Chapter 1 She Was Sold The throbbing in Eliana Murray's head made it hard to think, yet the unsettling sensation alongher lower body jolted her back to full awareness.

Her eyes snapped open, cold and sharp, locking on two middle-aged women. One yanked at her pants while the other fought to force her legs apart.

"Try that again and see what happens!" said Eliana, kicking theplump one squarely in the chest.

The blow sent the woman staggering backward, landing hard with a startled grunt. "Argh! That hurt, you bitch!" she cried out, clutching herself.

The other woman stopped tugging at Eliana's pants and hurried to lift her fallen companion.

Eliana went to grab them both but froze when she felt the coarse bite of rope digginginto her wrists. Her hands were tied fast.

Damn it. Where the hell was this? She had gone to sleep at her adoptive mother's place... so how had she ended up here?

Her gaze darted around her surroundings. Rotting walls closedher in, a rusted latch sealed the door, and a single threadof daylight trickled from a cracked window high on the wall.

The plump woman, now standing with help, snapped at Eliana, "You filthy brat!I should break your jaw for that kick!"

She raised her hand to strike, but the other woman caught her wrist. "Don't touch her face. She's worththirty grand, and a pretty face will fetch us double."

A slow breath hissed through the plump woman's teeth as she lowered her arm. "We gave her enough tranquilizer to knock out a horse. I don't know how she woke up so quickly. Whatever. At least she's awake for the check."

Eliana narrowed her eyes and asked, "What check are you talking about?"

"You're worth thirty grand, and we need to check if you're still a virgin," the plump woman replied.

Eliana's stomach turned. These lunatics wanted to see if she was a virgin? Ridiculous! They had no idea who they were dealing with. She wasn't some street rat they could drag around.

Back in Eighvale City, Eliana ruled the black market, and a single word from her could topple anyone foolish enough to cross her.

Eliana let out a cold laugh, her sharp eyes gleamingas she worked to free herself from the rope, whilestalling for time. "Thirty grand? Who are you people?"

Her trip to Udrerton Village had been nothing but a waste. She'd dropped everything in Eighvale when word came that her adoptive mother, Janessa Holt, was gravely ill. The reality? It was a mild cold.

She had planned to leave the very next morning. Instead, she'd woken up tied to a chair in a rotting shed.

The plump woman bent down, clamped a hand around Eliana's ankle, and said with a smirk, "Janessa sold you to us. Play along, and we might land you a decent man. Refuse, and we'll toss you to some lonely old man who'll take anything he can get."

"You're telling me Janessa sold me to you?" said Eliana, her voice edged with disbelief, as if the woman had just told her the most ridiculous joke she'd ever heard.

She'd been three years old when Janessa plucked her off the side of a dusty road. From that day on, she was paraded as the "adopted daughter", though everyone knew she was really being groomed to marry Neal Holt, Janessa's son.

Her earliest memories were of endlesschores, scraped hands, and exhaustion that weighed heavily on her bones.

Determined to escape, she'd learned every skillshe could get her hands on. By twelve, she had the means to walk away, and she never returned.

Still, she hadn't erasedthe debt she felt for the roof she'd been given.

Each month on the first, she sent Janessa a sum of money. Thetotal she had given her adoptive mother by now could have bought several prime real estate properties in any major city.

She had only shown up now because shebelieved Janessa was on her last breath, eager to slip in one final visit.

The truth was uglier than she'd ever imagined-Janessa hadn't softened. She'd sold her for thirty grand like she was a piece of livestock.

Now, Eliana realized why Janessa had suddenly greeted her with smiles and warm words upon her arrival.

She had believed, foolishly, that the woman had changed. In reality, Janessa had just been luring her into a trap.

Eliana's subordinates had warned her not to set foot in Udrerton. She should have listened, because the Holts hadn't sprouted a single decent soul.

Every muscle in Eliana's body worked toward the same goal. The ropes strained, her fingers clawedat the knots, and freedom was almost within reach.

She drew in a long breath, her tone dripping with disbelief as she said, "You're out of your mind. Janessa would never sell me. I'm supposed to be Neal's wife."

One of the women laughed and asked, "Neal's wife? You've been gone too long to keep up. He's about to marry the daughter of a corporate giant. His family is rolling in money now. What would he want with you?"

Tightening her grip around Eliana's ankle, the other woman barked, "Quit squirming and spread your legs! We have to confirm you're still a virgin. If you're not, we won't pay the rest. Don't even think about resisting. If we end up breaking your hymen by accident, you'll be the one paying the price."

A slow, dangerous smile spread across Eliana's face. "Let's find out who's really going to pay the price!"

In that instant, the rope slipped free from her wrists. She lunged, catching the plump woman by the throat and lifting her into the air.

The woman writhed in panic, yet her fingers couldn't pry Eliana's grip loose. Color drained from her face, replaced by a deep red flush. Her lips darkened toward a chilling shade of blue.

The other woman lunged toward them, but Eliana snapped a kick into her side without missing a beat.

The blow sent the woman crashing into the wall, and a wet cough sprayed blood across her chin.

Even through the pain, she found her voice and screamed, "Somebody! Help us!"

Two strong men stormed through the doorway, each wielding a club. They swung at Eliana without hesitation.

She tossed the plump woman aside and snatched both clubs in midair, her hands moving faster than they could follow.

The men froze, startledby her speed.

They didn't have time to recover beforeEliana's kicks sent them sprawling tothe floor, limbs twisted and motionless.

Right then, the plump woman Eliana had tossed aside earlier crept toward her, thinking she had the upper hand.

Her plan failed instantly. The moment she came close enough, Eliana turned around and struck her witha swift blow from a flying club, dropping her cold.

Ten minutes later, Eliana stepped outof the burning shed, squinting as the fierce sunlight stabbed at her eyes.

She lifted a hand to block the glare, brushing off the faint, panicked shouts coming from inside.

Not once did she look back. Her focus was locked onthe Holts' residence ahead.

Human traffickers weren't worth pity, and she had no intention of giving them any.

And after this, the Holts would answer for everything.

Her steps quickened when voices echoed across the distance.

"Fire! Somebody get water!"

The flames had drawn villagers, who came running with buckets sloshing water.

Wrapped in the stolen coat of one of the women, Eliana kept her head lowered and slipped past the crowd, moving against their frantic flow.

It wasn't long before she reachedthe Holts' home.

One kick sent the wooden door clattering to the floor, dust exploding into the air.

But the moment she stepped inside, she realized the place was empty.

"They sure knew how to run," she muttered, a thin smile curling her lips.

It didn't matter where they thought they could hide. She would track themdown to the last corner of the earth.

Whatever debt she'd once owed was long gone, and now it was time to settle the score. Neither Janessa nor Neal would walk away unscathed.

With her expression hard as stone, Eliana stormed intoher childhood room-a suffocating room carved from a storage closet, heavy with heat and the stench of mold.

Sure enough, both the small bag she had brought back and the phone she kept hidden beneath her pillow had vanished. Inside that bag had been nothing worth stealing-only her driver's license.

Even so, losing it meant getting back to Eighvale would be far more troublesome.

Eliana brushed the thought aside. She figured she could find a phone in town and call her people to come pick her up.

Her hand was on the door when aset of rapid footsteps pounded toward the house from outside.

A crease formed on her brow before her lips curved into a sharp smile. It had to bethe Holts, back sooner than she expected.

Her eyes swept the room. She spotted a sickle leaning against the wall behind the door and wrapped her fingers around its handle before stepping outside.

The figure waiting beyond the doorway wasn't anyone from the Holt family. A young man stood there, maybe in his twenties, a stranger to her eyes.

His suit hung in tatters, mud crusted on his cheeks, hair wild from the wind. A rusty bicycle leaned on its stand behind him.

Keeping the sickle hidden against her side, Eliana asked,"Who exactly are you here for?"

The man turned around, startled, and froze when he saw her face.

When his eyes landed on her, they went wide. She saw the disbelief hit him, then the emotion that followed-tears rolling down his grime-streaked cheeks.

"Lia! It's really you! Lia!" he shouted, chargingtoward Eliana like crazy.

He halted suddenly, stopping half a meter away as Eliana held the sickle aimed at him.

One more move and it would cut across his throat.

Chapter 2 Reunion With Her Brother "It's really you..." The man's voice quivered, not from fear but from an overwhelming rush of emotion.

"Don't you recognize me? It's me, your brother, Carl Murray! You disappeared when you were three. We've been searching for you ever since. The only reason I'm standing here now is because the national information system got upgraded, and your name came up. Our other family members weren't sure if it was really you, so they sent me to check."

His words spilled out in a hurry, but Eliana's face stayed unreadable, her eyes carrying a guarded edge. Considering she'd barely escapedbeing sold off minutes ago, blind trust wasn't on her list of options.

"I don't care who you are. Turn around and leave, or I'll make you regret staying," she said coldly.

Her rule had always been simple-if no one raised a hand againsther, she wouldn't strike first.

The disbelief in her expression only madeCarl more desperate.

"Lia, I'm telling you the truth. I'm your elder brother. Our family is the wealthiest in Qidence City. On Christmas, when you were just three, there was a huge celebration. So many people were there that we lost sight of you. We never stopped looking."

Eliana's gaze swept over him, slow and deliberate. "The wealthiest family shows up on a rusted bike?"

He glanced down at himself as if just noticing, then blurted out, "My carbroke down on the way. I borrowed the bike from a villager just so I could get here faster. I swear, our family really is the richest in Qidence!"

"Save it. I'm not buying any of your stories. Leave," Eliana snapped, not softening in the slightest.

He looked like a man trapped in a burning house, searching for a way out.

Then his face lit with sudden inspiration. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a fish-shaped jade pendant. "Here. This is half of the pendant Dad had made for you. When you vanished, you were wearing the other half around your neck."

The moment her gaze landed on the fish-shaped jade in his palm, something flickered in Eliana's eyes. Her grip on the sickle eased until the blade dropped to her side.

From beneath her collar, she pulled out thependant she'd worn for years. Its other half fit perfectly with the one Carl carried.

That single sight made his conviction unshakable. She wasn't just a lookalike; she was the sister he'd been searching for all these years.

Before now, he'd only trusted the resemblance to their mother. But the pendant left no doubt.

"The back of yours has your name'Eliana Murray', doesn't it?" he asked quickly, leaning forward.

Her eyes narrowed a fraction. That tiny engraving was so subtle. Was he telling the truth? The thought made her waver for the first time.

Lowering her guard only halfway, she asked, "Where exactly did you leave your car?"

"Parked at the main road ofthe neighboring village,"Carl replied without pause.

"Fine. Take me there. And hear me clearly-if this turns out to be a trick, you won't live to see another sunrise," Eliana warned sharply.

"I get it, I get it," Carl replied quickly, fumbling onto the battered bike parked at the door. He motioned for her to hop on.

Eliana was ready to tell him toforget it when a sudden wave of dizziness swept through her.

A few seconds passed before she steadied herself and swung onto the seat behind him.

Carl said, "Sit tight and..."

"Quit talking. Ride. Follow that pathahead," she ordered.

"Got it," he said, pushing the bike forward.

Still, the thought nagged at him-this wasn't the soft, delicate little sister he'd pictured. This was a woman who could handle herself.

With a deep breath, he pressed on toward the neighboring village, the pedals moving faster beneath his feet.

Following her lead, the ride passed without crossing paths with a single familiar face.

Nearly half an hour later, the neighboring village came into view.

During the ride, Eliana had tried her best to push the drug's effects deep enough to keep them at bay.

The moment her feet hit the ground, her eyes locked ona sleek black luxury car by the road. Its front end dipped noticeably-the left wheel was mangled beyond use.

Carl hurried to ease her concern, saying, "Lia, it's fine. I already called the nearest repair shop. They'll get here in two hours, maybe less-"

Before the words could land, Eliana was at the trunk, pulling out a spare and a set of tools like she'd done it a hundred times. Without a word, she strode to the damaged wheel.

"What are you doing?" Carl started.

"Fixing the damn tire," Eliana responded.

Two hours of waiting wasn't an option.

The people from her old village had never been worth trusting, and standingaround here would just invite trouble.

"You actually know how to do that?" Carl asked, disbelief creeping into his tone.

Eliana didn't bother answering. The jack slid into place, the car lifted, and within minutes, the spare was bolted on tight. With the bad tire kicked aside, she yanked the driver's door open and slid behind the wheel.

Carl was still frozen where he stood when she snapped, "Stop standing there. Get in."

"Right. Yeah." Carl snapped out of it, scramblinginto the passenger seat.

He broke into a grin and exclaimed, "Lia, that was incredible.You can change a tire like it's nothing. I can't even managethat. Oh-speaking of which, what was with the sickle earlier?"

"To cut grass for the sheep," Eliana answered flatly.

The simplicity of her reply hit him harder than he expected. "I had no idea things were this rough for you. Listen, once we're back home, you'll never have to do chores like that again... Ah!!!"

Before he could get the rest out, the car shot forwardlike a loosed arrow. His voice cracked in panic. "Slow down! You're going too fast! I'm serious-slow down!"

"Shut it," Eliana snapped, her voice cold enough to cut. His constant noise made her ears throb.

When his shouting started again, she didn't hesitate. Her right hand came down in a sharp, decisive strike, and the noise died instantly.

The engine roared louder, and the car surged ahead, zigzagging along the road as horns blared from every direction.

......

Inside a plane waiting for takeoff, Janessa ended the call with a grim look, ripping Neal's eyemask away. "We have a problem," she said crossly.

Neal cracked his eyes open in annoyance. "What problem?"

"Brianna's house burned down. Everyone inside died in the fire."

The weight of her words made him sit upright at last. "And Eliana?"

"Isn't it clear? She went up in flames with the rest of them!" Janessa's gaze carried not a shred of grief-only irritation. "You haven'tlaid eyes on her in years, but she turned into quite the beauty. Selling her for thirty grand felt like a loss! We had a deal-after checking whether she's still a virgin, they were supposed to hand over the remaining fifteen grand. Now that money's gone up in smoke too!"

Neal let out a breath of relief and said, "That fifteen grand is the last thing we should worry about. Once I marry Khloe, fifteen million will just be the cost of a single day."

In his eyes, Eliana-skinny and forgettable back then-couldn't possibly measure up to Khloe Clarke, the indulged daughter of the Clarke family and the woman set to be his wife.

"Still, fifteen grand doesn't just grow on trees..." Janessa muttered, her lips twisting in regret.

Neal explained with a shake of his head, "You've got no sense for the bigger picture. If she were alive, I'd never sleep easy. Imagine if Khloe found out I was once engaged to Eliana-she'd lose her mind. Now that Eliana's gone, there's no chance of Khloe ever learning she existed."

That thought seemed to ease Janessa's annoyance, her lips loosening into ahalf-smile. "I guess you're right. When we get back to Qidence, I'll stop by the church. Maybe light a candle for her, just to settle my conscience."

His expression hardened in disapproval. "And risk Khloe or her family catching wind ofit? Pointless. Eliana's already gone, and whether you mourn her or not changes nothing. Her death has nothing to do with us-it was just bad luck chasing her to the grave."

Janessa's agreement wascut short by a loud rumble from her stomach.

The thought of the pastries she had packed from home came to mind, and she dug quickly through her bag.

A bank card slipped free from between the wrappers and clattered onto the floor.

"You dropped something," Neal remarked, gesturing toward it with little interest.

Bending down to pick it up, Janessa paused, recognizing the card. "Eliana's been putting money into this account ever since she started working. She knew it took over an hour to get to the bank, but she still refused to send cash. She did it just to annoy me. Once we're in Qidence, I'll see how much she's stashed in here."

Neal looked disdainful. "She stopped going to school when she was twelve and went straight to work. Do you really think she's saved up much? If the Clarke family learns about this card, you'll have more than just a headache. Get rid of it."

Before she could respond, he tried to snatch the card from her hand.

She quickly shoved the card back into her bag. "Moneyis still money! Even if she only put in a grand a month, over the years that's more than a hundred grand."

Neal leaned back, pulled down his eye mask, and shut her out with silence.

He would have to deal with Khloe oncethey got to Qidence. She never appreciated him bringing his mother along.

Elsewhere, Carl, still sore from the blow Eliana had given him, came to his senses and realized he had already arrived in Qidence.

Chapter 3 She Hadn't Been Cast Aside Pain pulsed at the base of Carl's neck, and he reached up to massage it while scanning his surroundings.

The interior of his car felt unchanged, yet through the windshield rose the city's skyline, with the Pearl Tower cutting into the hazy distance.

That was when ithit him-he wasback in Qidence.

The last thing he remembered was leaving the village with Eliana behind the wheel. At some point, darkness had taken over without warning.

His gaze darted around the car, and an uneasy realization struck-Eliana wasn't there.

He twisted in his seat, straining to see, until he finally caught sight of her a few steps away.

Eliana stood in conversation with a young man whose messy curls framed his face.

"The lab sent the results," the man said, his voice low but urgent.

"What did they say?" asked Eliana, her eyes narrowing.

Instead of answering outright, theman passed her a thin folder. "You might want to read it yourself."

A crease formed on Eliana'sbrow as a suspicion beganto take shape in her mind.

She flipped the report open, heading straight for the last page. The words stared back at her. "Analysis of DNAsamples from both parties supports a blood relationship."

The report snapped shut in her hands, and her gaze darkened with a storm of unspoken emotions.

For as long as she could remember, she had carried the belief that she was an orphan. If that weren't true, then surely she had been cast aside.

That conviction had kept her from searching. Even with her talents and resources, she had never once tried to find them.

In her mind, those who had thrown her away didn'tdeserve to be her family.

Learning the truth about her roots left her with a swirl of emotions she couldn't quite name.

Even so, the thought of rushing back to her family didn't sit right with her.

Life alongside hersubordinates hadbecome her normal.

Watching her closely, the curly-haired man finally asked, "So, are you heading back to meet the Murray family? I did some digging. Besides you, they've got sixsons and one adopted daughter. The whole family situation is quite complicated."

She pushed the folder back into his hands without hesitation. "Complicated or not, I need to see it for myself."

His face lit up with approval. "Couldn't be better timing. We're shifting our headquarters to Qidence this year. Having connections here will smooth the way for everything."

Eliana's eyes narrowed slightly as she said, "So, this was part of your plan all along-nudging me back to the Murray family."

Scratching at his curls, he gave a sheepish grin and responded, "More like a move we can't avoid. Eighvale's market has been wrecked. Some unknown group came after us hard, and we've been bleeding losses without even knowing their names. We need new ground."

"Then let everyone know they should be ready to pack up at a moment's notice," Eliana said.

"Got it," he replied with a brisk nod. He started to turn away, then paused as something came to mind. "Oh-while you were gone, we landed a big contract.It's for treating someone here. Since you're already in town, can you take it?"

"What's theiroffer?" Eliana inquired.

"They said if the patient recovers, we can name any price we want," the man answered.

Eliana raised an eyebrow."Then let's make this our calling card in Qidence."

Before her last word had even faded, a faint noise came from inside the car.

With a flick of her hand, Eliana sentthe curly-haired man on his way, and he disappeared without another word.

Moments later, Carl walked up, his eyes trailing in thedirection the man had gone.

"Who was that, Lia?" he asked, curiosity edging his voice.

"Just a driver I hired. He's the one who brought us into Qidence," Eliana answered casually.

"Got it." Carl didn't question her,though his hand went to his neck."Strange... it's aching like crazy."

"You probably slept the whole ride and twisted it. That's all," she replied with the same easy tone.

"You think so?" Hiseyes narrowed slightly, still unsure.

"I'm sure of it," Eliana saidwith a firm nod.

Even with her reassurance, a quiet doubt lingered in his mind.

Each time he tried to focus on what had happened earlier, the throbbing in his neck sharpened until he gave up.

In the end, all that mattered was that Eliana was with him again.

"Come on, let's head home. Mom and Dad must be waiting," Carl said, his excitement bubbling over.

"Alright, let's go." Eliana agreed, making no move to argue and letting him take the driver's seat.

Carl straightened in confidence, determined to keep the ride smooth.

He hoped to show her he could handle the wheel, but the streets of Qidence were a mess-heavy traffic, endless red lights, and no room for speed.

Over an hour later, their patience paid off as they passed through the gates of a grand estate.

Eliana's gaze swept over the surroundings, and for the first time, she began to believe Carl's boast that the Murrays had been Qidence's richest family.

The thought struck her that, as the acknowledged daughter of such a family, moving the Onyx Syndicate's headquarters here would be far easier than she'd imagined.

Her thoughts barely had time to settle before the car rolled to a stop and she stepped out, only to spot several uniformed servants hauling luggage toward the gates.

Carl stepped forward and stopped one of them. "Briar, what's going on? Where are you headed?"

Recognizing him instantly, Briar Ward dipped his head in greeting before answering, "There's been... a major change in the family while you were away."

As he explained, the picture becameclear for Eliana.

Carl's father, Louis Murray, once Qidence's richest man, had been pulled into a high-profile economic investigation and taken into custody.

Alongside him, Damon and Sawyer Murray-the eldest and second sons-were also being held for questioning.

The Murray Group's empire had takena crushing hit, and the staff were being dismissed one after another.

Wages had just been settled, and those still loyal were now leaving with heavy hearts.

Carl stood frozen, as though the words couldn't quite take root in his mind.

Eliana gave a gentle pullon his sleeve. "Come on. Let's see for ourselves."

That seemed to jolt him back to reality. With a dazed expression clouding his features, he led her through the front doors.

The living room greeted them with a tense scene-a slim young woman knelt beforea middle-aged woman in an elegant dress.

"Mom, please, I had no other choice... With everything falling apart here, the Clarkes won't take me unless I cut ties with our family. You don't have to worry; it's only for appearances.After I marry into the Clarke family, I'll still be able to help..." the young woman pleaded.

At those words, Stella Murray's eyes slid shut, her expression one of quiet, aching disappointment.

The family's downfall hadn't been an accident. It was a calculated move, partly to stall for time and build their influence, and partly to see if the younger generation could endure hardship.

Still, after more than twenty years under hercare, Leyla Murray-the adopted daughter-decided to walk away the moment trouble arrived.

Even the servants who had been dismissed had quietly offered toreturn if the family needed them.

Leyla, however, seemed determined to put as much distance between herself and the Murrays as she could.

Carl didn't wait for her to speak. He strode forward and struck her across the face.

Clutching her cheek, Leyla stared at him in disbelief. "Carl, you actually hit me?"

His eyes were cold as he snapped back, "Yeah, Idid. And why shouldn't I? You're just lookingfor a way to save yourself while we're drowning."

"You-" Leylabegan, hervoice tight.

"Enough! Marry anyone you want.We don't give a damn. You're not a Murray anymore!" he barked.

Her gaze flicked between Carl and Stella, who said nothing. Then she let out a sharp laugh and rose to her feet. "Alright then. You've made it clear. This is your choice, not mine."

From her bag, she drew a folded document and added, "Sign this. From this moment on, your troubles aren't mine,and I won't care whether you guys end up in jail or not."

Carl snatched the severance papers beforeStella could react and scribbled his name without hesitation. "Done. Now get out!"

Chapter 4 Treating Stella Carl slammed one of the copies of the agreement to sever family ties onto the floor in anger.

For years, he had been convinced that Leyla was trouble, though the rest of the family refused to see it.

Now, her own actions had spared him the trouble of proving it.

"Why are you still standing here? Weren't you desperate to leave? Then go!" he said coldly.

A low, mocking laugh slipped from Leyla.

The truth was, she and Carl had never been on friendly terms, and there wasno reason to keep up the act anymore.

Bending to retrieve the crumpled document, she met Carl's gaze with chilling resolve. "Remember this moment, Carl. One day, you'll regret every choice you made today."

Without waiting fora reply, she turned toward the door.

Her step faltered when shenoticed Eliana watching from the corner of the room.

A frown creasedher face uponseeing Eliana.

Despite wearing clothes that could not have been plainer, Eliana's face carried a kind of beauty that demanded notice.

It wasn't the soft, quiet kind-it struck like a challenge, and Leyla felt an unease coil in her stomach.

Those eyes sealed it. They mirrored Stella's ina way that left no doubt.

The truth clicked in Leyla's mind in an instant.

She stepped closer, letting hergaze sweep over Eliana. "So, you must be the missing Eliana."

Eliana's mouth curved into a thin,knowing smile. "And you're the stray who bit the hand that fed her?"

Leyla's temper snapped, her hand swinging upward.

Before the blow could land, Eliana's fingersclamped around her wrist, halting it in midair. A sharp pain shot through Leyla's arm.

"Argh-" Leyla hissed. "Let go, you bitch!"

"Looks like no one ever taught you manners. Leave now, before I lose my patience," Eliana warned coldly.

She let go of Leyla's wrist and wiped her palm against her pants as though she'd touched something filthy.

Leyla's eyes narrowed, and a bitter laugh broke from her lips. "Oh, I get it now. You're just a carbon copy of the rest of your family. But don't think you've come back to some comfortable life. The Murrays are sinking fast."

Eliana responded, "Maybe they are, maybe they're not. I'm not sure. But I'm sure of one thing: you'll be gone by the time I count to three."

With a burst of anger, Leyla tried to lunge at her, but Carl stepped in, blocking her path. "Throw her out!" he barked.

"I know the way! I never wanted to stay in this place. And you'd all better remember-this isn't over. I'll make you pay for today," Leyla retorted with a cold glare.

She had returned alone, and for now, retreatingseemed the smarter move.

Once she married into the Clarke family, she would find her chance to strike.

Carl opened his mouth to hurl another insult but stopped short when Stella's body wavered.

"Mom!" he shouted, rushing forward.

A blur of movement swept past him, and before he could blink, Eliana was there, arms around the fainting Stella.

"Lia..." Carl stared in disbelief.

"Help me get her to her room," Eliana told him, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.

"Right," hesaid, moving quickly.

Within minutes, Stella was settled in her bedroom.

Eliana took a seat at the edge,her hands moving with carefulprecision as she examined her.

It didn't take long for her to see that rage had pushed Stella past her limit. Beneath that, Stella's body was already fragile, weakened from old illnesses that had never fully healed. Without proper care, she might not withstand much more.

Carl had just told the butler to call for anambulance when he noticed Eliana leaning over Stella, quietly assessing her condition.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Lia, are you a doctor now?"

Keeping her tone casual, Eliana replied, "Simply picked up a few tricks from a village healer. Do you have an acupuncture kit? She needs it right away."

The butler stepped in before Carl could respond, his voice carrying a note of concern. "I've already called an ambulance. It'll arrive in about twenty minutes."

Eliana's expression didn't change. "By then, they'llput her on oxygen, run a list of tests, and hand her a bag of random pills before sending her back home."

Without thinking twice, Carl replied, "Go to the therapy room. See if the therapist left any needles."

That room had been stocked years ago for Louis, whose bad back demanded constant attention.

With no room to argue, the butler left to look, muttering under his breath.

Luck was on their side-though the therapist had been dismissed,the tools had been left behind.

Within moments, the butler returned with a small wooden case.

Eliana flipped it open, laying out the silver needles in an orderly row.

She sterilized them with practiced movements before pressing them into several key points along Stella's body.

Even after the final needle was in place, Stella's eyes stayed closed, her breathing unchanged.

Noticing this, thebutler tugged Carl a few steps away.

To him, Carl had always been the Murray child least suited for serious decisions.

With everyone else preoccupied by Louis's affairs,the butler felt the burden of keeping a level head-and stopping Carl from making a costly mistake.

"Sir..." His voice dropped to a near whisper as his eyes flicked toward Eliana, saying, "The young lady you brought home... is she really Eliana?"

"Absolutely. Look at her eyes-they're the same as our mother's when she was young. And she's wearing the fish-shaped jade pendant our mother gave her before she disappeared."

The butler gave a slow nod before continuing, "While you were gone, we learned she was adopted by a rural family. Forgive me for saying so, but country people don't exactly have advanced medical training. The ambulance will be here any minute-it might be safer to take your mother to a top-tier hospital."

"You're suggesting Liacould hurt our mom?"Carl's tone sharpened.

"Not at all," the butler said quickly. "I'm just considering the worst possibility. You saw it yourself-those needles didn't seem to change anything."

Carl's direct nature carried him straight to Eliana's side. "Lia, howmuch longer until she comes around?"

"In about ten minutes," said Eliana, pressing the needle inwith steady, deliberate force.

The pressure insideStella needed to be eased gradually.

Carl gave a brief nod, then looked over at the butler. "We'll give it ten minutes. If she's still out, we're heading to the hospital. Relax. There are also skilled doctors in the countryside."

Eliana's gaze flicked toward the butler. "She'll wake up. You have my word."

The butler forceda small, uneasysmile. "Alright..."

He hadn't expected Carl's words to be so blunt and without ceremony.

It explained why people claimed that, among the six sons of Louis and Stella, Carl was the plainest speaker.

While his nerves wound tighter, the wail of an ambulance floated up from the street.

"The ambulance is here!" he blurted out. "Let's get Mrs. Murray downstairs right away!"

The words were barely out of his mouth when the door slammed open with a violent kick.

Every head turned toward the sudden intrusion.

A man with strong brows and a scar cutting across his right one stoodin the doorway. "Carl, I heard Mom-"

His words cut off when his eyes locked on Eliana,who was pressing a long silver needle into Stella's head. His face instantly contorted with rage.

"Who the hell are you, and whyare you hurting my mom? You'll have to go through me first!"

Without another word, he swung his arm toward Eliana in a strike meant to land.

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The throbbing in my head made it hard to think, but the cold grip on my ankle jolted me awake.

Two women—one fat, one wiry—were trying to rip my pants off.

"Try that again and see what happens," I spat, kicking the plump one square in the chest.

She flew back with a grunt.

The other froze, then helped her up.

I yanked at the ropes binding my wrists.

Coarse hemp, tight knots.

Damn it.

Where was I?

Last night, I'd been at Janessa's, believing she was dying.

A lie.

A trap.

Sunlight trickled through a cracked window above.

Rotting walls.

Rusty latch.

This place stank of mold and fear.

"You filthy brat!" the fat one screamed, clutching her chest.

"I should break your jaw!"

"Don't touch her face," the other snapped.

"She's worth thirty grand. A pretty face fetches double."

My stomach turned.

Virgin check?

These lunatics had no idea who they were dealing with.

In Eighvale, I ruled the black market.

One word from me, and cities burned.

I laughed coldly. "Thirty grand? Who the hell are you?"

"Janessa sold you to us," the fat one sneered.

"Play along, get a decent man. Refuse, and we'll toss you to some old freak who'll take anything."

Janessa?

The woman who found me on a roadside at three?

I'd sent her millions over the years—out of guilt, not love.

And now she'd sold me like livestock?

My fingers worked the knot.

Almost free.

"Neal's marrying a corporate heiress now," the other said.

"What would he want with you?"

Then came the command: "Spread your legs. We need to confirm you're still a virgin."

A slow smile spread across my face.

"Let's find out who's really going to pay the price."

In one fluid motion, I snapped the rope, lunged forward, and grabbed the fat woman by the throat.

She gagged, eyes bulging.

The other charged—I kicked her side, heard ribs crack.

Two men burst in with clubs.

I caught both midair, disarmed them, and sent them crashing down with precision strikes.

Ten minutes later, I stepped out of the burning shed, ash clinging to my skin.

The Holts thought they'd erased me.

They were wrong.

Now, it was time to collect every debt—starting with Janessa and Neal.

But as I approached their empty house, sickle in hand, a wild-eyed stranger on a rusted bike appeared.

"Lia! It's really you!" he cried, tears streaming down his dirty cheeks.

I held the blade to his throat.

"Who the hell are you?"