Crown Of The Betrayed Heiress

Emelia Hewitt stood before the opulent villa, her face gradually losing color. She was clad in a hospital gown.

She had experienced a severe allergic reaction after unknowingly ingesting nut powder that Keira Hewitt, her adopted sister, had covertly added to her food. This reaction led to the swelling of her respiratory system, bringing her perilously close to death.

She had endured three solitary days in the hospital, with no visitors or expressions of concern from anyone.

Meanwhile, her biological family showered Keira with attention, treating the evil woman as if she were the focal point of the universe.

Emelia found it perplexing. She was, in fact, their biological daughter. Did her childhood disappearance grant them the right to effortlessly substitute her with Keira, the adopted one, and strip away her life and everything she cherished?

As she listened to the sounds of joy and laughter echoing from within the villa, Emelia finally grasped a harsh reality.

The familial affection she had yearned for proved utterly valueless.

The sorrow in her eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, ruthless smile on Emelia's lips. She relaxed her tightly clenched hand, retrieving a rusty rod from the fence. With determination, she kicked open the main door of the villa.

The butler and servants stood bewildered, immobilized. Astonished expressions adorned their faces as they observed the young lady, who appeared to be acting somewhat like a madwoman.

Within the living room, fashioned like a princess's fortress, Keira sat in front of the camera, proudly displaying the gifts bestowed upon her by her parents and four brothers. The scene created an ambiance of warmth and harmony.

"Bang!"

The metal rod violently struck objects before the camera, breaking apart all the lavish gifts Keira had recently unveiled.

It appeared that Emelia's return had just caught everyone's attention. Allen Hewitt, the eldest brother, promptly terminated the livestream.

"What the hell, you lowlife? Did you not know that Keira was live? If you've messed up her reputation, I swear to God, you're gonna pay for it!" Allen yelled furiously and tried to slap Emelia.

Emelia skillfully evaded the attack and retaliated with the rod, striking Allen's arm, producing a loud, cracking sound as his bone snapped.

Allen emitted a scream of agony.

Bruce Hewitt, their father, erupted in fury, "Emelia, are you out of your damn mind? How heartless could you be! How the hell can you treat your brother like this?"

Emelia raised the rod, directing it at them, her smile both stunningly beautiful and maniacally ruthless. "Is this what you call heartless? When he shoved me down the damn stairs, breaking my leg, where were all your 'he's-so-heartless' labels then?"

Emelia's second brother, Callen, urgently exclaimed, "That's because you bullied Keira, you uncultured country bumpkin..."

"Smack!"

Without hesitation, Emelia delivered a slap. When Callen tried to resist, she poked the rod against his chest.

"Bullied Keira? Even if I did, what's she gonna do? I'm the real deal in this family, and she's just a damn impostor. Letting her hang around is already a big damn favor."

Keira wept, her eyes teary. She sought solace in the embrace of their mother, Briana, while expressing her grievances. "How can you even say that? I never wanted to go head-to-head with you. I just couldn't stand the thought of being ripped away from Mom, Dad, and my brothers. I never-"

"Shut the hell up!" Emelia shot Keira an angry glare. "You knew about my nut allergy, and yet you ground those damn nuts into powder, setting a trap for me to choke on it. Now you're playing the innocent card."

Emelia's third brother, Jayson, was about to speak, but Emelia aimed the rod at him. "You handed me that cake. Don't act like you didn't know. When I was suffering from an allergic reaction and almost kicking the bucket, I distinctly heard you say it had a little less inside."

Emelia chuckled, "It was just a bit less. One more gram of nuts in there, and I'd be a damn goner. So..."

Her gaze suddenly turned fierce, and the next moment, she unleashed a furious beating on Jayson.

The fourth brother, Andy, was on the verge of stepping forward when Emelia forcefully kicked a chair into his back.

"I didn't do jack!" Andy panicked, trying to explain himself.

But Emelia just smirked. "Oh, you did nothing? You added ten minutes to the servants' speed dial for the ambulance when I was fucking dying!"

If she hadn't acquired medical skills from her mentor and had antidote pills readily available, she would have genuinely died at the hands of these repugnant family members of hers!

Having vented her anger sufficiently, she then ascended the stairs, carrying the rod.

Below, everyone was too terrified to even draw a breath.

They couldn't fathom how this once meek and gentle woman had abruptly transformed into such a terrifying figure.

The moment Emelia's bedroom door got slammed shut, Briana's face turned stormy as she muttered, "I've said it a million times. She's a jinx. We can't let her stick around in our family!"

Bruce was getting antsy. "But my father handed her shares..."

Briana shot Bruce a glare. "Get someone to block off the damn yard. I don't buy that she can take on ten or even a hundred guys solo! If she doesn't hand over those shares, she's going to be deprived of food for three days!"

Emelia returned to her room with no intention of lingering. Swiftly, she took out some documents and identification from a secured drawer, placed them in her bag, and confidently walked out.

Before the Hewitts could take actions, a motorcycle zoomed away from their sight.

Andy, nursing his aching back from the chair thrown at him, gazed in disbelief at the unfolding scene. "Aw, hell no! She stole my freshly pimped-out motorcycle! How come she gets to ride mine and not yours?"

Bruce scolded, giving him a solid slap on the head, "Why didn't you pull out the key?"

The motorcycle thundered down the road.

The chilly wind dissipated the anger that surrounded Emelia.

She returned to her ward, as she had no immediate destination. She couldn't return to the Hewitt family's villa, and she had no desire to do so.

She reclined on the bed, memories inundating her thoughts.

Her five seniors recounted that when their mentor discovered her, she had endured a severe head injury. Without their mentor's extraordinary medical skills and the surgery he conducted, she might not have survived.

The words her mother had uttered moments ago in the villa's living room, labeling her as a jinx, resonated vividly in her ears.

Could it be that she hadn't been abducted by human traffickers all those years ago, but...

Her heart throbbed with pain, and she felt a numbing sensation.

Due to the blood clot in her brain, she had endured years of chronic headaches. Only through their mentor's meticulous efforts had she eventually found a cure.

Later, the mentor had chosen a life of seclusion, distancing himself from worldly matters. Although her seniors had urged her to remain with them, she insisted on searching for her biological parents.

She had anticipated that her parents, having lost a child, would be overcome with grief, and their reunion would be marked by warmth. However, the reality was beyond her expectations.

A tear traced down her cheek, yet Emelia managed a smile.

This tear fell for the innocent Emelia who had longed for her family's love.

The Hewitt family... The moment had arrived for them to face consequences!

Emelia sensed that the bottled-up frustration in her chest had significantly eased after confronting the Hewitts. She relished a restful night's sleep.

The following day, she woke up well after noon.

She leisurely enjoyed her meal before attending to the discharge formalities. Subsequently, she mounted her motorcycle and set off for her destination.

Before the main gate of Breeze Manor, she brought her motorcycle to a halt as its engine abruptly went silent.

The butler hurried over, eyeing Emelia in her hospital gown. "Who are you looking for?"

Emelia lifted her gaze and effortlessly identified the figure that consistently stood out, regardless of time or place. "I'm looking for that guy!"

Kian Gilbert, the big shot CEO of the Gilbert Group, with loads of influence in Cisburg.

Following Kian's approval, the butler guided her inside.

All the servants were excused.

The expansive garden descended into utter silence.

The man reclined in a wicker chair, engrossed in a book. His long legs were nonchalantly crossed, and the light gray home attire failed to conceal his innate noble demeanor.

His striking facial features, coupled with an air of detachment from worldly matters, contributed to an intimidating charm in his poised presence.

This was the man to whom she was betrothed.

Before her grandfather's demise, when he bequeathed the company's shares to her, he had referenced the informal engagement with Kian's grandfather. He had pressed her to wed Kian at the earliest opportunity.

However, Keira's love for Kian was all-encompassing, to the point of being all-consuming.

To preserve familial tranquility, Emelia had gone against her grandfather's desires.

Now that Hewitt family had forsaken her, Emelia approached Kian for assistance in ensuring the Hewitts faced consequences for their actions.

With time ticking away and no action from Emelia, Kian's attention moved from the book to her small visage.

His deep voice bore a chilly mockery. "Are you here to play the silent game, huh?"

The guy clearly wasn't a fan.

Oddly, Emelia's tense body seemed to relax in an instant. "I'll throw in 25% of the Hewitt Group's shares for free. I figure you could easily take the reins as its new boss!"

Kian arched an eyebrow slightly, placing the book he held on the stone table with casual ease.

His well-defined fingers lightly pressed on the armrest as he rose from his seat.

Kian, standing at a height of almost 6'3", emanated a commanding presence. He approached her.

Emelia instinctively took a step back, withdrawing a couple of steps before advancing once more. She endeavored to meet his gaze, her determination aligning with his imposing demeanor.

"If you think I'm not serious, I can sign the transfer agreement right now. We can get the transaction sorted out ASAP!"

Kian's dark eyes stayed unreadable, showing zero emotion.

But there was a little smirk playing on his lips, hinting at some amusement. "What's your condition?"

He seemed to drop a dangerous hint.

Emelia's long eyelashes flickered, and her small face tightened as she stated, "You've got to get engaged to me!"

Kian's gaze had slightly narrowed as he raised his hand to cradle Emelia's chin. He scrutinized her as if assessing an object. Eventually, he let go of her chin, displaying clear disdain. Retrieving a disinfectant wipe, he proceeded to cleanse his hands meticulously.

Emelia sensed a slight coarseness in her usual skincare routine by contrast.

However, that wasn't the moment to dwell on such matters.

One of her seniors, Edward Thatch, had advised against showing weakness in negotiations, especially against a formidable opponent, to prevent everything from falling apart.

Inhaling deeply, she moved towards the stone table, imitating Kian's gestures. She commenced wiping her chin with a disinfectant wipe.

Then, she dabbed away the lingering moisture on her chin.

However, Emelia detected roughness.

It was her skin.

The Hewitt family had thrust Emelia into the entertainment realm, disguising it as familial bonding, casting her as a mere contrast to Keira's brilliance.

Emelia's third brother, Jayson, had presented her with an assortment of cosmetics.

Initially, this gesture had filled her with joy.

However, the cosmetics proved ineffective, worsening her skin condition.

Reflecting on this, Emelia chuckled softly, her eyes tinged with desolation and self-deprecation.

Unaware, she failed to notice Kian's gaze fixated on her, now with heightened interest.

A quarter of the Hewitt Group's shares, valued at one billion dollars, were effortlessly surrendered by this girl.

If it wasn't about money, what was the origin of the sorrow in her eyes?

Was it the Hewitt family?

That intrigued him.

Kian's eyes narrowed as a flashback struck him-his recent visits to the family estate, echoes of his family's complaints about him still being single resounding in his ears.

They were relentless, thoroughly exasperating.

Now she was making such a request...

"I'm on board!"

Emelia was thrown off, not expecting such a quick win in the negotiation.

She was surprised.

When their eyes met, her refined features showed a pleasant confusion.

"You... Really? You agreed?"

Kian nodded. "You threw in a pretty sweet deal. No reason for me to say no."

A mere billion could influence Kian, whose value was a hundredfold greater?

Emelia harbored skepticism. "Got any other requests?"

Kian asked, "Aren't you the one pitching this engagement? Shouldn't you be laying out the terms?"

His words brought a blush to Emelia's cheeks.

She wasn't in the mood for games. Tired and craving a good night's sleep, she declared, "Alright, we will split after a year! Agree to that, and I'll sign right away!"

Kian was mildly surprised.

The Hewitt Group and the Gilbert Group had perennially competed, but the Gilbert Group's acquisition of the Hewitt Group was inevitable.

His agreement to the engagement stemmed from weariness of his family's pestering.

Originally planning to uphold it for just a year, he didn't anticipate her articulating his unspoken thoughts.

"Alright. No complaints on my end. It's a deal!"

"Phew!" Emelia breathed a sigh of relief.

Grabbing the share transfer agreement from her backpack, she quickly signed it and handed it over to Kian. "Mind if I crash at your place tonight? I'll take off tomorrow!"

She looked a bit worn out. Having left the Hewitt family's villa with barely anything, the money she had with her was spent in the hospital.

Plus, it was too late to find a place to stay today, and she genuinely had nowhere else to go if Kian didn't agree.

Kian cast an indifferent glance at her, seemingly piercing through her present situation.

Under this scrutinizing stare, Emelia feigned composure. Just as she contemplated fleeing, the man instructed the butler to arrange a room for her.

The guest room was impeccably clean. Emelia promptly took a shower to shake off the remnants of illness.

Lacking alternative attire, Emelia opted for a bath towel, draping herself with it and climbing into bed.

The hospital gown was something she vehemently avoided.

The plushness of the bed and the subtly fragrant pillow induced drowsiness in Emelia, still on the path to full recovery.

Abruptly, a maid knocked on the door. "Miss Hewitt, dinner is served downstairs."

Emelia quickly agreed, glancing at the hospital gown before turning her attention to the wardrobe.

Descending, Emelia found Kian elegantly seated at the dining table, gracefully consuming his meal with a fork. It resembled a beautiful painting.

Emelia was captivated by the scene.

Caught in her discreet glances, Kian, now relaxed into his meal, decided not to let her ruin his appetite.

"Got something on your mind?" He locked eyes with her.

However, his gaze fell on her wearing his white shirt, its hem covering her thighs, revealing slender legs.

An involuntary swallow gave away Kian's reaction, and he looked away, a hint of irritation in his expression.

Emelia rushed to explain, "I ran out of clothes, and the hospital gown was a mess. Your shirt was the only thing in the wardrobe... I'll wash it and give it back."

"Sure," Kian replied.

Quickly finishing his meal, he headed upstairs, unable to shake the image of her in his shirt from his mind.

Witnessing a woman in his shirt was an unprecedented sight for him. He discovered himself captivated by... an unforeseen charm.

Kian closed the door with a resounding thud, sealing off the intrusive thoughts.

Emelia pressed her lips together, contemplating Kian's potential displeasure. She committed to making amends with a new shirt later.

Emelia denied herself the luxury of sleeping in. The following morning, she woke early, determined to bid farewell.

Upon opening her room door, she found a set of women's clothing arranged for her. She dressed, preparing to depart.

Downstairs, Kian sat in the living room. As Emelia cleared her throat to bid farewell, she nearly choked on her saliva when the man delivered his bombshell.

"You had no plans today, right? How about we make it official and tie the knot!"