Chapter 1 Chapter 1 My Best Friend's Request

My mother passed away. It was a quiet death, the kind that came gently after a long illness. In her final moments, she clutched my hand, her voice thick with emotion as she repeated, "When I'm gone, you have to find your father." I grew up with just her, raised solely by my mom. My father had always been a mystery, wrapped in silence. I didn't even know his name, let alone where he came from. But that changed in the end. Just before my mother left this world, she whispered his name and handed me an address. He wasn't just anyone—he was the chairman of a company. And I was nothing more than his illegitimate daughter. She told me how she had outlasted the man's lawful wife, and, with a heavy heart, gave me a keepsake to reunite with him. Then, she slipped away, her face peaceful, leaving this world without regret. Afterward, I confided in my best friend, Susan Wales. "Your father's the chairman? The Wrenn Group is a big deal!" The moment she heard, tears streamed down her face. "I've never known what it's like to have parents. I grew up without parents," she said, her voice quaking with emotion. Seeing her so upset, I quickly handed her a tissue to dab at her eyes. "You don't understand," she continued, her voice breaking. "I used to scavenge for scraps to sell, just to pay for school. On holidays, I wandered the streets alone, invisible to everyone around me. Whenever I saw families together, it made me feel so jealous." Tears spilled down her cheeks, heavy and glistening, as she looked utterly devastated. She grasped my hands tightly. "Amber, can you let me experience what it feels like to have a father?""How would that even work?" I asked, puzzled by her request. "Let me join you when you reunite with him, please?""Uh… I don't think that's possible…" My mother left me only one keepsake. She said that as long as I presented it to my father, he would understand everything. Susan noticed my hesitation and, with tears streaming down her face, pleaded, "I've never known what it's like to have parents or a family. Just let me experience it for three days, please?" Her sobs were heart-wrenching, and I felt torn. If I refused, knowing her, she might do something drastic. "One day. Just one day, okay?" Seeing my indecision, she lowered her expectations. "I'll call him 'Dad' for just one day, and the next day, I'll tell him everything." Even then, it felt awkward. How could anyone call someone else's father their own? "I… I need some time to think." Susan wiped her tears and leaned closer. "Have you ever met him?" I shook my head. "Never.""Then how do you know if he even wants to acknowledge you as his daughter?" I shook my head again. "I have no idea." All I knew was that my mother made me promise to find him before she passed. "That's it!" Susan's face brightened. "You're his illegitimate daughter! He's a chairman—there are probably more kids out there like you."

Chapter 2 Chapter 2 I'm Thomas Wrenn's Daughter

"Do you know about the rivalries that come with being born into a wealthy family?" As I listened to Susan's animated description, I found myself captivated. "No, I don't." With a snap of her fingers, she continued, "It's all about disputes over inheritance. You're going into this blind—who knows if he wants to acknowledge you? "And what about your half-siblings? But if you let me help you connect with him, you can observe how your father and his family react." Her words began to make sense, and I found myself nodding along. "You've got a point." A satisfied grin spread across her face. "If they reject you and toss you aside, I can step in for you. That way, I get a taste of family life, and you avoid any potential traps. It's a win-win!" "But…" I hesitated. "But I really want to meet my father." Susan grasped my shoulders. "Easy! Your father must need a housekeeper. You could work for him!" I pondered the situation from every angle, but something still felt off. Yet, as Susan continued to press, my resolve began to waver. In the end, I placed the keepsake my mother had given me into her hands. "No matter how this turns out, you have to make sure you explain everything to him." "Don't worry; I've got this covered," she replied confidently. I trusted Susan because she had helped me in the past. We met after graduating from college. At that time, I was a fresh graduate, overwhelmed by the chaos of an internship. I joined a company where, within a month, I found myself being undermined by colleagues. Susan was a team leader there, and she didn't hesitate to step in when she saw injustice. With her support, the harassment I faced started to fade. When I discovered that Susan and I were alumni of the same school, our friendship blossomed quickly. Growing up in a single-parent home, I never met my father. While other kids called out to their fathers, I could only watch with envy. It left me somewhat reserved and self-conscious from a young age. Now, as Susan offered to help me navigate the risks of being cast out by my father, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward her. It felt like a lifeline for someone like me, who often struggled with social anxiety. Following the address my mother had given me, Susan and I made our way to my father's house. As we arrived, we both gasped. "Wow…" Before us stood a grand mansion radiating wealth and privilege. My mother and I had spent our lives in a rundown rental, constantly battling the presence of mice and cockroaches. Yet, despite our struggles, my mother never once asked my father for a dime. The amount of money she had could be counted on one hand. "I'm Thomas Wrenn's daughter. Let me in." Susan sprang into action, pulling out the keepsake my mother had given me. "This is a keepsake from my mother. Show it to my father, and he'll know it's me." The security guard at the entrance paused, exchanging glances with his colleague. But as gatekeepers of a mansion, they had seen their fair share of drama. "Notify Mr. Wrenn quickly," one said, dismissing any further hesitation. Once we handed over the keepsake, it took barely ten minutes for my father to appear. He rushed over, clutching a sachet hand-stitched by my mother. Susan's shoulders began to tremble, and she burst into tears. When my father spotted me, his expression froze for a moment. Then, slowly, a look of pure joy spread across his face.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3 The Joyful Reunion

My father slowly reached out as if to touch my face. "You… You're…""Dad! I'm right here!" Susan's voice cut through the moment, her feet stomping in frustration behind me. His eyes widened in surprise, and for the first time, he truly noticed Susan. Glancing between the two of us, he asked, "Which of you is Miranda's child?" Susan's expression shifted, and she suddenly collapsed to the ground in a flood of tears. "Mom, you left too soon! How am I supposed to survive on my own? Dad doesn't even want to acknowledge me! Even on your deathbed, you were still thinking about him!""What? Miranda is gone?" The news hit him hard. His face fell, and shadows of sorrow clouded his eyes. He let out a heavy sigh, lost in thought. "Get up, child. Please, get up. Why didn't you come to me sooner?" He lifted Susan into his arms, their reunion unfolding with an emotional embrace before the grand mansion. "I've spent my life struggling with Mom, barely scraping by. We'd have one meal and then go hungry. I always wanted to find you, but she wouldn't let me. Now that she's gone, I have no one left. Only then did she allow me to seek you out." Gently, my father stroked Susan's hair. "You're here now, and that's what matters. From today on, anything you want, I will give to you." Susan nestled into his embrace, a smug smile lighting up her face. As I watched their joyful reunion, a sharp pang of unease twisted inside me. After their emotional exchange, my father finally turned to me. "And who is this?" Susan pointed at me. "Oh, this? This is the girl who came to apply for the housekeeper position. I only met her at the entrance." A jolt ran through me. Just like that, Susan had rewritten the story, pretending she didn't know me at all. She began to cry again, her tears flowing like a seasoned actress. It was hard not to feel sympathy for her. "I thought she was here to reunite with you too, Dad! I thought I wouldn't be your only daughter!" she sobbed, her voice trembling as if she were truly heartbroken. Thomas couldn't bear to see his daughter in tears. He quickly stepped forward to comfort her. "You're my only daughter. I've only ever loved your mother. No one else matters—you're my one and only!" As he spoke, he gently wiped Susan's tears with his sleeve. "Don't cry, my precious girl. It breaks my heart to see you like this. I know these years have been tough for you and Miranda. "Here's what I'll do: I'll buy you ten houses and give you a car. No more hard times for my little girl! Everything will be in your name!" His words sent a thrill through me, but Susan beamed with uncontained joy. I opened my mouth to tell my father the truth, but I hesitated. I remembered Susan's promise—she only needed one day to experience this life, and then she would return my father to me. So, I swallowed my urge to speak. "Dad, uh… Do you need a housekeeper at home?" Susan shot me a look, silently pleading with my father not to keep me around. My fists clenched tightly. I couldn't believe she was going back on her word. My father turned to me, his gaze softening with an unexpected warmth. Then, slowly shaking his head, he murmured, "It's… it's uncanny how much you look like her." He then asked, "Are you married?" I looked at him and shook my head. "Then stay," he urged. The moment he said that, Susan stumbled, her composure cracking for a second. "Dad!" she protested, stamping her foot in frustration. Thomas was puzzled, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" I shot a glare at Susan, gritting my teeth in silent anger.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The Wrenn Family

When Susan saw my expression, a trace of shame flashed in her eyes. Then, she said, "It's fine, Dad. Let's go in." Cheerfully, she wrapped her arms around my father's and skipped alongside him. Trailing behind them and watching them together, I could only wish for tomorrow to come sooner so that Susan would return my father to me. Once we entered the mansion, I was arranged to live with the servants. I changed into a nanny's uniform and swept the fallen leaves in the yard. From there, I watched as Susan lounged by the pool, basking in the sun while enjoying a full-body massage. At this point, my father had already gone out. A surge of suspicion crept into my heart, and I couldn't hold back any longer. I grabbed the broom and stormed toward Susan. "Susan! Why didn't you let me in earlier?" At that moment, Susan was sitting on a lounge chair with sunglasses on while enjoying a foot massage. When she saw me approaching, she quickly stood up and sent the servants away. Removing her sunglasses, she hesitated briefly before speaking. "Are you being silly? I was helping you!" I planted my hands on my hips and threw the broom at her feet. "Do you even remember what you said when we first came here?" Susan gestured for me to sit and replied, "Come on, have a seat. Hear me out. I was doing it for your own good. "Think about it. Do you really think he'd believe me if I told him I mistook him for my father and that you're his real daughter while you're here as a nanny?" Her words left me speechless for a moment. "Weren't you the one who said that you'd tell everything to my father? As long as you are honest, it's not that hard." My trust in Susan started to waver. My raised voice startled her, and she quickly hushed me. "I'll give you back everything when the time is right," she said. … The next morning, I woke to the sound of the housekeeper and cleaners gossiping. "I heard Mr. Wrenn bought her ten houses and five cars, all under her name. They say her mom was Mr. Wrenn's first love, which is why he spoils her so much. Tomorrow, she's getting five villas!" As soon as I heard this, I couldn't hold back any longer. Susan wasn't stopping—she was becoming even more outrageous with her demands. Fuming, I threw off the covers and rushed outside. The moment I stepped into the yard, I spotted Susan draped in gold and jewels, admiring her brand-new car. "Susan!" I shouted as I stormed toward her. Immediately, the bodyguards around her stopped me. "Cover her mouth," Susan quietly instructed one of the bodyguards. Without hesitation, he complied, sealing my mouth with tape. My eyes widened, and I glared at Susan. "What's going on?" Thomas' voice sounded from behind. Susan smiled brightly when she saw Thomas. "Dad!" "Do you like the car I bought you?" he asked before noticing me standing there. "And what's with her?" he asked, turning to Susan. Susan struck a pitiful pose and replied, "She scolded me, so I told the bodyguard to cover her mouth." I stared at Susan and tried to speak, making muffled sounds. "Take it off," Thomas ordered, his tone sharp. The bodyguard approached me with a soft smile, carefully removing the tape from my mouth as though he feared hurting me.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Two-Faced

As the tape came off, I finally took in a breath of fresh air. Behind Thomas, Susan frantically gestured for me to stay quiet. "I am…" I began, but before I could finish, Susan rushed over, covering my mouth and pulling me aside. "Dad, give me a moment. I need to have a chat with her." Once we were out of sight, I shoved her away. She stumbled, falling to the ground. "Susan, I trusted you too much! I'm going to tell my father the truth right now!" With a loud thud, Susan dropped to her knees. I was shocked by her reaction, not understanding what she was trying to do. Susan clasped her hands and pleaded, "Please don't tell him the truth, Amber. I'm begging you. "Thomas has already spent about 100 million on me. If you tell him now, I'll be guilty of fraud. For that much money, I'll be in prison for life!" Her words left me stunned. I hadn't realized things had escalated to this extent. "This is your fault. If you hadn't let my father buy you all this…" "He bought it himself!" Susan crawled over to me, clutching my legs tightly. "Please, Amber. Don't say anything. I don't want to go to prison—I don't want to spend the rest of my life there." I stared down at her, unsure of what to do. Was she genuinely afraid, or was this just another act? "He's my father. Am I supposed to live the rest of my life cleaning up after him as a nanny?" I asked. The thought of it made me feel like I would be dishonoring my mother, who was watching from above. "Just give me some time. I'll sort everything out. Please, for the sake of our friendship and the times I've helped you in the past, just help me this once." In the end, I gave in. Shortly after Susan left, my father found me. "Come to my room tonight." … My father's words left me stunned. 'What does he mean by that?' I stood there, speechless. Then, with an unsettling gentleness, he caressed my face and said, "You really look like her. Remember to wear something revealing when you come to my room tonight." With that, he turned and walked away. At that moment, my mind went completely blank. 'Oh, dear God! Not only did I not acknowledge my father, but I am also becoming his lover! What should I do?' After he left, it took a few moments for me to fully regain my senses. I had never imagined my father could be such a lecher. When I returned to my dorm, the housekeeper immediately assigned me to clean the windows. "Why is this newcomer so clueless? Can't she see there's work to be done?" I recalled what Susan had said before taking my place. 'You're just pretending to be a nanny. I won't actually treat you like one.' Yet, Susan hadn't lifted a finger to help me. Her true colors were beginning to show, but I still hesitated. After all, this involved more than just betrayal—it involved someone's entire life. Grabbing a rag, I went to wipe down the tables and chairs. At that moment, I overheard a conversation from upstairs. "Dad, I don't like that maid. Can you fire her?" Susan's voice was sharp, unmistakable. "Susan, Amber hasn't done anything to you. Why do you keep insisting that I fire her?" Thomas asked. In that split second, I felt my grip on the rag tighten. 'So that's how it is. Susan had always wanted me gone. She's been using my sympathy, trying to take my place all along,' I thought bitterly.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Being Called Upon

"She keeps badmouthing me and is a cunning person. I don't like her at all. You promised you'd always love me the most, so why are you choosing a morally corrupt maid over me?" Susan's voice whined from upstairs. Thomas didn't respond right away. Susan continued, "You should kick that woman out and blacklist her from our family, so she can never come near us again!" It was clear Thomas was reluctant. "We'll discuss this later. Give Amber a chance to prove herself. And don't bring this up again." His tone turned serious. After that, silence fell from upstairs. At this moment, I was infuriated. Susan was clearly a two-faced bitch. Here I was, worrying about what would happen if the truth came out and she went to jail. Yet, she was trying to kick me out of the house. How could I have been so blind to trust her? In a fit of anger, I threw the rag onto the table. I had enough. I was ready to expose everything. Just then, my father's bodyguard walked over. Noticing his approach, I quickly picked up the rag and pretended to be diligently wiping the table. The bodyguard came forward and snatched the rag from my hand. Then, he smiled as he helped me clean. After a moment, he pulled out a small bottle from his pocket. "This is for you. I noticed you doing housework every day, so I prepared this hand cream especially for you.""Thank you.""No need to thank me. By the way, do you have a boyfriend?" the bodyguard asked shyly. His question left me speechless, my mouth hanging open. 'Wait… could it be that my father's bodyguard has feelings for me? What's going on in this world?' … As night fell, I paced around in the dormitory. I had imagined countless scenarios for exposing Susan's true colors, but I never anticipated this one. Then, someone came to relay a message. "Amber, Mr. Wrenn wants to see you." 'Oh God!' It felt like the world was crashing down on me. The thought of what awaited me now sent shivers down my spine. I refused to go, hoping my father would understand my rejection after tonight. But two hours later, several bodyguards appeared and forcibly dragged me away. "What are you doing? Let me go! Help! I'm being kidnapped!" They dragged me to the door, where my father's bodyguard was waiting. I looked at him with pleading eyes, silently begging for help. Seeing my desperation, he instructed the other bodyguards to release me. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Mr. Wrenn wants to see you tonight and has even bought protection…" He didn't finish his sentence. Then, with a determined expression, he added, "If you don't want to go, just tell me. I'll take you away, even if it costs me my job. Are you willing to leave with me?" Goosebumps rose all over my skin. Of course, I didn't want to go with him! I was only in my early twenties, while the bodyguard looked much older. "I think… you could be my…" I stopped myself, swallowing the rest of those hurtful words. "Mr. Wrenn is waiting for you. He wants to see you now." Despite my struggles, I was taken upstairs. The bodyguard pushed me into my father's room. As soon as I entered, I collapsed to my knees by the door. "Dad!" I cried.