Chapter 1

Tonight was Charlotte Lancaster's birthday and also her engagement party with Ethan Carson, heir to the Carson Group. The elite of Aromport crowded the hall; the air sparkled with chatter and champagne.

In a quiet corner of the ballroom stood a woman in a simple white dress, looking starkly out of place amidst the glitter.

She was Elena Lancaster, the Lancaster family's adopted daughter, and, in name, Ethan's wife.

Three years ago, when Ethan's grandfather Eugene Carson fell gravely ill, a fortune-teller was consulted. He declared that the old man's life could only be prolonged if Ethan married the "right girl," and that girl was Elena, the orphan the Lancasters had taken in.

Ethan was forced into the marriage. After the wedding, he never touched Elena. He refused to let her stay at Carson Manor and sent her instead to a villa in the suburbs.

Three months ago, Eugene passed away. Ethan filed for divorce immediately. The papers weren't yet finalized, but tonight's engagement party was clearly staged to humiliate Elena publicly.

Elena tore the divorce papers in two and threw them at Ethan's face. "Don't wait until tomorrow. I'll sign now. From today on, we're done," she said.

The torn pages drifted down, and Ethan's expression darkened.

Elena didn't glance at Ethan or Charlotte. She turned and walked out. The red-wine stain on the hem of her white dress looked like a crimson plum, and it was strangely breathtaking.

She paused at the doorway and looked back at the guests filling the hall.

In a voice above a whisper but clear enough for everyone to hear, she said, "By the way, congratulations on your engagement. Ethan, you ignore me now, but tomorrow, I'll be beyond your reach."

*****

The party hall at Summit Grand Hotel, the most lavish spot in Aromport, sparkled under the brilliant crystal chandeliers.

Tonight was Charlotte's birthday and also her engagement party with Ethan, heir to the Carson Group. The elite of Aromport crowded the hall; the air sparkled with chatter and champagne.

In a quiet corner of the ballroom stood a woman in a simple white dress, looking starkly out of place amidst the glitter.

She was Elena, the Lancaster family's adopted daughter, and, in name, Ethan's wife.

"Well, look who it is. Mrs. Carson herself," came a biting voice. Charlotte, arm in arm with Ethan, strutted over, her designer dress glittering under the lights.

"Did you really show up to my birthday party in that plain old dress? People might think the Lancaster family is neglecting you."

Snide laughter echoed from the crowd.

Elena lifted her gaze, calm and unflinching as she looked at the golden couple before her. Ethan, dressed in a sleek black Armani suit, was undeniably handsome, but the way he looked at her was icy and full of contempt.

"Charlotte, that's enough," Ethan said, his tone lacking any real support. "It's good enough she bothered to show up."

"Oh, Ethan, you're just too soft," Charlotte pouted, clinging to his arm. "If Grandpa hadn't made you marry her, I'd be the one standing next to you right now. But it's fine. After tonight, we can finally be together for real."

Three years ago, when Ethan's grandfather Eugene fell gravely ill, a fortune-teller was consulted. He declared that the old man's life could only be prolonged if Ethan married the "right girl," and that girl was Elena, the orphan the Lancasters had taken in.

Ethan was forced into the marriage. After the wedding, he never touched Elena. He refused to let her stay at Carson Manor and sent her instead to a villa in the suburbs.

Three months ago, Eugene passed away. Ethan filed for divorce immediately. The papers weren't yet finalized, but tonight's engagement party was clearly staged to humiliate Elena publicly.

"Elena, did you sign the divorce papers yet?" Ethan asked, grabbing a glass of champagne from a waiter, his voice icy, like she was nothing but a stranger. "I'll have my lawyer swing by tomorrow to collect them."

Before Elena could respond, Charlotte cut in, "Sis, don't embarrass yourself by clinging on. Everyone in Aromport knows Ethan doesn't love you. If you know what's good for you, just sign already. Maybe he'll even throw you a breakup bonus."

All around, the crowd's stares felt like needles. Some gloating, some sneering, and a few even showing pity.

But Elena just smiled.

That smile was so clear and genuine, it actually stunned Ethan for a second. In three years of marriage, he'd barely ever seen her smile.

"Why the rush?" Elena said, her voice as cool and clear as a mountain stream. "I'll sign when it's time."

She turned to leave, but Charlotte let out a dramatic "Oops!" and "accidentally" splashed her red wine all over Elena's dress.

The vivid red stain spread fast across the white dress, making Elena look totally embarrassed and out of place.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sis. I really didn't mean to," Charlotte cooed, her voice syrupy sweet, but her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Look at you, such a mess. Maybe you should go clean up in the restroom?"

The laughter from the crowd grew even louder.

Elena looked down at the red wine splashed across her dress, then lifted her gaze to Charlotte. Without warning, she raised her hand.

Slap!

The crisp sound of the slap rang out across the party hall.

Everyone was stunned.

Charlotte held her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. "Y-you dared to hit me?"

Ethan's face turned stormy. "Elena! Are you out of your mind?"

"That slap was to teach you some manners," Elena said coolly. "The Lancaster family raised me for over a decade. Consider it a lesson from the family that brought me up."

"You—" Charlotte was shaking with rage, her hand shot up to slap Elena back.

But Elena caught her wrist in mid-air, stopping her cold.

"Still want to make a move?" Elena said, tightening her grip just enough to make Charlotte wince, her face turning pale. "Charlotte, I've put up with you for three years not because I was afraid of you, but because you weren't worth the effort."

She let go of Charlotte's hand, pulled a tissue from her purse, and wiped her hand slowly, like she'd just touched something disgusting.

"As for the divorce papers," she said, turning to Ethan with a smirk, "Ethan, you really think I actually want to be Mrs. Carson?"

She pulled a few sheets of paper from her purse, tore them in half right in front of everyone, and flung them at Ethan's face.

"Don't wait until tomorrow. I'll sign now. From today on, we're done," she said.

The torn pages drifted down, and Ethan's expression darkened.

Elena didn't glance at Ethan or Charlotte. She turned and walked out. The red-wine stain on the hem of her white dress looked like a crimson plum, and it was strangely breathtaking.

She paused at the doorway and looked back at the guests filling the hall.

In a voice above a whisper but clear enough for everyone to hear, she said, "By the way, congratulations on your engagement. Ethan, you ignore me now, but tomorrow, I'll be beyond your reach."

With that, she walked out of the party hall without looking back.

Silence fell over the room.

After a long moment, people finally started whispering.

"Is she nuts? How can an orphan like her be so cocky?"

"She must've snapped. I mean, she's about to get thrown out anyway."

"But honestly, you gotta admit. Her vibe was kind of scary."

Ethan watched Elena leave, his expression complicated. For three years, he'd always seen her as a timid, obedient orphan. But tonight, it was like she'd turned into someone else entirely.

Charlotte buried herself in his chest, tears streaming down her face. "Ethan, it hurts so much. How could she do this to me?"

Ethan tore his gaze away and gave her a reassuring pat. "It's fine. She'll never bother you again."

That odd feeling in his heart faded quickly. She was a stubborn orphan trying to act tough. Once she's out of the Carson family, she's nothing.

Outside, Elena walked out of the hotel and slid into a black Maybach parked by the curb.

In the driver's seat sat a handsome man with gold-rimmed glasses. He flashed her a grin as she got in. "Boss, done playing around?"

Elena slipped off her heels and rubbed her ankles. "Not much fun. Let's head back."

"Yes, Boss." The man handed her a tablet. "There's an emergency surgery in Uronia that needs you personally. The patient is a royal from Bretavia."

Elena glanced at the medical records. "I'll take it. Get the private jet ready. We're leaving in an hour."

"Understood. Also, I've got some leads on that car accident from three years ago you asked me to investigate."

Elena's eyes narrowed. "Tell me."

"It definitely wasn't an accident. Someone messed with the brakes. The mastermind was Ethan's father, Richard Carson." The man pushed up his glasses. "He tried to set up a crash to get rid of you, but you survived, only lost your memory for three years."

Three years ago, Elena got into a car accident. When she woke up, she couldn't remember a thing, only her name, Elena, and that she was the adopted daughter of the Lancaster family.

The Lancasters really did have an adopted daughter, so thanks to a mix-up, Elena ended up living her life as that girl. And since her birth date was a perfect match, she got married off to the Carson family for their so-called good luck.

It wasn't until three months ago that her memories finally came back.

She finally remembered who she really was.

"Richard," Elena's eyes went cold. "Like father, like son. Both disgusting."

"Should I make a move?" the man asked.

"No rush." Elena gazed out the window at the city lights speeding by. "The game's just getting started. Ethan, Charlotte, Richard... I'll take them down one at a time."

The car sped toward the airport, where a private jet was already waiting on the tarmac.

On the plane, Elena changed into fresh clothes and quickly cleaned the wine stain from her dress. By the time the jet took off, she had transformed into someone else entirely.

Cold, powerful, and in complete control.

"Boss, one more thing," Lucas, the assistant, said. "The Aromport Medical Summit is next month. The organizers have sent you three invitations. They're really hoping you'll show up."

"Pass," Elena replied.

"But..." Lucas hesitated. "The Carson Group is the main sponsor this year. Ethan's giving the keynote at the opening ceremony."

Elena arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"And Charlotte will be there too. She was just named one of Aromport's Top Ten Distinguished Young Doctors."

Elena smiled, her expression both dangerous and captivating. "Change of plans. I'm going to the summit."

"Under what name?" Lucas asked.

Elena thought for a moment. "I'll go as the President of MedTech Azrythia."

Lucas's eyes widened in shock. MedTech was a world-leading medical tech company, holding dozens of industry-changing patents. Its enigmatic founder and president, Elena, was a legend in the medical field.

No one knew that the legend was actually the young woman sitting right there, only twenty-three years old.

"And another thing," Elena said, "Make sure everyone knows I'm also the youngest distinguished expert ever appointed by the International Medical Alliance."

Lucas's eyes lit up. "Now that's what I call drama."

As the plane sliced through the clouds, Elena closed her eyes to rest.

'Ethan, Charlotte, status and reputation are all you ever care about, aren't they?' Elena thought. 'Well then, I'll use what matters most to you to make you kneel beneath me.

'Wait and see. The real show is only getting started.'