Unveiling Stardom: The Forsaken Heiress' Gifts Know No Limit

A long road extended into the distance, the sound of a custom motorcycle moving through the air evident. A woman in a fitted leather jacket leaned forward over the handlebars, her hair tousled by the wind.

Nicole Palmer checked her watch, feeling a bit tense. She had arranged for an audition across the city in the morning and was running late. Luckily, her modified bike was ready for her today, so she hoped she could make it on time.

Cranking the throttle, she welcomed the rush of warm summer air, a brief moment of peace washing over her as the scenery blurred by.

Just then, movement along the shoulder caught her eye-two heavyset men shoved a burlap sack toward a battered gray van.

Tiny legs dangled from the bottom of the sack.

Were these men kidnappers?

Nicole's expression hardened as she slammed the brakes. The tires shrieked, rubber biting into the road.

Without hesitation, she swung the bike around and took off in hot pursuit of the van, determined to intervene.

Her bike might have been past its prime, but she'd poured her soul into every repair. If she hadn't put effort into fixing it, the thing would have fallen apart miles ago.

So, it was hard for her to catch up with the van.

Worse yet, the driver must have spotted her in the side mirror and mashed the accelerator, trying to shake her off.

Each second that passed, the gap between them widened. Nicole's pulse hammered in her ears-she couldn't just stand by while a child was taken.

Spotting a sleek black Bentley idling nearby, Nicole quickly stopped and made a split-second decision.

She would need to borrow the car if she wanted to step in and save the child.

The Bentley's unsuspecting owner had no idea someone was already eyeing his car.

Ayden Hayes leaned against the passenger side of his luxury sedan, his face carved from stone while he issued terse orders into his phone.

"If you can't find him, don't bother coming back at all."

After saying that, he ended the call and turned to get inside his car, ready to leave. At that moment, he saw a woman in a leather jacket walk right toward him.

She whistled and shot him a look full of mischief. "Hey, I need a quick favor. Let me borrow your car, and I promise I'll thank you after I successfully save the day."

Ayden stared at her in disbelief, convinced he must have stepped into some alternate reality. Since when did carjackers get so brazen in Crustin?

His hand tightened around the door handle, but Nicole acted in a flash. She snatched the keys and pushed him into the backseat with a force that belied her size before he could react, leaving him completely stunned.

Swinging into the driver's seat, she muttered excitedly, "Not your day today, you scumbags. I'm coming to get you!"

After a pause, she said to Ayden, "Hang on tight!"

With a hard stomp, Nicole floored the accelerator, and the Bentley shot ahead with a roar.

Ayden clung to the nearest handle instinctively, bracing as the car careened down the road.

He couldn't help but think that this woman drove so recklessly.

Nicole steered the Bentley through the turns with steady control, each movement precise and confident. Ayden glanced at her a few times, his curiosity gradually taking over.

Everything about Nicole was eye-catching-her sharply cut hair brushing her collarbone, her striking face set with determination, and the effortless way she commanded the wheel. She was strikingly beautiful.

But that didn't change the fact that she had just hijacked his car.

"Do you even know who I am-" Ayden tried to talk to her.

But before he could finish speaking, a sharp, jarring stop slammed him forward, and his stomach did a flip.

The car screeched to a halt right in front of a dull gray van, and the sound of metal grinding on asphalt was chilling.

Nicole wasted no time. She leapt from the driver's seat and kicked the van's door so hard that it rattled on its hinges.

"Let the kid go, unless you want real trouble."

She delivered those words with a dangerous glare that didn't fit her striking looks.

Ayden was surprised by that.

This woman was unpredictable.

Inside the van, the group understood they needed to deal with Nicole before their plan could proceed.

With no security cameras nearby, a handful of men in cheap caps spilled out of the van, each one gripping a metal pipe.

Nicole looked them over, looking unfazed.

She lunged before they could make a move. Her fist connected with the leader's nose and sent him stumbling backward with a cry. Then, she followed up with a swift kick that knocked him off his feet.

There was an almost effortless grace to how she fought, every movement controlled and deliberate. It was obvious she had been trained.

For a second, the others were stunned. Then, with a shout, they all charged at Nicole together.

Nicole gave a short, biting laugh and hurled herself right into the thick of the fight, not the slightest hint of fear in her eyes. She threw punches and kicks with a ruthless precision, each blow dropping her opponents fast and hard. No one who hit the ground got up again.

Immersed in the fight, she failed to notice someone stepping out of the Bentley behind her.

Meanwhile, the van's trunk creaked open, and a small head poked out, curiosity shining in his gaze.

"That's awesome! Take them down! Don't let up!"

The encouragement rang out, bright and enthusiastic. Nicole's attention flicked toward the voice without a second thought.

Energy radiated from the kid; he didn't look like someone who had been abducted by strangers.

Just then, a flash of steel sliced through the air in front of Nicole. She dipped back, spun on her heel, smashed her elbow into her attacker, then kicked hard, her foot connecting with a sickening thud.

"Ah!"

A sharp crack echoed as bones cracked, followed by a pained howl.

Nicole had taken down all these men in minutes.

A smirk crossed her lips as she glanced back at the young face still in the van.

"You can come out now," she said, gesturing for the kid to approach.

"Man, these guys are useless. Looks like I can't leave Crustin now," Simon Hayes said, making no move to get out of the van.

Something felt wrong. Nicole crossed the distance in a few strides, grabbed Simon by his collar, and dragged him out of the van with little patience.

"Do you really plan on hanging around till someone ships you off for good?" she said.

"Ouch! Watch my neck!"

Dangling in midair, Simon kicked wildly, unable to look down as panic set in.

"Hey there, chubby buddy, can you tell me where you live? Do you know your parents' phone number?"

Nicole set Simon on his feet and playfully poked his cheek. She couldn't help but smile at how cute he was.

A sharp glare shot from Simon's eyes right at Nicole.

Chubby? Was she calling him fat?

That was rude!

Before he could come up with a comeback, Simon's gaze shifted over Nicole's shoulder. The sight of the man nearby made every muscle in his body tense up.

No way... Ayden was here?

If his uncle managed to drag him home, Simon knew he'd be back behind the locked gates of boarding school soon.

Desperation took over. He quickly grabbed Nicole's leg and whispered, "That's the one who paid them to kidnap me. Help me escape now!"

Simon kept his voice low, but Nicole heard every word clearly.

That couldn't be true. As far as she knew, Ayden was just a stranger who happened to be nearby when she needed a car. She struggled to believe he could be behind all this.

Still, she could see that Simon's face was filled with real fear. Maybe there was indeed more to this.

"Hurry, you've got to take him down! If you don't, we're both toast! He's their leader!" Simon added urgently.

Uncertainty flashed in Nicole's eyes, but then, she looked up to see Ayden heading their way, his expression like a brewing thunderstorm.

Planting herself between Simon and Ayden, Nicole braced herself for a confrontation. But Ayden ignored her and reached straight for Simon without a word.

Lightning-quick, Nicole's hand snapped up and landed a precise chop to the back of Ayden's neck.

"Ugh!"

A groan escaped Ayden as his knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, completely out cold.

Victorious, Simon turned away from Nicole, grinning from ear to ear.

For once, even his unstoppable uncle looked absolutely defeated.

Doubt flickered in Nicole's eyes as she glanced at the unconscious man on the ground; something about the whole thing felt odd.

Still, getting the kid home took priority.

Once again, her hand found Simon's collar.

"So, chubby kid, do you remember your parents' phone number?" she asked.

Simon secretly rolled his eyes and then turned to face Nicole.

He managed a smile and said, "Thank you for saving me earlier, but I can make it home by myself."

Nicole's gaze sharpened, her patience wearing thin. "Not happening. We're getting your relatives on the line."

"I don't have any numbers memorized," Simon replied, looking sincere.

Truth was, there wasn't a single other contact stored in his head. Only Ayden's number stuck, but right now, he was out cold.

Nicole sighed in frustration as she checked her watch. Running late already, she decided the police could take it from here.

Without a hint of hesitation, she called the police.

The moment Simon realized what she was doing, he made a break for it. But Nicole's reflexes won out. She grabbed his collar before he could get away.

"Yeah, hi, I'm close to Southwest Road. Found a van packed with traffickers and rescued a kid. Can you send someone over? I'll wait right here."

A resigned look settled over Simon's face.

His grand escape plan had been crushed by this incredibly strong woman.

Nicole hurried through her statement for the police before she signed and hurried to the set.

Still, after being delayed by her act of saving the kid, she was late.

Walking onto the set, she found the assistant, who was assigned to her by her agent, waiting, eyeing her up and down like she was a problem to solve.

"Nicole, why are you dressed like that? You do know it's audition day, right? Just because the assistant director likes your face doesn't mean you can do whatever you want and ignore Danna's instructions."

The assistant made no effort to hide her annoyance, even throwing in a dramatic eye roll.

The person she mentioned, Danna Hardy, was Nicole's agent.

Nicole ignored the harsh words, which only seemed to wind the assistant up even more.

"Hey, I am talking to you. You think you're some kind of superstar like Elaine Hewitt? You sure know how to act like you're already above everyone."

Nicole had no interest in responding until that familiar name reached her ears.

Elaine Hewitt, the Hewitt family's heiress.

Before Nicole was kicked out of the Hewitt family, her path had crossed with Elaine's once.

It turned out Elaine was the true heiress, who had been misplaced at birth.

Nicole, on the other hand, was the unwanted impostor, even disliked by her real mother.

It was a DNA test that had finally set everything straight ten years ago.

"Wait, Elaine's auditioning for the lead role, too?"

Nicole shook off her thoughts and asked the question casually.

A dismissive laugh escaped the assistant. "Elaine doesn't need to audition for the role. She has already signed on as the lead actress. And you're here for the supporting role, just so you know."

The supporting role?

A crease formed between Nicole's brows. She didn't care what role she played in a small project like this, but if Elaine was in the cast, she wanted nothing to do with it.

She made up her mind to leave right then, only to see a crowd walking over from the other end of the set.

Someone at the center drew every eye-a woman dressed in a soft lavender gown.

One glimpse at that familiar face had Nicole ducking behind a nearby wall, hoping to stay out of sight.

Voices carried through the air.

"Elaine's even prettier in person. She's got that model look-tall, slim, always so elegant."

"No kidding. She is not only a famous star but also the social queen of Crustin. And her fiancé is none other than the heir of the Gill family."

"It's only a costume fitting today, but Mr. Gill insisted on coming with her. Look. The man standing by her side is him!"

"Some people just have it all. Elaine has the good looks, the high status, and a handsome, doting fiancé! I'm so envious!"

Leaning against the wall, Nicole let out a small snort, her face expressionless.

This project had real potential, and the assistant director clearly knew what he was doing, but Nicole knew she had to walk away now.

Once the voices faded, she slipped on her sunglasses, lowered her head, and wove through the crowd, making her way to the exit.

In the center of the crowd, Lanny Gill caught a flicker of movement and turned.

For a brief second, he caught sight of Nicole's profile before she vanished.

He froze mid-step.

"Lanny, what are you looking at?" Elaine's voice floated over, light as a song, while she gently tugged his wrist.

A moment passed before Lanny's focus returned. He held her hand and shook his head. "Nothing. Come on, let's get going."

He believed he must have been mistaken.

Nicole had left Crustin ten years ago. She wouldn't be here now.

Elaine smiled, slipping her arm through Lanny's with practiced grace.

"Today's heat is no joke, and you've all been amazing," she said to the crowd. "Lanny and I are treating everyone to iced coffee. Please enjoy."

"Thank you, Miss Hewitt!"

With a playful glance, Elaine turned her head toward Lanny. "Can you get me a strawberry shortcake later? Just don't go overboard with the sugar this time."

Lanny nodded absentmindedly as the memory of that shadowed profile clung to the edge of his mind, but Elaine didn't notice his distracted state.

***

After leaving the set, Nicole put on her helmet and guided her motorcycle toward a boxing club.

For the past few years, besides sporadic acting gigs, she worked as a sparring partner at a boxing club on Crustin's south side.

Skipping the film role just meant she could pick up a few extra shifts.

The moment she walked through the door, the owner of the boxing club approached.

"Nicole! I was hoping you'd show up!"

Nicole slid him a skeptical look, eyebrow raised.

Whenever he greeted her with that much enthusiasm, it was never about anything good.