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From childhood, Stephanie knew she was not her parents' real daughter, but out of gratitude, she turned their business into a powerhouse. Once the true daughter came back, Stephanie was cast out-only to be embraced by an even more powerful birth family, adored by three influential brothers. The second ruled the battlefield. "Stephanie's sweet and innocent; she would never commit such crimes. That name on the wanted list is just a coincidence." And the youngest controlled the markets. "Anyone who dares bully my sister will lose my investment." Her former family begged for forgiveness-even on TV. Stephanie stood firm. When the richest man proposed, she became the woman everyone envied. The eldest ran the boardroom. "Cancel the meeting. I need to set up the art exhibition for my sister!" The town was turned upside down.
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. Our maid switched you with my real daughter, Aimee, and kept us in the dark. For years, you've lived a comfortable life here while Aimee struggled in the dirt." Now that Aimee's back, 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.
But only she was aware of the truth: once they learned she wasn't their blood, she had been relegated to the role of a maid-a silent, functional presence maintaining the household from the shadows.
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 every 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!"
Chapter 1 She Was Kicked Out
05/01/2026
Chapter 2 She's A Superb Doctor
05/01/2026
Chapter 3 A Girl In Need
05/01/2026
Chapter 4 Extraordinary Skills
05/01/2026
Chapter 5 You Can Be His Wife
05/01/2026
Chapter 6 You Have To Help Me Find Her
05/01/2026
Chapter 7 You Are My Granddaughter
05/01/2026
Chapter 8 Her Three Brothers
05/01/2026
Chapter 9 Welcome Home
05/01/2026
Chapter 10 Superiority Tinged With Jealousy
05/01/2026
Chapter 11 A Nosy Isabel
05/01/2026
Chapter 12 Scraping By Just For Lunch
05/01/2026
Chapter 13 What Did I Do To Get Blacklisted
05/01/2026
Chapter 14 I'd Like To Undergo A Check-up Too
05/01/2026
Chapter 15 Admiring The Strength And Definition Of His Build
05/01/2026
Chapter 16 Are You Really My Mom
05/01/2026
Chapter 17 They Look Practically Identical
06/01/2026
Chapter 18 Extravagant Gifts
06/01/2026
Chapter 19 DNA Test Results
06/01/2026
Chapter 20 The Arrogant Family
06/01/2026
Chapter 21 I'll Have The President Throw You Out
06/01/2026
Chapter 22 Rules Are Rules
06/01/2026
Chapter 23 A Full Display
06/01/2026
Chapter 24 A Dysfunctional Spectacle
06/01/2026
Chapter 25 Owen's Cold Reaction
06/01/2026
Chapter 26 A Shared Apartment
06/01/2026
Chapter 27 A Heated Argument
06/01/2026
Chapter 28 You Can't Help Her
06/01/2026
Chapter 29 No Progress
06/01/2026
Chapter 30 It Bothered Him More Than He Liked To Admit
06/01/2026
Chapter 31 A Bodyguard's Daughter
06/01/2026
Chapter 32 Ever Consider That I Might Not Be Poor
06/01/2026
Chapter 33 You Are My Hero
06/01/2026
Chapter 34 To Shut Her Up
06/01/2026
Chapter 35 Waylon Actually Smiled At Stephanie
06/01/2026
Chapter 36 Crystal Followed Stephanie
06/01/2026
Chapter 37 Aimee's Wounded Pride
06/01/2026
Chapter 38 Whose Painting Is Better
06/01/2026
Chapter 39 A Fair Contest
06/01/2026
Chapter 40 She Came Prepared
06/01/2026
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