Chapter 1 Welcome Home "You've weathered countless storms over the years. Welcome home, Arabella."

At the celebratory dinner, a young man in a perfectly tailored suit found himself unwilling to look away from Arabella Stanley.

She possessed an otherworldly beauty, her sharp features sculpted with precision and wrapped in an aura of cool detachment. Her piercing eyes revealed nothing of her inner thoughts, and when she spoke, her voice carried the same arctic chill. "I'm leaving now."

Joshua Willis, the young man, seized the moment without hesitation. "Allow me to drive you home."

Arabella offered noresistance.

The car glided through the night. The city lights blurred past as Joshua stole glances at her profile. "When do you plan to return to the company? Our empire continues to flourish."

Their partnership had begun years ago through a chance project, and Joshua had witnessed Arabella's brilliance firsthand. He had persuaded her to join forces, and together they had forged a company that now dominated the entire industry.

Arabella maintained her measured tone. "I'll decide when the time feels right. For now, I simply want to reach home."

"Understood completely. You must be eager to reunite with Daisy. She's undoubtedly thriving. I've been directing all the premium projects to your aunt's husband throughout these years." Joshua's grin widened as he angled for recognition.

Arabella and her twin sister Daisy Stanley had lost their parents at the tender age of six, and their aunt Meagan Tucker had stepped in to care for them both.

Arabella acknowledgedhim with a subtle nod. "I appreciate that."

Her delicate fingers found the cherry blossom pendant resting against her throat, clicking it open toreveal a treasured photograph of herself and Daisy.

Arabella's expression remainedstoic in the image, but Daisy's smile blazed with pure joy.

Studying her sister's radiant face, Arabella felt an unfamiliar warmth soften her features.

After their parents' tragic death, Arabella and Daisy had become each other's entire world. Daisy had always been their family's ray of sunshine, illuminating every room she entered.

At twelve, Arabella had been handpicked by the government for a classified operation that consumed seven years of her life. Now that the mission had concluded, she could finally return to Daisy.

She had forwarded nearly every government paycheck to her sister, ensuring Daisy lived in comfort and security.

Joshua's eyes widened in amazement as he witnessed Arabella's smile.

The legendary ice queen was actually smiling?

His curiosity about Arabella's sister intensified dramatically.

The car approached an upscale residential community, where each house boastedits own meticulously maintained garden.

The vehicle glided to a stop infront of a house.

This was the home Arabella's parents had bequeathed to them, now shared between Meagan and Daisy.

The estate glowed with warm light, alive with the sound of cheerful laughter.

Daisy seemed to be flourishing beautifully.

With that thought in mind, Arabella preserved her gentle smile asshe crossed into the front yard.

A weathered doghouse sat in the corner of the property.

Someone kneltbeside it in the shadows.

Through the dim evening light, Arabella couldn't distinguish the person's features, but she watched them scooping food directly from the bowl placed on the ground.

Why would someone be eating beside the doghouse?

Concern creased her brow as Arabella approached cautiously.

The figure appeared startled and scrambled quickly into the doghouse.

Arabella's bewilderment deepened. Then a soft, trembling voicedrifted from within the shelter. "Please don't strike me again. I won't make any mistakes. I'll be so much more careful..."

That voicebelongedto Daisy.

Arabella's heart shattered instantly. She lunged forward,pulling the figure from the doghouse. Even in the pale moonlight, she recognized her beloved sister immediately.

Daisy stared back, her eyes swimming with disbelief. "You..." she breathed, as though she feared her mind was playing cruel tricks on her.

"Daisy, is that truly you?" Arabella's voice trembled with disbelief.

When Daisy nodded weakly, a glacial fury erupted within Arabella, her eyes igniting with volcanic rage.

"Bella..." Daisy whispered, still trapped in shock."You've actually come back?"

The moment felt impossibly surreal to Daisy, like a vision conjured from desperate longing.

Arabella, sensing something terribly wrong, reached out to touch Daisy's forehead. Her skin burned with fever. Before Arabella could process this discovery, Daisy crumpled into her arms like a broken doll.

Arabella cradled her sister, whose body felt heartbreakingly frail and ice-colddespite the raging fever consuming her.

Arabella's heart crystallized into something harder than diamond.

The front door of the house suddenly burst open with violent force.

"Daisy, you worthless creature! It's been several minutes, and you're still not finished eating? Get inside immediately and wash those dishes!" Meagan's voice sliced through the night air like a blade.

Arabella pivoted slowly, her predatory gaze locking onto her target.

Meagan had transformed dramatically over the years. Once haggard and perpetually exhausted, she now radiated wealth and privilege, adorned in an expensive designer coat and gleaming jewelry that caught the porch light, presenting herself as the very embodiment of refined elegance.

Meagan's blood turned to ice under Arabella's lethal stare. "You... Arabella? When did you arrive?"

"What have you done to her?" Arabellaadvanced with calculated steps, hervoice dropping to a menacing whisper.

Meagan instinctively retreated, unsettled by the predatory intensity burning in Arabella's eyes. But she quickly rallied her confidence, reminding herself that Arabella was still just a young woman.

She twisted her lips into a cruel sneer. "Daisy shattered a dish, so I administered appropriate punishment. You've been absent for years. Do you possess any understanding of how challenging life has been here? I never allowed her to starve or sleep without shelter. If you weren't my brother's daughters, I wouldn't have wasted my time with either of you."

In one fluid motion, Arabella's hand shot out and seized Meagan by the throat, her expression transforming into something carved from arctic stone. Meagan gasped desperately, clawing at Arabella's iron grip. "Let... me... go..."

"This is my house," Arabella declared, her voice carrying the finality of a death sentence, her eyes radiating lethal intent. "You forced Daisy to perform menial labor. You made her sleep in that doghouse like an animal. You possess remarkable audacity, Meagan."

In the warm light streaming from the house, Arabella finally saw what Daisy hadbeen consuming. It was the leftover food.

Holding her sister, who felt as weightless as a dyingbird and appeared ghostly pale and utterly drained,Arabella felt her heart shatter into countless pieces.

Her precious sister had enduredthis nightmare!

"Meagan," Arabella said, her voice saturated with deadly promise, "when you moved into our home, you swore a sacred oath that you would care for Daisy."

Meagan bristled at Arabella'sbold use of her first name,the disrespect cutting deep.

But she shrank backward when she witnessed the murderous gleam dancing in Arabella's eyes.

Arabella had always been fundamentally different from other children. She wascold and fearlessly bold. When Arabella had lived here, Meagan had performed the role of a dutiful aunt, though barely meeting even the lowest standards.

But the moment Arabella departed, Meagan had seized absolute control, systematically crushing thegentle-spirited Daisy beneath her cruel authority.

She had never imaginedArabella would return to witness her crimes.

"I did take care of Daisy! She made a mistake, so I disciplined her accordingly. What's so terrible about that?" Meagan's words died in her throat as Arabella's grip tightened mercilessly, making her feel as though death itself was reaching for her soul.

"Arabella?" The violent commotion finally drew the attention of the people inside. Meagan's husband and daughter noticed the deadly confrontation unfolding at their door.

Through the wide open front door, Arabella observed them living luxuriously in a spacious and magnificently decorated villa, with a table overflowing with exquisite delicacies. The people inside wore expensive clothing that spoke of comfort and abundance.

Meanwhile, Daisy had been sleeping in a doghouse, consumingleftovers. Arabella's eyes burned with unshed tears as the devastating truth crashed over her with overwhelming force.

Chapter 2 Can You Check Who Made The Payment Khloe Tucker was fuming. "Let go of my mom, Arabella! Back then, she offered to take care of you and Daisy out of kindness. Is that how you repay her? You show up after disappearing for years, acting like you're some kind of hero? What, did you run off, get pregnant, and have a kid or something? What a joke!"

Khloe threw Arabella a nasty glare, but deep down, she actually hoped Arabella might stay. Having her back would mean more help around the house.

But Arabella's eyes had already gone cold. Without saying a word, she entered the house and kicked the dining table hard. Dishes flew everywhere, crashing onto the floor and shattering into pieces.

Before anyone could react, Arabella grabbed two vases and hurled them straight at Khloe and her father. They hit them squarely, andblood started trickling down their faces as they screamed in shock.

Her voice was ice. "You've got one day. Get out of my house." Without waiting for a reply, she stormed out with Daisy in her arms. She flagged down the first taxi she saw and rushed her sister straight to a hospital.

Back at the villa, chaos broke out.

"Mom! That psycho actually attacked me!" Khloe sobbed, staring at the scratches on her face in the mirror. "What if I'm left with scars?"

Meagan's fury boiled over. "She's gotten way too bold after all these years! If she shows her face again, she won't be so lucky. We're not nobodies anymore. We've joined hands with Norman Group. There's no way she can stand against us!"

She gave Khloe a comforting pat. "Don't worry, honey. I'm taking you to a hospital right now."

**

At the hospital, the doctor examined Daisy and frowned. "Her leg's been broken for a while, and she's covered in bruises. Some ofher teeth are missing too. What kind of sister lets this happen?"

Arabella's voice was low. "It's my fault."

Her bangs fell over hereyes, hiding whatevershe was feeling inside.

The doctor, noticing how quiet she was, spoke gently. "I've done what I could for now. But if someone's been hurting you two, you need to report it. Keeping quiet won't fix anything."

Arabella gave a small nod and moved to stand beside Daisy's hospital bed.

Daisy, now nineteen, looked heartbreakingly fragile.Her thin frame looked like it couldn't support itself, and her wrists seemed more like twigs than limbs.

Her short hair was uneven, dry, and choppy, like someone had taken scissors to it without a second thought.

Arabella gently lifted the blanket, and her heart dropped.

Daisy's skin told a horrifying story. Old whip marks crisscrossed her legs, and dark burn spots marred her arms. Each scar screamed of cruelty. Arabella's breath caught, and before she could stop them, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Bella..." Daisy's voice was barely a whisper.

Arabella immediately reached for her hand. "I'mhere," she said softly.

"I... missed you," Daisy murmured, her voice hoarse.

Arabella clutched her hand like a lifeline. "I missed you too. I thought if I worked hard, I could give you a better life. But I was wrong. Inever should've left you alone. I swear, I'm not going anywhere again."

The warmth in Arabella's voice seemed to melt Daisy's tension. Slowly, her expression softened.

After making sure Daisy was settled, Arabella went to sort out the payment.

"The charges have alreadybeen covered," the nurse said with a kind smile.

Arabella blinked. "What? Who paid?"

Joshua crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Therewas no way he knew about this yet.

"Can you check who made the payment?" she asked.

The nurse gave an apologetic shake of the head. "Sorry, that information's private. Maybe a family member helped out?"

At the word family, Arabella's face turned to stone. She gave a short nod and walked off without another word. If someone had helped, she was going to find out who.

Meanwhile, down the corridor, Meagan strolled beside her daughter, Khloe, who was fresh outof the emergency room with her face patched up.

"I'm not letting Arabella walk away from this," Khloe snarled, bitterness burning in her voice.

"Calm down," Meagan said sharply. "You'll reopenyour stitches if you keep flaring up like this. Be more like your sister-grace under pressure."

That seemed to cheer Khloe up. A smug smile tugged at her lips. "As long as my sister keeps shining, that's all that matters. She's the youngest dancer in the Griridge Troupe now. Daisy really thought she could outshine her? She was delusional. That broken leg was karma, if you ask me. And if my sister finds out how Arabella treated me-oh, she'll tear her apart."

"She's got a big show coming up,"Meagan reminded her. "Let's notdistract her. One step at a time."

She tapped Khloe's nose lightly,but then her expression stiffened as she spotted Arabella ahead.

Khloe saw Arabella too, and just the sight of her brought back the sting of humiliation. Her rage boiled over.

Without thinking, she grabbed her studded handbag and swung it with allher strength toward Arabella's back.

Arabella's instincts kicked in. Just as she turned around, a tallman came into view. With quick reflexes and strong arms, he grabbed the bag mid-air by its strap, stopping it like it was nothing.

The sudden pull made Khloe lose her balance, and with a startled scream, she fell to the floor.

Chapter 3 Grab Your Things And Come With Me "Khloe!" Meagan hurried to her daughter's side, helping her up while shooting a vicious glare at the man who had shown up outof nowhere. "Who the hell are you? Arabella's new guy or what?"

The man didn't bother responding. His sharp eyes gave nothing away, cold and unreadable, like the still, deep sea that hid its danger.

Then he began walking towardMeagan, each step loud andheavy on the hospital floor.

Meagan instinctively took a step back. Her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.

Deep down, something told her this man wasn't just any stranger-he was trouble.

Trying to mask her unease, she snapped, "Arabella, you'd better think twicebefore crossing us again. You and your sister were lucky we let you stay at all! If you ever want back in, come crawling, and maybe we'll consider it."

Yanking Khloe's arm, Meagan stormed off.

Arabella stood silently, watchingthem go. Let them stay? That house was legally Daisy's and hers.

She glanced at the man and caught sight of a pistol, just for a second, before it disappearedbeneath his jacket. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Who was this guy?

He turned and looked directly at her. Arabella finallysaw his face-handsome as hell, rough around the edges, and those icy eyes didn't blink or soften for anyone.

He gave off a vibe that screamed danger-Arabella had never felt anything like it.

No surprise Meaganbolted-anyone with sense would have.

"Arabella Stanley," he said. His tonewas calm and low, but there was a chill in it that made her skin prickle.

Arabella glanced him over. "You're the one who paid for my sister, right?"

He gave a faint nod. "You're quick. Grab yourthings and come with me."

Arabella's brows drew together. "Excuse me?"

Who even was this guy, showing up with mystery and attitude?

Before things got tenser, another man stepped in-less intimidating but equally serious. "Miss Stanley, allow me to explain. This is Mr. Asher Gordon. His father and your dad served together in the military. Before his father passed away, he asked Mr. Gordon to watch over your family. Mr. Gordon only recently returned from service and has been trying to track you down since."

That explained the military presence, the icy calm... the way he moved like someone trained for war.

Arabella studied Asher again. He didn't seemthreatening now, but just closed off, likesomeone with a wall too thick to climb over.

She stayed calm. "You got anything to back thatup? Anyone can say that."

Asher reached into his pocket and pulled out a weathered photo.

It showed two men in dusty uniforms-one was definitely her father. The other looked a lot like him.

She stared at it for a long moment before replying, "I'll think about it."

"Fair. Let's exchange numbers," Asher repliedwithout any small talk.

Arabella added his contact. His WhatsApp display was just a solid black box.

Funny enough, hers was the same.

A strange little coincidence, she thought.

Then the assistant added her as well. "Dominick Powell, Mr. Gordon's right hand. Reach out if you need help with anything, anytime."

Arabella gave a nod. "Got it."

With that, the two men walked off, and Arabella made her way back to Daisy's room.

Shortly after, two silent, suitedbodyguards appeared at the door-they were clearly sent by Asher.

Arabella didn't ask questions. She got to work helping Daisy clean up-changing her into fresh clothes and gently washing her hair, trying to fix its brittle, uneven mess.

But when she saw the scars and cigarette burns covering Daisy'sbody, her eyes welled up again.

Holding back her tears, she carefully rubbed her homemade cream onto the wounds. Then, without wasting a second, she opened her laptop.

She had to find out what had happened to Daisy while she was gone, so she hacked into the villa's security system.

Sadly, what she saw made her sick to her stomach.

It wasn't long after Arabella left that Daisy was thrown out of her own bedroom and made to sleep in a doghouse.

The cheerful, lively sister Arabella remembered didn't smile anymore.

She saw footage of Daisy jugglingmultiple part-time jobs, only to get harassed and pushed around.

Even so, she kept working hard and made it into one of the top universities. Butduring her very first semester, she ended up with a broken leg. She was studying dance, and just like that, the injury shattered everything she had dreamed of.

The pieces fell into place too easily. Khloe's sister, Elissa Tucker, was in the same class. Arabella'sgut told her that leg injury hadn't been some fluke.

After that, Daisy barely left the house. She was treated like hired help, scrubbing floors, cooking meals, and still sleeping out in that damn doghouse.

Yet every time Daisy texted her, it was the same lie. "I'm doing fine. Don't worry about me. You just take care of yourself."

Arabella's visionblurred.

While her sister was being broken piece by piece, theiraunt's family was thriving. Their business had taken off, thanks to a lucrative deal with the Vanguard Group.

Khloe, a middle school dropout, was suddenly a digital influencer. Elissawas famous and popular in the college. Meagan was rubbing shoulders with high-society ladies, and her husband had become some corporate hotshot.

Arabella clenched her jaw and slammed her fist against the table. She didn't even feel the sting.

Every bit of success she had worked for... had only served tofeed that vile family's greed.

And the one person she had sworn to protect had suffered in silence the entire time.

Chapter 4 This Revenge Is Mine To Carry Out Arabella took a slow breath, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and her eyes turned cold, like a fire had been snuffed out andreplaced with ice. Her fingers gripped her phone tightly as she made a call. "That major project-it hasn't been handed over to the Tucker Group yet, right? Cancel it. Completely." Her voice was calm but firm. "And get to the Griridge Hospital. Now."

On the other end, Joshua sounded startled. "Arabella? What's going on?"

"You'll see when youget here. Bring a few things with you."

True to form, Joshua didn't waste time. Less than half an hour later, he rushed into the hospital, and the moment his eyes landed on the girl in the hospital bed, he froze like a statue. She looked so much like Arabella-same face, but all color drained, bruised, battered, her body wrecked like it had been thrown away and forgotten.

Joshua's fists clenched. "Who did this? Tell me who it was.I'll make them pay, I swear it!"

That was the sister of a preeminent figure... and they treated her like this?

Arabella didn't flinch. "I'll handle itmyself. Slowly," she muttered, picking up a pair of scissors from the table.

Before Joshua could react, the scissors hadalready cut through her long, silky hair.The strands dropped to the floor in silence.

He stared, stunned. "Arabella... you're not actually..."

"I am," she said. "This revenge is mine to carry out."

Joshua swallowed hard, goosebumps rising on his arms.

The way she said it-it was clear. Hell was coming for someone.

Arabella glanced at him. "Also, what do youknow about the Gordons?"

"The Gordon family?" He immediately straightened. "They're legendary. Way beyond the top elite families. Super wealthy, but incredibly discreet. I've only ever worked with the right-hand man of their current CEO."

"You mean Dominick Powell?" Arabella asked casually.

Joshua's jaw dropped. "Wait, you know Dominick? Don't tell me... are you saying the Gordons were involved in what happened to Daisy?"

Arabella gave him a blank stare before calmly explaining Asher's connection and what he had said earlier. Joshua slapped his thigh, clearly overwhelmed. "Asher Gordon? If it's really him, then yeah, no one's faking that. He leads the family.Rumor has it he's ex-special forces, quiet as a ghost, but deadly. If someone crosses him, they don't get a second chance."

Arabella didn't react. She just stared at the floor, her thoughts turning in circles.

Then she spoke, steady and cold. "You should head outnow. Also... sell my villa."

Joshua hesitated. "That place... that's your parents' home. Are you sure?"

Arabella looked over at Daisy's fragile frame. "She was tortured in that house. There's no comfort left there. Just get rid of it."

Her voice cracked slightly. "And if possible, find a buyer who's impossible to deal with."

Joshua gave her a long look, then nodded. "Understood. I've got a bunch of properties lined up. If you ever need a place, it's yours."

"Thanks."

She didn't look up, and Joshua, sensing she needed space,quietly slipped out the door.

Left alone, Arabella gently held Daisy's hand and murmured, "I swear, everyone who hurt you... I'll make them pay for it tenfold."

That night felt endless, and sleep didn't come.

The next morning, Arabella stood quietly outside a dance studio at Griridge University's dance department, listening through the open door.

"Elissa, things have been so dull without that pathetic girl around," someone inside snickered.

"I know, right? No one to fetch us coffee, no one to mess with. It's no fun without a punching bag," another chimed in.

Peering through the glass window, Arabella spotted Elissa in the middle of the dance studio.

Years ago, Elissa had been just a pale, skinny kid. Now she was dressed in a flowing white dance outfit, all elegance and grace, like something out of a dream.

Surrounded by classmates, Elissa flashed a gentle, modest smile at the comments. "Guys, don't say that. Let's not be mean."

"You're too kind, Elissa," Joyce Lambert, her good friend, scoffed. "That girl sponged off your family for years. If it were me, I'd have thrown her out of your house on day one."

Arabella narrowed her eyes slightly.

Calling it their house? Seriously?

That place belonged to her and Daisy. Elissa and her family were the ones living off of them.

Elissa tilted her head, her voice syrupy sweet. "She's my cousin, after all. Her parents passed away. If we didn't take her in, she would've had nowhere to go."

Her fake compassion earned gasps of admiration from the crowd.

What a generous soul, they all seemed to think.

The loud chatter in the dance studio instantly stopped the moment Arabella walked in.

"Daisy?" Joyce blinked in surprise.

She stared at Arabella, stunned. She looked the same, but... something about her felt different now.

Chapter 5 Got Yourself A Sugar Daddy The dance studio fell silent, as if someone had hit pause. Every single eye was locked on Arabella, but she acted like she didn't see a thing and confidently made her way to the back, where she began stretching like it was just another day.

Joyce's jaw clenched. "Daisy, you've got some nerve showing up out of nowhere like this!" Joyce barked, marching over and swinging a sharp kick at her. "Just because we've gone easy on you doesn't mean you're not taking orders from us!"

But Arabella moved with ease, dodging the kick without breaking a sweat. Joyce lost her balance andhit the floor face-first with a loud, painful thud.

"You dodged me?" Joyce screeched in disbelief. Her face turned red with fury as she raised her handto slap Arabella. But just like before, Arabella slipped out of reach like a shadow. Joyce's swing caught nothing but air, and she stumbled forward, grabbing her lower back with a wince. "Damn it!"

"My bad," Arabella said gently, her voice almost too soft to catch.

Joyce wanted to explode, but something about Arabella's calmness made her hesitate. She didn't dare swing again. Instead, she snapped, "What are you just standing there for? Get over here and help us stretch already!"

"So, Daisy's really back," she thought smugly. "Still the same pathetic errand girl."

Arabella's gaze briefly darkened, but she gave a politenod like an obedient student.

She knelt beside Joyce and began helping her with leg stretches. Joyce smirked. "You look even sadder than before. Honestly, it's pathetic."

But then, a painful scream cut through the air.

Joyce's leg jolted, and she broke into acold sweat, grabbing her thigh. "My leg... what the hell? Did you snap my leg?"

The class crowded around her in a frenzy.

"Is she alright? Someone call for help!"

"Look, the teacher just walked in!"

Their panic was cutshort as the teacher entered the room.

Arabella still had Joyce's leg in her hands. Calmly, almost casually, she gave it a subtle twist.

"Ah!" Joyce screamed even louder, nearly in tears from the pain.

"What's going on in here?" The teacher frowned, scanning the chaos.

"My leg! It feels broken... I can't-" Joyce wailed, then blinked in confusion. Just secondslater, she could move it again. "Wait... what?"

"You look fine to me." The teacher shot a look at Joyce-one that wasn't exactly sympathetic. She had seen enough of these girls' antics over the years. "I don't care what drama you're cooking up on your own time, but today's important. The Griridge Troupe selection is happening. The dean and senior faculty will be here shortly, so I expect everyone to act like professionals."

"I swear, I..." Joyce began, trying to protest.

"That's enough." Elissa cut her off, stepping forward with an easy smile. "Let's not waste more time. Joyce, calm down."

Elissa's tone made itclear-this wasn't the time to pick fights.

Joyce had no choice but to bite her tongueand swallow her anger, though her glare at Arabella could have burned through steel.

The teacher clapped her hands, and class began.

During the last twenty minutes, a few other teachers showed up to observe.

By the time class ended, the room was filled with a mix of nervous energy and excited chatter.

"God, I really hope I get picked. Dancing alongside Elissa would be a dream come true."

"Elissa, don't forget us when you're famous!" someone teased.

Elissa gave her signature angelic smile. "Of coursenot. You're all my people."

Then someone dropped a name that made the entire class go silent. "Theysay Isabella might be watching today."

Gasps rippled through the room.

Even Elissa blinked in shock, her breath catching. Isabella Wallace was

the icon of modern dance. Her performanceswere legendary, her choreography unrivaled. Just being seen by her could open doors.

"If Isabella notices me, that's it. That's my breakthrough," Elissa thought, her gaze sharpening with quiet ambition.

But then someone spoke up, disruptingthe mood. "I saw Daisy dancing earlier. Honestly, she wasn't bad at all."

Joyce scoffed loud enough for the room to hear. "Daisy? Please. She'spathetic. No way she'd get picked."

Turning her attention to Daisy, she said, "Hey, what are you still doing here, anyway? Goget our lunch. You remember our order, right?"

Without a word, Arabella nodded and walked off, her tall frame moving with a silent elegance despite the slump in her shoulders.

"Ugh. Even the way she walks is irritating. Does she actually think she's all graceful or something? What a complete eyesore!" Joyce sneered.

By the time Joyce, Elissa, and the rest of their group showed up at the cafeteria, laughing and cracking jokes, Arabella already had their meals prepared. Her eyes quietly scanned each of them-calm, blank, giving nothing away. But in her mind, she was taking note of everything.

Joyce, whose father ran the Lambert Group, was spoiled beyond belief and filthy rich.

Next to her was Kenzie Marsh-the meek, glasses-wearing music student who practically worshipped the ground Elissa walked on.

And behind them, the two guys were followers, plain and simple. They were all muscle without a mind.

Joyce looked at the food Arabella had bought and narrowed her eyes. "Well, well. Where'd you get the cash, huh? Got yourself a sugar daddy? I thought you were broke, freeloader."

Joyce kept running her mouth but still dove into the food-everyone was starving after dancing all morning.

However, midway through eating, something went terribly wrong. Joyce coughed violently, blood trickling from her lips as she clutched her throat, her eyes wide in panic. The others followed suit, gasping, hands around their necks, as if something sharp was tearing through their throats.

"It burns-what's happening?" they wheezed, struggling to speak as pain ripped through them.

Elissa stared at her in disbelief, still holding her throat. "Daisy... what did you do?"

"That little bitch's getting revenge!" Joyce screamed, losing it completely. "You think Elissa letting you tag along means we'll go easy on you? You're dead!"

Furious, she flung her food tray at Arabella, while the two boys beside her instinctively lunged forward, ready to grab her without hesitation.

Chapter 6 Do You Have Any Proof The students nearby were numb to this kind of chaos.

"Alright, that's enough," Elissa said, her voice sounding gentle on the surface but hollow beneath it. She stayed comfortably seated, not bothering to step in-after all, she never did when things got ugly.

Meanwhile, Arabella, calm and collected, didn't even flinch. When the tray came flying her way, she calmly reached up and caught it in one smooth motion.

The momentum flipped the tray's course, and it slammed straightinto one of the two boys' faces.

The food, laced with slivers of glass, sliced acrosshis skin, and blood trickled down his cheek in thin, terrifying lines. "Shit! That hurts!" he cried out.

One look at the blood was enough, and he collapsed inpanic, completely out cold.

The other guy didn't back down. Snarling, he reached for Arabella's hair, yanking it hard. "You think you're tough, Daisy? Huh?"

His fist flew toward her face, but Arabella caught itmid-swing like it was nothing. His expression froze. She slowly twisted his arm until his knees buckled.

"Ahhh! It hurts-stop, please!I'm sorry!" he howled, his face turning as pale as chalk.

The second she let go, he hit the floor and curled into himself, sobbing in pain.

One of the girls considered helping, but after seeing Arabella in action, she backed off without a word.

What a bunch ofclowns.

Arabella stared at them, her gaze sharp and cold, like she was looking at trash.

"Have you lost your fucking mind?" Joyce screeched, still in denial. Her hands shook as she picked up a chair and hurled it with all her strength.

Arabella shifted her weight, spun, and kicked the chair right back-slamming it intoJoyce's head. Blood splattered instantly.

Elissa jumped up in horror, shrieking, "Oh my God!"

The cafeteria exploded withshouts. "She's gonna killsomeone! Go find a teacher!"

"What is wrong with her? Is she high or something?"

"Honestly, she's kind of a badass..."

"Shh! Don't let anyone hearyou say that!"

Thirty minutes later, the university president's office was a pressure cooker.

The fight was way too intense to sweep under the rug. Daisy, Elissa, and the rest of the group were hauled in for questioning.

Joyce and the others had been bandaged up, but their egos were just as bruised. Elissa looked ready to cry, still rubbing her sore throat like ithad swallowed fire. She was furious, terrified the damage was permanent.

"Call your parents," the presidentordered Arabella sharply, tryingto make sense of the madness. "Now."

Joyce jumped in before Arabella could speak. "She can't. Her parents are dead!" she sneered. "She's been mooching off Elissa's family for years. No morals. No manners. Just expel her already!"

Taken aback, the president looked Arabella up and down."So, what exactly happened?"

Joyce didn't miss a beat. "She put glass inour food. She tried to hurt us and then went berserk. She needs to face consequences!"

Arabella didn't even blink. Her voice came out calm and cold. "Do you have any proof? And while we're at it-did I even lay a finger on you first? Pretty sure your side started swinging."

"Liar!" Joyce snapped,trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

Arabella turned her gaze to the president, cool and steady. "Why don't we pull up the cafeteria security footage?"

Silence dropped like a stone. Joyce's face stiffened, and her jaw clenched tight. "We only hit her because she gave us food full of glass! She deserved it!"

Arabella tilted her head slightly. "Where's your proof that I put it there?" she asked softly. "Because I have proof of something else."

She pulled out her phone and tapped the screen. A video began to play.

The footage was damning. It showed Joyce and her gang shoving a sandwich filled with glass into Daisy's mouth. As Daisy's lips bled, they laughed like it was some sick joke.

It was raw and unforgivable. Arabella's chesttightened as she watched it, the pain as fresh as the day she found it on Daisy's phone.

Even the president's face shifted. He turned to Joyce and her friends with a sharp, icy glare. For a splitsecond, panic flashed across their faces. Trying to smooth things over, Elissa quickly said, "Sir, yeah,Joyce went too far, and we're really sorry. But Daisy was talking trash first-Joyce just lost her temper."

Arabella raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Is that so? Well then, I'll just upload this little clip online and let the public decide who the real victim is."

"Absolutely not!" the president barked. "Miss Stanley, if that video gets out, it'll drag the university through the mud. Let's not blow this out of proportion. Apologize to each other, and we'll call it even."

Joyce looked outraged. "What?She beat the crap out of us! Why should we just let it go?"

Her friends chimed in, just as outraged.

Meanwhile, Elissa leaned toward the president and whispered with a sweet smile, "My dad's set to donate $1 million to the school. Just thought you should know."

The president's expression shifted. His tone changed. "Daisy," he began, "what they did was wrong. But your response was excessive. This could've been handled differently. You can either apologize now and move forward, or you'll be expelled. And if you upload that video, trust me, public opinion won't be on your side. That would be reckless."

Arabella stared at him. So that was what this was.

Now she understood why Daisy had been stepped on for so long.

These people weren't protecting students-they were protecting their pockets.

Joyce, smelling victory, leaned back with a smug grin. "Daisy, you really thought you had the upper hand? You're nothing but a parasite clinging to Elissa's family like a leech. Don't act like you matter. You wantto stay here? Then get on your knees and lick my shoes clean. Maybe, just maybe, I'll let you off the hook."

Chapter 7 Quite The Scene Joyce looked at Arabella like shewasn't even human.

Elissa didn't say anything at first, but the fire burning behind her calm expression gave her away. Her throat still hurt, and what bothered her more was the embarrassment. Deep down, she wanted to lash out at Arabella. But on the outside, she just let out a quiet sigh, like she was more hurt than mad.

"Daisy, I honestly don't know what happened to you,"she said. "But if you can't apologize to us, then pack your things. You're no longer welcome in my home."

The president didn't bat an eye. "That's enough. You're done here. Pack up and get out." He waved Arabella off like she was a fly in the room before turning to Elissa with a tight smile. "You're injured. Go rest. We'll take care of everything."

Joyce smirked, finally feeling like the universe had balanced itself. With their heads held high, they all moved to strut out like they had won a prize.

"Quite the scene," came a calmvoice from the doorway, making everyone stiffen instantly.

All eyes turned. A man stepped in, bathed in light, his face carved like a statue-flawless and unreadable.

His outfit was pure black. But not just any black-the kind that spoke in silence. From his shoes to his collared shirt, every piece looked tailored to make people uncomfortable.

"Oh my God..." The president stared like he had seen things.

Then, breaking into a nervous sweat,he rushed over. "Mr. Gordon! I... I didn't know you were visiting today!"

Asher didn't bother acknowledging him. Instead, it was his assistant, Dominick, who stepped forward, calm as ever. "We happened to be nearby. Sounded like things were getting interesting."

Just then, Arabella's phone vibrated. She glanced down.

"Is Asher with you?" It was a message from the deputy director at Griridge University's dance department.

Arabella typed backquickly. "Yeah. He's here. Don't come."

The response came back almost instantly. "Good. I'm not brave enough to deal with that man. He's terrifying but fair. You'll be alright with him there."

Arabella didn't bother replying anymore.

The president, still hoping to stay in control, jumped in. "It's nothing serious, Mr. Gordon. Just a student causing trouble. We've already handled it-expulsion's done."

He shot a quick glance at Arabella, clearly blaming her.

Dominick let out a short, cold laugh. "Really? That quick, huh?"

Joyce's eyes were glued to Asher. Her heart was hammering so loud she could hardly breathe. The pain in her leg? Gone. Her pride? Forgotten. All she saw was him. "Who is that guy?" she whispered, almost dazed. "He's... unbelievable."

"I've never seen him before," Elissa replied, just as shaken. Her voice lowered. "Maybe he's someone's assistant?"

Since Dominick had been doing all the talking, everyone assumedhe was the one calling the shots.

Asher, on the other hand, remained quiet and still, which didn't match what they expected from someone important-throwing the students off even more.

However, that illusion shattered the moment he spoke. His voice sliced through the room like a blade. "Expelled?" he said, slow and cold. "That's all you've got?"

Joyce's heart skipped. Her cheeks flushed, but she forced a playful smile. "We were beaten pretty badly, you know. How about this? Daisy can run ten laps around the field and apologize as she runs. That's fair, right?"

Asher's lips quirked, just barely. They were unnaturally red, giving him a strange, dangerous allure. "That's it?" he echoed, his voice silk and steel.

"Was that... not enough?" Joyce muttered under her breath as she winked at Elissa.

Elissa took the hint and jumped in. "Daisy, you really did hurt all of us. Be responsible. Get on your knees and apologize-properly-to each one of us."

Asher nodded slowly, his tone unreadable. "I agree."

Elissa's chest liftedslightly, pleased. He was on their side.

But then Asher added, flatly, "Then that's exactly what you'll do."

Before they could react, Dominick turned to the president with a smooth efficiency. "You heard them. Do it. Word for word."

The president's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?You mean them?" He gestured at Joyce's group, flustered. "They were the victims..."

Dominick's polite expression vanished. His voice wentcold and final. "You think we came here without knowing everything? Handle it. Then clear your office out."

The president went ghostly pale. His knees wobbled like they might give out.

What was happening?

Dominick turned to the group. "Well? You heard the man. Kneel and apologize. One by one. You've got sixty seconds."

The arrogance drained from their faces like a faucet had been turned off. Joyce's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're joking. You want us to kneel? To her?"

Dominick calmly picked up his phone. "Alright. Then, starting now, every ten seconds, your family's stock drops by a point."

Joyce scoffed. "You're bluffing."

Her family wasn't at the top, but they were major players in Griridge.

No way a random guy could crash stocks with a threat.

But ten seconds later, her phone lit up. Multiple stock reports flashed across their screens. Their family shares haddropped. Not just hers-Elissa's, Kenzie's, even the boys'.

The color drained from their faces in real time.

Joyce stared at her screen in horror. "No! How is this even happening?"

In less than a minute, they were down hundreds of millions. And still dropping.

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The car glides to a stop in front of the house I once called home. My fingers trace the cherry blossom pendant around my neck—Daisy’s smile frozen in the photo inside. Seven years gone, and all I wanted was to see her again, safe and happy. The estate glows with warmth, laughter spilling from the windows. Good. She’s thriving.

But then I see it—the doghouse in the corner, weathered and forgotten. And someone hunched beside it, scooping food from a bowl on the ground. My breath catches. No. Not food. Leftovers.

I step forward, my pulse hammering. The figure startles, scrambling into the shelter. A voice trembles from within: "Please don’t hit me again... I’ll be careful..."

That voice. That voice is Daisy’s.

I lunge, pulling her out. Even in the moonlight, I recognize her—sunken eyes, feverish skin, hair hacked short. She collapses into my arms, frail as a bird with broken wings. My heart shatters. Then the door bursts open.

"You worthless creature! Get inside and wash the dishes!" Meagan’s voice, sharp as glass. She freezes when she sees me. "Arabella? When did you—"

"What have you done to her?" I step forward, my voice low, deadly. She backs away, but I close the distance. One hand locks around her throat. "This is my house. You made her sleep in a doghouse. You starved her. You beat her."

She gasps, clawing at my grip. Behind her, Khloe screams. I don’t care. All I see is Daisy, burning up in my arms.

I have two choices: take her to the hospital now, or make Meagan suffer first.