Chapter 1 Chapter 1

As soon as the words left my mouth, the paparazzi swarmed us, the flashes of their cameras nearly blinding everyone in sight. The reporters immediately bombarded me with questions, thrusting their microphones forward aggressively. "Rissa! Is it true that you're the long-lost heiress of the Holmes family?" one reporter shouted. Another demanded, "Did you storm in here today because you're angry at Nancy for stealing your position?""This hot temper of yours doesn't match your usual sweet public image, does it?" The sharp questions hit me like bullets, and I felt myself drowning in their relentless assault. In my previous life, I had meekly submitted to Nancy Holmes, letting her take what should have been my rightful place in the Holmes family. Yet, she had not only stepped on me to rise to power but continuously spread rumors about my supposedly scandalous personal life. In the end, I ended up dying from depression due to cyberbullying. Nonetheless, now that I had been reborn, I refused to be anyone's stepping stone. Nancy stood there, stunned for several minutes by my confrontational attitude. I walked past her, wanting to ignore her presence. However, she grabbed me and blocked my path. She said, "Clarissa, the whole family would welcome you back, but you can't just disrespect the Holmes family like this. Your first hit movie showed every single part of you! "Dad was furious when he found out! Someone as dirty as you needs to be thoroughly cleansed before allowed entry. Let's start with your clothes!" As she reached out to grab my clothes, I slapped her forcefully and shouted, "Don't you dare!" I added, "Even if I wasn't a Holmes, I'm still a million-dollar celebrity! I'm warning you—if you touch me again, we'll settle this in court!" Nancy held her cheek, glaring at me furiously. "How dare you!" Sensing the drama they craved, the paparazzi shoved their microphones toward Nancy. "Ms. Holmes! Rissa is a top celebrity. Aren't you happy to have such a famous sister?" one asked. "Since Rissa is biologically a Holmes, don't you think you're being a bit harsh?" Nancy suddenly chuckled, the cunning gleam in her eyes in sharp contrast to her sincere tone. "Of course, I'm happy to have a sister, but this is Dad's decision." She continued, "Besides, I'm about to debut in the industry myself, but I know what's appropriate and what isn't. I would never sell my body for attention! So, neither of us is better than the other!" "As her sister and the Holmes family heiress, I'm simply trying to teach her our family's standards," Nancy added. I let out a mocking laugh. "Heiress? Wait until the Holmes family actually acknowledges you. Right now, you're just a cuckoo playing play-pretend in someone else's house." Nancy trembled with rage but dared not touch me in front of the cameras. I smirked, fixing my hair. "What's wrong? Wasn't this supposed to be a family reunion? If you won't accept me, I'll leave." The paparazzi jumped at the opportunity. One asked, "We heard the Holmes family initiated this reunion, so why are they shutting Rissa out now?" "Are they really looking down on her critically acclaimed art film?" another pressed. "Do rich people just not understand art?" Nancy turned pale, her lips quivering without forming words. Just then, the Holmes family's senior butler rushed in, addressing Nancy first. "Miss, Mr. Holmes Senior saw the livestream and said he'll be back soon!" Then, he turned to me with contempt in his voice. "He said actors always love to make a scene! Don't worry about this; you're his only daughter! No one can bully you!"

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

The reporters exploded into excited chatter at these words. Someone asked, "Mr. Holmes Senior? So even if Rissa comes back, she won't affect Nancy's position in the family?""Of course not! Even returning to a wealthy family won't change the fact that she's beneath us!" another shouted. Just then, my phone buzzed violently with a call from my manager, Amy Kensington. Her shrill voice nearly pierced my eardrum as she screamed, "Rissa! For heaven's sake, come back right now and forget about this family reunion! The livestream has gone viral, and everyone's saying you're pushing your luck! You're going against the richest man in Hemmingville, mind you!" She continued desperately, "Do you have any idea how much the Holmes family has invested in our company? Are you trying to kill me?" I couldn't help but laugh at Amy's outburst. "Amy, relax and just watch the livestream. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens." Amy's voice cracked with emotion as she pleaded, "Listen to me! Jason, the heir of the Holmes family, is infamous for being overprotective of Nancy! "After how you've treated Nancy, do you think he'll let you off easy? When the Holmes family pulls their investment, you'll be the first one the company blacklists!" Suddenly, there was a commotion on Amy's end. "Damn it! Holmes Group's business department just messaged us! I've got to go, but please, just come back!" Blacklist me? I had to laugh at that. My adoptive mother was a three-time award-winning actress, but I had kept that connection private because I didn't want people to say I relied on connections. The Holmes family was ridiculous to believe that they could end my career with petty moves. Nancy noticed my silence after hanging up and lowered her voice tauntingly. "Looks like Jason's already made his move... Take my advice and behave yourself. Even with Holmes blood running in your veins, your attitude will keep you out of the family forever!" Just then, a flashy red sports car drifted to a stop in front of the Holmes residence. Jason Holmes, the supposedly future heir of the Holmes family, stepped out with a cold expression. Nancy's demeanor instantly changed as she ran to him, clutching his arm with a pouty expression. "Jason, you're finally here..." Jason walked up to me, looking me up and down. "So you're Clarissa Holmes?" The paparazzi held their breath, eagerly extending their microphones. "Mr. Holmes, how does it feel to discover that Rissa, one of today's hottest rising stars, is your long-lost sister?" Jason scoffed. "Yes, Clarissa has the Holmes family's blood, but Nancy has been part of our family for years. So, she's the only sister in my heart," he declared. "Besides, Nancy is actually a few months older, and Clarissa's behavior today shows her clear lack of proper upbringing!" My phone rang with my adoptive mother's call, but I didn't answer immediately. Jason continued, staring me down. "I don't care if you're a celebrity—our family isn't to be used for your publicity stunts! If you cause trouble here, don't blame me for being ruthless!" The paparazzi buzzed with excitement as all cameras focused on me, waiting for my response. I faced the cameras with a mocking smile. "This is being live-streamed nationwide right now, and everyone saw that she was trying to pull off my clothes. How did that become me causing trouble?" Then, I challenged him, saying, "Didn't you just pull your investment from my project? Why are you pretending to be the good guy now? I didn't realize the mighty Holmes family was so skilled at twisting the truth!" As soon as I finished speaking, the livestream comments exploded with support for me, flooding the entire screen. Nancy's face stiffened, and she quickly switched to an innocent expression. She argued, "That's not what Jason meant. He's just always been protective of me. The Holmes family is the wealthiest in Hemmingville, and we can certainly provide for one more person." Her eyes welled up with tears as she continued, "We just followed family protocol today, and Clarissa probably misunderstood. "After all, she hasn't had much education and started working very young, so it's natural that her life experiences have made her suspicious of people." I laughed coldly and raised my hand as if to slap her, making her flinch and cower back with closed eyes. As I lowered my hand and smirked, I asked mockingly, "Do you know who was the first person to request a DNA test with me? "Here's a reality check for you—whether the Holmes family accepts me or not isn't up to an adopted daughter like you!"

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I knew that after I went missing, my birth mother had spent years searching for me. Her endless guilt and despair eventually led her to take her own life. After I'd become famous and appeared regularly on screen, Grandma had immediately recognized me as her long-lost granddaughter. She had come to me multiple times, desperately begging me to take a DNA test, longing for me to return to her side. The ones waiting for my return had never been the high-and-mighty Mr. Holmes Senior, and certainly not the arrogant Jason. Nancy's eyes widened in shock as she shouted, "So what if Grandma recognized you? This is the Holmes family! How does her opinion matter?" She pointed at me, her tone bitter and harsh. "Jason is the only future heir Dad has chosen for the Holmes family! If he says you can't enter, you won't set foot in this house!" I inwardly scoffed at how absurd Nancy was. Even after staying with the Holmes family for so long, she didn't even know who truly held power in the family. I gave her a cold look as I pulled up a chair and sat down with deliberate casualness. "Fine, then we'll wait for Mr. Holmes Senior to return." As I watched the livestream's viewer count skyrocket, I smiled. If these two didn't want to learn their place, this situation needed to escalate. While I was casually scrolling through the comments, a thunderous voice suddenly boomed. "What's going on here? Since when is the Holmes residence a place for someone to spurt nonsense?" I looked up to see Peter Holmes, whose eyes were blazing with anger. I slowly stood up, giving him a mocking look. "No one's spouting nonsense. After all, it's true that some people have made themselves at home where they don't belong." Peter surveyed the cameras surrounding us, his face turning ashen as he turned to Niles Eldridge, the senior butler, and barked, "Niles, get these reporters out of here!" The reporters immediately protested. "Why should we leave? We're just here for Rissa!""Mr. Holmes Senior, you're ridiculous for not letting your own daughter in. Where's your sense of decency?" Peter's temples throbbed, and he shouted, "My own daughter? Who knows if she's just after the Holmes family's fortune! Don't think starring in a few X-rated movies means you can suddenly become somebody! "We were willing to acknowledge her as our daughter, but not only is she ungrateful, she's trying to ruin the Holmes family's century-old reputation!" I stared at Peter, finding the situation incredibly ironic. This man, who had even changed his last name to climb the social ladder, had the audacity to lecture me. Mistaking my silence for fear, Jason arrogantly ordered his security team. "Get them all out! And for the next few days, if you see any news that hurts the Holmes family's reputation, shut it down!" The reporters exchanged glances and reluctantly lowered their cameras, seemingly forgetting this was still being livestreamed. Nancy pointed at me with a sneer. "Looks like this reunion isn't happening today. When the big star decides to follow our traditions, then we can talk." Peter looked at me with disgust and spat, "Just because we're blood-related doesn't give you the right to throw your weight around here! The Holmes family doesn't welcome women who sell their bodies! Get out before you dirty our grounds!" Just then, a powerful voice thundered from outside. "Don't you even think about laying a finger on my precious granddaughter!" An elderly woman with white hair stormed in, leaning on her cane. She was the true power behind the Holmes family—my grandmother, Madam Holmes.