The Boy They Loved Was The Underworld Queen

"Welcome back!" On either side of the walkway, men dressed in black suits bowed low as a woman approached.

Her stride was smooth and self-assured, the wheels of her suitcase trailing behind her in a steady rhythm.

A trench coat hung from her shoulders, and dark sunglasses hid most of her face. Even so, the air around her was charged with cool authority.

She paused, and then slid off her glasses, revealing eyes that sparkled with quiet determination.

With a small wave, she signaled, and a man hurried over, offering her a phone.

"Avery, did you touch down alright?" a man's voice asked from the other end.

"Ashton, was it really necessary to roll out the red carpet? Are you trying to make headlines about the underworld queen coming back to town?" said Avery, pinching the bridge of her nose, her annoyance obvious.

Ashton Scott let out an amused laugh on the other end. "What did you expect? The only daughter of the Shadow Kingpin returns-of course, it has to be an event."

She lowered her voice, her eyes sharp. "I'm not here for applause. My only reason for coming back is to find out who was behind my father's murder. The last thing I need is every pair of eyes on me."

"Relax, I've already made sure no one will suspect a thing." Ashton assured her, his tone light and almost teasing.

Avery's gaze shifted to the Cullinan waiting by the curb. The driver, without missing a beat, stepped out and opened the door, head bowed in silent respect.

Sliding into the back seat, Avery crossed one leg over the other and fixed her gaze out the window. "Alright, Ashton. What kind of plan are you running this time?"

"You'll see soon enough," Ashton responded, amusement clear in his voice.

She frowned. "Seriously, what's that supposed to mean?"

As the car eased away from the curb, she heard Ashton say, "Check your phone. I just sent you everything you need."

Once the call ended, her phone buzzed with an incoming document. The file spun a wild tale. "Avery Hudson, missing youngest son of the Hudson family, finally discovered after years of fruitless searching. The Hudsons had traced their son to the Cooper household, where he'd been raised. The Coopers were tragically wiped out by their enemies, and Avery was the only one who made it out alive."

None of it made sense. Avery's thoughts spun as she tried to piece it together.

What did this mean?

Before she could process it further, another message from Ashton popped up. "Your father's death ties back to the Hudson family. From now on, your identity is the Hudson family's lost son."

A cold chill swept through her. She snapped her eyes to the driver, who caught her gaze in the mirror and offered a sly grin.

She sat up straighter, tension flooding her voice. "What is this supposed to be? What are you trying to pull?"

Suddenly, the driver yanked the wheel hard, sending the Cullinan crashing straight into a tangle of shrubs and branches.

The world spun violently. Avery's head slammed against the seat, and everything went dark.

...

A frantic voice cut through the haze. "Avery, wake up! Please, don't do this to me!"

Blinking through the fog, Avery looked up and saw a pair of anxious eyes hovering over her.

She struggled to make sense of things. "Who are you?"

"It's me, Walter. I'm your second brother. I'm so sorry. If I hadn't let my guard down, you would have never been abducted," said Walter Hudson, squeezing Avery's hand, his relief obvious.

Brother? Abducted?

A low ringing filled her ears, disorienting her all over again.

But as she focused on the man's face, she recognized him-the Hudsons' second son, looking at her like he'd finally found something precious.

Now she found herself cast in the role of Avery Hudson-the long-lost son the Hudson family had been searching for.

"You're awfully quiet. Are you feeling alright?" asked Walter, his voice thick with worry as he hovered by her side. He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, searching for any sign of fever.

"It's nothing serious-just a headache," she replied, keeping her voice steady.

Honestly, this whole act was starting to give her a real migraine.

There she was, once the feared leader of the Umbra Collective, now forced to play the part of the Hudson family's long-lost son. The lengths she had to go for the truth bordered on ridiculous.

But discovery wasn't an option. The Hudson family treated their youngest like a treasure, and if anyone caught on to her deception, she wouldn't get a second chance.

Walter was still too worried to sit still. "Somebody get a doctor in here, right now!" he called out, running off himself to speed things up.

Alone for a moment, Avery checked her disguise. Her chest was bound so tightly it hurt, her long hair gone, chopped short for the sake of blending in. For a woman who cared about her looks, the discomfort was nothing compared to the sting to her pride.

Avery had ruled the powerful Umbra Collective-now she was just a juggler, faking her way through a boy's life. If her enemies ever saw her like this, they'd never let her forget it.

"Doctor, my brother says his head hurts. Can you take a look at him, please?" Walter insisted, practically guiding the doctor straight to Avery's bedside.

The doctor leaned in, his eyes gentle as he studied her face. "Alright, young man, I'll need to check your heart and lungs. Would you mind lifting your shirt for me?"

Avery's eyes narrowed, a hint of anxiety flickering beneath her calm facade. "It's probably nothing, just a little headache," she insisted, trying to wave off the concern.

"It's best to check everything, just to be safe." The doctor met her gaze with a reassuring smile.

She pressed her lips together, uncertainty twisting in her gut.

If she went along with the exam, her secret could be exposed right here and now.

Walter tried to put her at ease. "You should let the doctor do his job. Even if you seem fine on the outside, you could be hurt where we can't see it."

"I..."

"Avery!" a woman shouted, her voice trembling with emotion as she rushed into the room.

Without warning, the woman gathered Avery into a fierce hug.

"My precious boy, I never thought I'd see you again," she sobbed, clinging tightly.

Avery sat frozen in her arms, barely breathing, terrified her disguise would be discovered in this sudden embrace.

"Take it easy, Mom. The doctor is still examining Avery," said Walter, gently pulling his mother back.

Blinking away tears, Lindsay Hudson turned to the physician. "Doctor, please-tell me how my son is doing."

The doctor offered a polite nod. "Mrs. Hudson, the patient appears to be stable for now. Walter mentioned he's experiencing headaches, so I'd like to run a few checks to be sure."

"Thank you, doctor. Please be thorough," Lindsay replied, and then motioned for Walter to follow her out so the exam could continue in peace.

Once they stepped into the hallway, Avery let out a long breath, tension slipping from her shoulders.

Now came the hard part-getting through this examination without exposing her secret.

The doctor leaned in and whispered, "There's no need to worry, ma'am. I'm with the Umbra Collective."

Instantly, Avery's entire posture shifted. She jumped off the bed, hand shooting up to press sharply against his throat.

The doctor's hands shot into the air, and he let out a shaky laugh. "Please, calm down. There's no need for violence!"

"Calm down? How? Look at the mess I've been dragged into! Tell me what Ashton's really up to," Avery insisted, her voice ice-cold and unwavering.

The doctor knew what she was capable of, and he knew there would be no second chances if he slipped up.

He kept his tone steady as he explained, "For years, Umbra Collective has hunted the real mastermind behind the Shadow Kingpin's death. Every clue keeps leading us back to the Hudson family. But their power in Shoria is ironclad. No one on the outside can get close enough to expose the truth. The only way in is for you to become one of them-take on the role of their missing youngest son, gain their confidence, and uncover the mastermind from within."

Avery pulled back, dropping her hand and slumping onto the bed, her laugh bitter and hollow. "I'd be amazed if I made it to the end of this mess without blowing my own cover. Finding the culprit is the least of my problems."

"Wait-look at this." The doctor produced a worn photograph and handed it over.

Avery scanned the picture and frowned. "What am I supposed to see?"

"That's the Hudson family portrait."

Avery studied the faces-she picked out Lindsay and Walter right away. Her gaze lingered on the stern man with commanding eyes; that had to be Ryan Hudson, the family's patriarch.

On either side stood two men, both exuding quiet confidence. She guessed those were Phillip Hudson and Zachary Hudson, the eldest and third sons.

Her suspicion didn't fade. "Why hand me this photo? What's your angle?"

He gestured for her to look closer. "See the resemblance? You match the family more than you realize."

Avery gave the picture a second, longer look. She couldn't deny it-there was a real similarity, enough to fool even a careful observer.

"You want me to step into the shoes of their lost son based on a bit of family likeness?" Her voice was sharp, disbelief edging every word.

The doctor nodded, voice calm. "Your backstory has been created down to the smallest detail. We even staged that car crash to give you a believable case of amnesia. Everything else depends on your performance."

Avery gritted her teeth, cursing Ashton silently for dragging her into this mess.

She leveled a cold glare at the doctor. "Tell me about the massacre of the Cooper family. Don't forget the rules of the Umbra Collective."

The doctor paled, his voice shaky as he tried to reassure her. "I promise you, the Cooper family made their own bed. They crossed too many lines-nobody innocent got caught in the crossfire. And we did it cleanly."

Some of the tension eased from Avery's shoulders. Even in the underworld, there were boundaries you didn't cross.

Meanwhile, out in the hallway, Lindsay wore a fierce expression, her presence commanding attention.

"Have you uncovered who's behind all this?" Her voice was sharp, eyes flashing. "Whoever dared lay a hand on my son won't live to regret it."

Walter answered, his face serious, "Mom, I doubt we'll have to get involved. When we found the ones responsible, someone had already taken care of them."

Lindsay's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Already handled? Who would go that far before we could?"

Walter gave a slight shake of his head. "We're still piecing things together. Right now, all signs point to the Umbra Collective being involved."

A deep furrow appeared between Lindsay's brows. "The Umbra Collective?" she echoed, voice tinged with disbelief. "That's that new syndicate from Vrunron, right? People say their boss is a woman, but what business would she have here in Shoria?"

She fell silent, thinking it over, and then gave a firm nod. "Keep the investigation quiet. Avery just came back, and he barely knows what this family is about yet. Let's protect him from any more trouble."

A shadow passed through her eyes. "He's been through enough as it is. We owe him a peaceful home now, more than ever."

Walter nodded with resolve. "I promise, Mom. I'll look after him."

The door swung open, and the doctor stepped out.

"Doctor, how is he?" asked Lindsay.

The doctor gave a reassuring smile. "His vital signs are stable. The only issue is that he may be dealing with post-traumatic amnesia, which means he could have some memory loss. There's a chance his memory will return naturally, but it will take time."

Relief washed over her face. "As long as he's safe, that's all I need to hear," said Lindsay.

Together, she and Walter walked back into the hospital room.

"Son, you need to stay here and focus on getting better," said Lindsay as she sat down beside Avery, brushing her fingers softly across her face. "Walter and I will take turns coming by to see you over the next few days. Your father, along with Phillip and Zachary, is caught up with work right now, but they'll be back once you're ready to go home."

"Alright," responded Avery with a small nod, her eyes fixed on them with the innocence of a child who knew little about the world.

The sight of her looking that way made Lindsay's and Walter's hearts ache even more.

"My poor boy..." Lindsay pulled Avery into her arms once more, her voice trembling as she whispered, "I've been searching for you for over a decade. There were times I thought I'd never find you again. But luck has finally brought you back to me, and I swear I'll make up for every ounce of pain you've endured."

"Mom, you don't have to worry." Avery shook her head gently, her lips curving into a bright smile. "Just being here with you is enough for me."

Her gaze drifted toward Walter, and she grinned. "And I even get a handsome brother out of it. How could I not feel blessed?"

Walter's chest tightened as he looked at her. That childlike warmth in her smile seemed to soften something deep inside him, and he could hardly stand the rush of affection.

But alongside that tenderness, anger brewed. He couldn't stop imagining the faces of those who had mistreated his little brother, and every part of him longed to make them pay.

"Mom, Walter," Avery said softly, hesitation flickering in her eyes. "Do you think Dad and my other brothers will accept me like you have? I remember being taken in by another family once... As far as I can recall, they treated me coldly and eventually threw me out."

"You don't need to fear that," said Lindsay firmly. "We aren't like them. Your father and brothers will be just as glad to welcome you back as I am."

Avery narrowed her eyes, recalling the forged papers Ashton had produced. They painted her as a castaway from the Cooper family, a twist that ended up sparing her from a worse fate.

"Of course!" said Walter with conviction. "Mom, Dad, and every one of your brothers won't just treat you well. They'll treasure you."

"That's the best thing I could ever hope for." Avery nodded eagerly, her smile bright enough to chase away any lingering doubts.

The following days blurred together as Lindsay and Walter came by often to keep her company.

During her quieter moments, Avery buried herself in research, combing through hidden corners of the dark web in search of whoever was behind the Shadow Kingpin's death.

This time, she also tried to follow up clues of the Hudson family, but the trail was frustrating. Ashton had been right. Both the killers and the Hudsons operated with walls of secrecy, leaving her with almost nothing of value.

She realized that the only way forward might be to get closer to the family members themselves.

One afternoon, she sat in the hospital garden, her phone glowing with the latest trending headline. "Zachary Hudson Takes Home Best Actor for the Third Year in a Row, Shattering Film History Records."

A laugh escaped her lips. "So, my so-called third brother is a superstar. And I can't deny it... he really is striking."

Her eyes lingered on the photo of him in a white suit, standing tall and distant like someone carved out of light, admired but unreachable.

The sorrow in his eyes ran so deep it tugged at every heart watching, sending his admirers into a wild rush of emotion.

Avery let out a soft laugh. "The Hudson family really doesn't disappoint. Phillip, the oldest, built Prosper Corporation from the ground up and turned it into the most powerful company in Shoria. He's already on track to surpass Ryan. And then there's Walter, the brilliant professor who's written groundbreaking papers and somehow ended up being called the most handsome man in academia."

Avery arched her back in a lazy stretch, amused at the thought that having three brothers as successful as hers wasn't such a bad deal after all.

Her calm drift was shattered when she caught sight of a patient sprinting across the walkway, a knife flashing in his grip as he charged at another man.

"Watch out!" Avery shouted, instincts kicking in as she lunged forward with explosive speed and slammed into the intended target.

The startled man spun around just in time to see the patient bearing down on him, blade raised. Before he could react, Avery's body collided with his, knocking him off balance.

"I'll cut you down!" the patient shouted, his eyes wild as he swung the knife with desperate fury.

Avery narrowed her eyes, braced herself, and snapped her leg back in a sharp kick that sent the weapon skittering across the pavement.

The attacker froze in shock, giving her the opening to pivot and drive her knee hard into his chest, forcing him to stumble back and crash to the ground.

Two nurses burst onto the scene at that moment, quickly restraining the fallen man.

"We're terribly sorry," one of them said in a rush. "He just found out his lung cancer is in the final stage. He lost control of himself, but we'll bring him back right away."

The situation left Avery baffled. If the patient was unstable enough to lash out with a weapon, why had the hospital allowed him to wander freely? She pushed the thought aside and shifted her attention to the man she had just saved.

"Are you hurt?" she asked, her words tumbling out before she realized she was staring into eyes so deep they seemed to quiet every storm inside her.

That steady gaze felt like sinking into still water, and for a fleeting moment, she forgot where she was.

"I'm alright, thanks to you," Nathan Kirk answered, his voice rich and calm, carrying a warmth that lingered in her ears.

Avery blinked herself back into focus and gave an awkward laugh. "Oh, it's nothing. Really. I'm just glad you're okay."

She reached up and rubbed the bridge of her nose, unsure what else to do with herself.

Up close, his looks struck her even harder. He outshone Zachary's polished charm, and for a second, she wondered if he, too, belonged to the world of stars and flashing cameras.