Chapter 1 The Sole Successor Of The Underworld

"Maren, haven't you ever noticed how much honor Nadia has brought our family? And look at yourself-all you've done is drag us down."

"Remember, Nadia once risked herself for you. It's time to return the favor."

"Save Nadia! Do whatever you wish with Maren."

"I also choose Nadia!"

"Same here."

At the grim outskirts, in an abandoned factory, Maren Morgan's wrists were bound tightly. She listened helplessly as her three brothers chose Nadia Morgan, her half-sister, over her.

Her final hope rested in Wilbur Thorpe, the fiance she had cherished deeply for over ten years, the man she'd shared a childhood with.

Wilbur stood nearby, impeccably dressed, his demeanor polished and aloof.

Their gazes connected briefly, but Wilbur's lips parted only to speak with brutal detachment. "My choice is Nadia. Touch her, and you'll regret it. As for Maren-she's meaningless to me. Do whatever you like."

Wilbur's ruthless disregard crushed Maren, slicing through her heart. She remembered clearly all she'd sacrificed to keep him alive, giving her blood repeatedly even when the doctors warned her she might not survive.

Though she'd anticipated his rejection, hearing his cold words shattered something deep inside her.

The pain was overwhelming-so much that she couldn't even speak.

All she could do was watch as Nadia burst into tears and threw herself into Wilbur's arms. The same man who had been cold and distant towards her was now tenderly brushing Nadia's tears away.

Her brothers surrounded Nadia protectively, showering her with affection, utterly blind to her distress.

No one cared about her. They did not even cast her a brief glance.

Instead, she faced leering kidnappers, their filthy bodies moving towards her with sinister anticipation.

"Who'd have guessed the Morgan family would dump their legitimate daughter just to protect an illegitimate one? Looks like gutter rats like us hit the jackpot tonight."

"Patience, boys-everyone gets a turn."

Maren backed against the wall, trapped.

Her throat burned from earlier cries, the taste of blood still fresh.

As her family celebrated Nadia's rescue, Maren felt the last thread of hope vanish.

She finally gave up.

Her mother's face flashed through her mind, and with it came a surge of strength. She was done living this nightmare.

In a sudden burst, Maren threw her head up and made a break for the wall.

But before she could get far, the lead kidnapper caught on. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her back with brutal force, cutting her attempt short.

Then, a fierce and stinging slap landed hard on Maren's face.

"Think again, bitch! We're not finished with you yet."

The brutal impact sent Maren spiraling into unconsciousness.

But not a single person seemed to care.

Laughing crudely, the kidnappers reached forward eagerly, their filthy intentions clear.

Hands roughly grabbed at her clothing.

But right as the kidnappers moved to rip Maren's clothes apart, she suddenly snapped her eyes open.

Any trace of vulnerability vanished instantly, replaced by an intense warrior-like gaze.

Reacting purely on instinct, Maren flipped herself upwards.

She swung her bound wrists around the throat of the nearest assailant.

Using her momentum, she twisted sharply and decisively.

A sickening snap filled the silence as the man collapsed lifelessly.

Capitalizing on the brief shock, Maren swiftly executed a sweeping high kick, sending the remaining kidnappers sprawling.

The immediate threat was now neutralized, but Maren's brow remained deeply creased, confusion clouding her features.

Something felt profoundly wrong.

How had she effortlessly dispatched the kidnappers? Why did her movements feel second-nature, familiar yet forgotten?

At that moment of uncertainty, buried memories surged forward, overwhelming her.

From her earliest days to the traumatic moment of her kidnapping, followed by a descent into the dark world-a life drenched in bloodshed and chaos.

She recalled it all.

Six years ago, as the legitimate daughter of the affluent Morgan family in Baimsa, she had been abducted by enemies bearing old grudges. She had lost four years of memories during her underworld days, but now, she remembered everything.

According to the vivid rumors, she had been sold to some red-light district.

But the truth was-Nikolas Edgeworth, the formidable leader of the Sovereign Underworld, had taken her in as a foster child.

During those four years, Maren had undergone a profound transformation. From the sheltered Morgan girl, she had morphed into a formidable force of the underworld, eventually recognized as the sole successor of the Sovereign Underworld.

Once merely one of Nikolas' many foster children, she had outlived all other heirs in a brutal struggle for dominance.

She had ascended as the uncontested ruler of the criminal world.

During a secret operation two years ago, treachery by her own people had led her into a minefield.

It was likely then that locals had found her alive and handed her over to the authorities. A DNA match later had reaffirmed her as the lost daughter of the Morgan family, leading to her return.

Tragically, the ordeal of betrayal and the minefield had stripped away those memories.

Only now did the floodgates of her memory fling open.

Lost in thought, Maren was startled by an angry male voice ahead.

"Maren? You cursed woman, what in the world are you up to?"