t want to be disturbed. Understood?” I nodded quickly, not wanting to make a bad impression. “Yes, I understand. Thank you.” Tarian studied me for a moment, as if trying to figure out why I was being so agreeable. Without another word, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him. I stood in the middle of the room, letting out a small sigh of relief. This room felt like a safe haven. It was beautiful, but it was mine, even if only for now. The thought of being left alone made me smile a little. I didn’t have to see Alpha Lucien or deal with his anger. I didn’t have to endure Reya’s sharp words or Maris’s cruel smirks or Alpha Bram’s rejection. Here, I could just be quiet and unnoticed. After placing my small bag in the wardrobe, I spotted a door on the side of the room. Curious, I opened it and found a bathroom. The bathtub looked clean and inviting, the shiny faucet glinting in the light. The idea of a warm bath was too tempting to resist. I filled the tub and stepped in, the heat instantly easing the tension in my sore muscles. I had never felt this kind of comfort. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the water wash away not just the dirt, but the weight of the past few days. When I finally got out and wrapped myself in a soft towel, I felt lighter, like I’d shed a layer of my worries. I dried off quickly and came into my room. That’s when I noticed it—the smell of food. On the small table by the window, there was a tray piled high with bread, steaming soup, fresh fruit, and even a small plate of a chocolate dessert. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten properly ever since I was thrown in the dungeons. I walked over, hesitant at first. Carefully, I picked up a piece of bread, wondering if I was dreaming, and took a bite. It was soft and warm, the kind of food I hadn’t ever had. It was a luxury for me, and certainly not a dream. Before I knew it, I was eating everything, savoring each bite like it was a feast. The bean soup was rich and creamy. The fruits juicy and sweet. By the time I got to the dessert, my cheeks were puffed like a squirrel’s. But I didn’t care. I was hungry, and this food felt so good. However, as I reached for the last piece of bread, my stomach revolted, and before I knew, I was retching. I ran to the bathroom and puked it all out. Bewildered, I sat on the floor of the bathroom, heaving. I guess, my stomach couldn’t handle eating so much after a long time. I took a deep breath and rinsed my mouth. Suddenly, a faint sound caught my attention. A creak outside my door. I froze. Slowly, I went out to see. My door was slightly open, the crack wide enough for a shadow to flicker across the floor. My heart skipped a beat. Who was there? I opened it wide enough to peep out and heard retreating heavy footsteps. Out of fear, I closed the door quickly and locked it from inside. Feeling mentally and physically exhausted, I dragged myself to the bed and plopped on it. I sprawled on it and closed my eyes, drifting into a deep sleep almost immediately. My dreams were filled with that of a wolf with silky black fur and golden eyes, who was taller than me, walking beside me, purring. And surprisingly, I felt so warm and comforted in his presence. He sat down beside me and I curled into his thick furry coat like a ball. I don’t know for how long I slept, but knocking on my door jerked me awake. I jumped out of the bed and dashed to the door to open it. To my utter surprise I saw Alpha Lucien. His gaze dropped to the towel that was wrapped around me loosely. My head snapped down to my chest and I flushed till my chest, seeing how the upper swells of my breasts were protruding out. Quickly, I covered myself, tightly wrapping the towel around me. “Alpha Lucien,” I rasped, meeting his eyes, feeling mortified. I was really surprised that he came to see me when he was the one who asked me to stay away from him. “H—how can I help you?” Through his clenched teeth, he said, “Our marriage is deferred by a week.” 👉 (It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app)

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