Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 55 vouchers The blizzard had raged for three days, burying Hillarica under a suffocating blanket of snow. The Sherman residence loomed like a frozen fortress. And there, on the icy driveway, the butler tossed Olivia's suitcase out. "Ms. Summers, Mr. Sherman's orders: you're leaving today. The Sherman family was kind enough to take you in, but now that their real daughter has returned, your presence is no longer required," the butler said, his voice oozing disdain. Then he tossed a slip of paper and a card onto the ground. "Here's the info on your birth parents, the Summers. And this is five thousand dollars. Consider it compensation for the years you spent with us." Olivia didn't even glance at the card. "No need." "And keep this," the butler scoffed, tossing down one last document-a formal disownment notice. Olivia ignored that too, slinging her bags over her shoulder. If she wanted to find her real parents, she'd do it on her own terms. And she wasn't taking a single cent from the Sherman family. The butler watched her with open contempt. 'Pathetic, he thought. "Too proud for her own good. Doesn't she realize? Since the true Sherman heiress had returned, why would they keep some nobody like her? That money is more than she deserved.' "Then see you, Ms. Summers." With a final sneer, he slammed the door shut behind her. Olivia didn't flinch. Head held high, she walked away, her thin frame cutting through the falling snow. She felt no grief-the Sherman family had never given her love, so why mourn them now? From an upstairs window, laughter rang out as snowballs pelted the ground near her feet. "Finally, she's gone. No more standing in Cheryl's way." "Never belonged here anyway. I was half-afraid she'd refuse to leave." Olivia heard every word. A cold smile touched her lips, her expression as unreadable as the winter storm around her. Catching a snowflake in her palm, she exhaled softly. 'Good riddance.' ***** In a traditional courtyard in Kingtonelle, the Summers family had gathered for an urgent meeting. At the center sat Samuel Summers, the family patriarch, dressed in a sharp suit that commanded respect. His stern voice cut through the tense silence as he glared at his grandsons. "You call yourselves capable men? It's been over a decade, and you still haven't found Ivy?" The Summers brothers were among the most powerful men in Kingtonelle, each accomplished and formidable. Yet now, they stood with their heads bowed, shame and regret burning in their chests. They were the ones who had lost her. Their little sister, Ivy, had been the sweetest child-quiet, gentle, always smiling like a cute doll. That day, they had been careless, distracted by their own games, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone. For fifteen years, they had chased every lead, but the trail had gone cold after tracing her to a human trafficker's den. By the time they reached the town, Ivy had already vanished without a trace. "Grandfather," one of them spoke up, voice firm with resolve. "I'll mobilize everyone immediately. We won't stop until we bring her home." 1/3 Chapter 1 55 vouchers Before Samuel could respond, a breathless aide rushed in, clutching a stack of documents. His hands trembled as he stammered, "Sir, we-we've found her! We've located Ms. Ivy Summers." Samuel shot to his feet, his own hands unsteady as he snatched the papers. "Where is she? Take me to her now." "Hillarica, the aide blurted. "We don't have the exact location yet, but the confirmation is solid-she's there." Samuel didn't waste another second. "Get the car ready. We're leaving for Hillarica immediately." After being cast out by the Sherman family, Olivia didn't return to the orphanage. She waited for the snow to ease. Evening fell before she finally trudged back to her apartment, a modest unit in one of Hillarica's older neighborhoods. As she parked, her neighbor Laura called out, "Olivia, you're back late. Wanna come over for dinner tonight?" Olivia offered a tired but polite smile. "Thanks, Laura, but I'm cutting back on carbs." Downstairs, Helen, the woman who sold yogurt from her stall, handed her a cup. "Haven't seen you in weeks! My back's been killing me." "Yeah, and my eyes are getting worse," another elderly resident chimed in. "We've been waiting for you to check on us." Olivia was well-liked in the old complex. Most of the residents were retired officials, who enjoyed chatting with her. She was humble, kind, and never pried into their pasts, which made her a favorite among them. The neighborhood might've looked ordinary, but it was full of hidden talent. Even Helen had once been Kingtonelle's most sought-after tailor, her designs worth a fortune. Olivia never asked questions, though. She lived here simply because Grace Lane, the orphanage director, was nearby, making visits easier. Arms crossed, Olivia scanned their faces and sighed. "Tomorrow afternoon, I'll set up a free clinic in the central square. And remember what I said? Follow my diet advice and cut back on the TV. That revenge drama isn't going anywhere." Lately, the seniors had been obsessed with a hit revenge series, binge-watching late into the night and neglecting their health. Caught red-handed, they exchanged guilty glances. "Alright, alright, we'll listen to you, Olivia." It was remarkable how these accomplished individuals-some with shadowy pasts-would take orders from a young girl like her. "Dr. Summers, you're back." A cheerful man in a button-up shirt hurried over, relief washing over his face. He'd been waiting for her return. Olivia sidestepped as he got too close. "Stanley, personal space." Flustered, he scratched his head and held out a key. "Sorry, I just missed you. Don't worry, though. I kept an eye on your place. No one's messed with it." "Thanks." Olivia nodded and handed him some oranges. Stanley grinned, shooting a pointed look at the others. They were always pestering her, and it annoyed him. "Thanks. So.... you're staying for good this time?" "Yeah," Olivia said, pocketing the key. "I'm not going anywhere." 2/3 8:49 pm D Chapter 1 1 55 vouchers. Stanley smiled, "Great then. Drop by when you can. Oh, it's late. Get some rest. Call me if you need anything. Anytime." With a small smile, Olivia nodded and headed inside. After they left, Olivia unlocked her door. The exterior lock was plain, rusty and unremarkable. But inside, it was a different story. Behind several reinforced locks stood a high-tech door with a biometric scanner. "Facial recognition required," a mechanical voice prompted. Olivia tilted her face toward the screen. "Proceed." "Scanning... Authentication complete. Welcome home, Master." The familiar automated greeting, unheard for weeks, signaled the door's release. As it slid open, lights flickered to life, revealing a space that defied the building's shabby exterior. Shelves overflowed with jars of rare dried herbs, while weathered medical texts lined the walls. The balcony functioned as an improvised greenhouse, thriving with medicinal plants. Dominating the living room was a massive display screen, its interface tracking real-time fluctuations in microchip markets worldwide. Olivia grabbed a slice of cake from the kitchen and settled in, ready to finally watch that addictive revenge drama everyone kept talking about. Then the phone erupted with its obnoxious custom ringtone: "Olivia, jobs coming. Money coming! Olivia, jobs coming. Money-" She slammed her palm on the answer button. "What?" "Boss, lucrative job in Hillarica," her subordinate said. "Worth our time?" Rubbing her temples, Olivia sighed, "Details." "Kingtonelle's wealthiest patriarch is offering 10 million to find his missing granddaughter. Intel suggests she's somewhere in Hillarica." Olivia stretched lazily. "Missing heiress retrieval? Pass. Anything actually challenging, or should I hang up?" "Wait! Here's another one, and you'll love it." "Really? Go on." "The Shea family just posted a bounty-15 mil for intel on you, 25 for a consultation. Even credible tips get 1.5." That got her attention. Olivia set down her phone. "Whoa, that's a fortune. Now that's interesting. Show me." "On 3/3 AD Comment Send gift No Ads William was diagnosed with cancer. To spare his wife Wilda from distress, he kept it a secret and continued to dedicate himself fully to their game company. Meanwhile, Wilda constantly supported her f...