Chapter 1 She Was Kicked Out

The sun blazed overhead, turning the world into a searing oven. Heat waves shimmered up from the ground, warping the air with every step.

With a rough shove, Stephanie Walsh lost her balance and nearly fell as her backpack landed at her feet.

"Stephie, don't accuse me of being heartless. They swapped you at birth with my real daughter, Aimee. You've spent more than ten years living easy in my house while Aimee suffered out in the countryside. Now that the truth's out, it's time you went back to your real family. All I know is you were born in Greenvale and your father's last name is Walsh. Go find them. And don't ever contact us again."

Colin Clayton tossed a thick roll of bills onto the pavement. "That's two grand. Use it to get where you're going. Don't bother coming back."

"I don't need it." Stephanie didn't even glance at the cash. She stooped to pick up her backpack, brushed the dust away, and met their eyes with a look colder than steel.

Walking away felt like breaking free. No more tiptoeing around their moods, no more desperate attempts to win affection, only to face constant scorn and blame.

Colin and his family liked to act as though she owed them everything, as if she'd never have survived without their charity.

Yet only she knew she'd been nothing more than their maid, the extra hands that kept things running behind the scenes.

That chapter of her life was long overdue to end.

Seeing her turn down the money, Colin's face twisted in anger. "Without that cash, you won't make it far. But don't say I never tried to help you."

He fixed her with a harsh stare, irritation bubbling up the longer their eyes met.

Stephanie had been the pride of the household-a bright, obedient girl. But everything changed after middle school. She started skipping classes, getting into trouble, and by high school, she had the worst grades in the class. The shame of it still burned in his mind.

Arms folded, Aimee Clayton shot her mother a mocking glance. "Mom, what if she can't survive out there and tries to crawl back to us?"

Davina Clayton's eyes turned cold, her anger thinly concealed. "Crawl back? Not a chance. I poured my heart into raising her, treated her no differently than my own. And what did I get? Nothing but disappointment. If she ever sets foot here again, I'll show her the door myself."

Aimee grinned, satisfied. "It's about time she learned what hardship means. She stole my life and lived it in luxury for ten years. Now she can see what real life is like. With grades like hers, she'll probably end up begging for change while I'm off to Veridia University soon."

Stephanie caught every word and let out a quiet, amused laugh.

Lived it in luxury for ten years? What a joke. They never saw themselves clearly.

A decade ago, their entire net worth was not even hitting a million. Only in the last few years did their fortunes soar. Colin, once a nobody in the art world, suddenly became a celebrated figure, with each painting selling for millions.

The family wasted no time flaunting their newfound fortune. They opened their own art gallery and founded the Krarville Art Group. With money pouring in, they traded their humble beginnings for a lavish villa in the downtown.

Colin took the reins as chairman, his days suddenly filled with admirers and social climbers eager for his attention.

None of their success would have been possible without Stephanie quietly working behind the scenes.

She was the one who paved their way into high society. Without her, they would still be struggling in obscurity.

To her, everything she had done was enough to repay any supposed debt she owed for their years of shelter. From that moment on, she was done with them-no ties left to bind her.

Hoisting her backpack, she strode away, a weight finally lifted from her shoulders.

--

Meanwhile, inside a grand estate in the city of Akasey, the Walsh family gathered for an international video call. Three striking young men filled the screen, each wearing the same look of shame and regret.

Aaron Walsh, the family patriarch, rapped his cane sharply against the table, his gaze hard as steel.

"Eighteen years have passed, and not one of you has found your sister? You claim to be brilliant, but where are the results?"

The Walsh family was the richest in the country, the three young Walsh men towering over their respective industries as leaders wherever they set foot. One word from any of them could send shockwaves through the business world.

Yet now, they were drowning in guilt and regret.

Those feelings had haunted the three men for nearly two decades.

Back then, their baby sister was barely eight weeks old-a beautiful, sweet infant who instantly became the light of the family.

But in a moment of carelessness, she vanished from their lives.

For eighteen long years, the family turned every stone, only to discover she'd been abducted by traffickers and sold repeatedly, the trail growing colder with each passing year.

Owen Walsh, the eldest among the three, squared his shoulders and said firmly, "Grandpa, we won't give up. We'll find her. No matter what, we'll bring our sister home."

Before Aaron could voice his growing frustration, the butler burst through the door, waving a set of documents, excitement written all over his face. "Sir, we've received news about Miss Walsh!"

In a heartbeat, Aaron rose from his chair, his eyes shining with hope. "Are you certain? Show me now!"

He scanned through the papers, his hands trembling, then let out a shaky breath. "We finally have a lead. There's news about my granddaughter at last!"

The butler's relief was just as clear. Over the years, he had watched Aaron's longing for his granddaughter nearly break him, causing more than one bout of illness.

"She's in Krarville."

"Prepare the car. We're going to Krarville immediately!"