ACRID

A luxury BMW was parked at the end of an old street in a small town.

A girl in shabby jeans stood in front of the car door expressionlessly, clutching an equally shabby suitcase.

A middle-aged man was sitting in the driver's seat. He looked at the girl standing outside from the corner of his eyes and frowned, seeming dissatisfied with her shabby ensemble.

"Get in the car," he barked.

The girl didn't flinch despite the harshness in the man's voice.

She calmly opened the door and got in the back seat.

"I'm Bill Jenkins. From now on, you're going to be my daughter. Although we're not biologically related, I'll arrange for someone to train you. You'll become a decent Jenkins lady in no time."

As the man spoke, he started the car and zoomed out of the small town.

In the river-view villa, as soon as Maria Jenkins got out of the car, she saw a middle-aged woman standing at the gate.

Judging from the woman's uniform and demeanor, Maria guessed that she was a servant.

"Mr. Jenkins, Miss Jenkins, welcome back. Lunch is ready."

Bill turned to Maria and said, "Since you're new here, Lily will show you around. You have to behave once you step inside this house. Don't even think about bringing your old bad habits to the Jenkins family. Do you hear me?"

Maria nodded indifferently, still as expressionless as a porcelain doll.

"Come with me," Lily said flatly, turning around and entering the house.

Maria didn't say anything. She quietly picked up her old suitcase and followed Lily into the house.

Lily then showed Maria around as she was told to. As soon as they climbed the stairs to the third floor, Maria caught a glimpse of an expensive-looking piano through the crack of a half-open door.

Maria couldn't help but stop in her tracks to take a closer look.