Claimed By The CEO

Vincent High School had a girl everyone knew - the name Flora Selena sent ripples wherever people heard it.

Anyone who saw her avoided her. Few people liked her, but even fewer dared to show it.

Because Flora is crazy, she will strangle anyone who dares to oppose her. In tenth grade, Flora was the new student. She clashed with a teacher and beat him up so severely he landed in the hospital. Still, the school didn't dare expel her. Rumour had it she had robust backing.

Flora dyed her hair, painted her nails, put on sharp makeup, and always wore skirts an inch taller than the other female students. From fighting to smoking to skipping class, there was nothing she wouldn't do. Compared to those troublemaking boys, she was a step above.

And even with a reputation like that, the boys welcomed her - because Flora was stunning. She had a kind of mad beauty - the kind that made heads turn again and again.

When Flora turned 18, on her graduation day, she received shocking news. Her father, Otis, wanted her to marry a man nine years her senior: a chronically ill, utterly useless member of the Arnold clan named Derek Arnold.

Of course, the reason Otis gave was very reasonable and very similar to the novels that Flora often read. Their Selena family was in a difficult situation, needing the help of the Arnold family to support them. But of course, there was no such thing as charity without profit; the price they offered was to buy a wife for their incompetent nephew.

The heroine would bite her lip, hold back tears, and marry the guy out of duty in those stories.

But Flora? Hell no.

She would never lower her head. Moreover, why the hell should she care about the Selena family's fate? Every night, she clasped her hands and prayed to God for them to die quickly. There is no way she would sacrifice herself to save them.

And Otis? That man dared to call himself her father?

No. He was the one Flora hated most in the world. She hated him so much she couldn't stand the surname Selena. She would've changed it long ago if it hadn't been for her mother's wish.

The air was thick and tense in the Selena family's dining room.

No one could eat - except Flora. She ate with gusto, ignoring the stares around her. She needed to be full, to have the energy to battle this family.

Otis watched her for a while before slamming his fork onto the table. The sound was quite loud, but it didn't affect Flora. She calmly turned to the maid.

"Aunt Mary, bring me another bowl of fish soup."

"Flora!" Otis cleared his throat, "Have you thought about what I told you two days ago?"

Flora poked at the bacon on the table, her red lips curled up, "I have."

Otis exchanged a hopeful glance with Anna. His voice tightened. "So... will you help save the family?"

Flora raised her eyes. She chuckled at the two people's anticipation, causing Otis to fantasise. He thought that she had agreed, so he smiled at her.

But Flora was just about to pour ice water on his delusions.

"Why would I do something so boring?" she said flatly. "Don't get it twisted. I came back to eat because it was my mother's death anniversary. I have no interest in helping you."

Her gaze locked on Otis, colder and colder. Otis also felt guilty; he coughed a few times and said. "There have been so many things going on in the company recently, I almost forgot..."

"You never remember", Flora said coldly; under the light, her red hair stood out even more. "If you don't remember, then let me remind you why my mother had to jump off the building..."

Otis and Anna's faces turned pale.

Alice couldn't stand it either; she frowned and pulled out a chair. "Every time you come back, this house is in chaos, and we can't even eat in peace."

Flora's eyes flashed, and she smiled. "If you're that annoying, get lost; I'm talking to him; it's not your turn to speak up, a brat."

"Alright, you two, stop arguing..." Anna grabbed Alice's hand, stopping her daughter from continuing. "It's been so long since your sister came home. Don't make her angry."

"What, sister? I don't want some spoiled brat for a sister." Alice scowled, but under Anna's warning gaze, she gritted her teeth and fell silent.

Flora opened her handbag, pulled out a bright red lipstick, and slowly applied it to her lips. Then she sneered, "Auntie, how about this-you sell your beloved daughter to the Arnold family instead. That way, this dying family of yours might survive. Not a bad idea, right?"

Anna's face stiffened, pretending to be calm as she spoke. "You know how to joke. Our Alice is only fifteen; she's still just a child. Compared to Derek, the gap is a bit big..."

"Oh..." Flora drawled, her captivating eyes narrowing slightly. "Still a child, is she? Funny, I heard your daughter is fooling around with her teacher at school; that man seems to be..." She turned to Otis, mockery brimming in her eyes, unable to suppress a laugh. "Only five years younger than you."

Otis's eyes turned red with anger, and as soon as he heard that, he turned to question Alice. "Is your sister right?"

Alice trembled like a frightened puppy. She didn't dare look at Otis, only glaring daggers at Flora.

Anna knew that Otis had a hot temper, afraid that he would hit Alice, so she immediately spoke up to relieve the situation. "Enough, enough! That's nonsense. You're only hearing Flora's side of the story. How could our Alice possibly do something like that?"

Alice's face was pale, her lips moving. "That's right... Dad, I don't have..."

Finding it tedious, Flora kicked back her chair and stood. Her icy gaze swept over each of them, a venomous smile spreading across her lips. "May this family crumble soon, and may you all die without a grave! And frankly, the only reason I'm alive is because my mother fought tooth and nail to keep me. So you have no right whatsoever, old man."

"You ungrateful brat! Talking to your father like that? I raised you, and this is how you repay me?" Otis wanted to raise his hand to slap her, but Flora was no longer a little girl for him to beat at will. She grabbed Otis's arm; each word was as sharp as a knife. "Aside from grudgingly giving me life, what else have you ever given me?"

Otis had a history of heart problems; he was provoked to such fury that his lips turned white, and his whole body trembled, barely able to stand. Anna rushed to support him, crocodile tears streaming down her face. "Don't get upset! Every time you get angry, your condition flares up. It's bad for your health."

Otis's trembling finger pointed at Flora. "Ungrateful wretch... If you leave today. I'll consider myself daughterless..."

Flora crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping dismissively around the house before she spoke nonchalantly. "That was my intention exactly."

With that, she grabbed her purse, her heels clicking sharply on the floor as she walked away, back straight. She ignored Otis's stream of curses, never looking back.

Heaven only knew how much she loathed this place they called home.