Chapter 1

The real heiress, Luna Powell, was back, wanted to snatch away the family business I'd poured ten years of my life into, and steal my family right out from under me.

She said, eyes brimming with tears, "Mom, Dad, I've been lost out there for over twenty years. I've always dreamed of coming home. This position was always meant to be mine."

Everyone tried to persuade me, "You're not the biological child. It's time to give her back what belongs to her."

My mom, Elaine Mercer, wiped away tears and urged me to be "sensible."

My brother, Dylan Mercer, snatched my car keys and sneered, "You've been occupying her place for many years."

And my fiancé, Caleb Nash, broke off our engagement and said coldly, "The Mercer family needs a real heir."

I just nodded gently and said, "Alright, I'll hand it over."

The next day, the company's biggest client, the core technical team, and every single distributor all announced they'd only work with me personally.

The family business came to a screeching halt instantly.

My dad, Ronald Mercer, was desperate, begging me. I just told him, "Let your precious Luna get on her knees and beg me to come back."

I had just finished signing a thirty-billion-dollar contract when Ronald called.

"Stella, hurry up and come home. Something's happened," he said, his voice tight with worry.

After hanging up, I told my assistant to take care of the contract and all the follow-up matters, and hurried home.

Even before my car reached the yard, I could hear someone crying from inside.

Pushing open the door, I saw a strange woman kneeling in the middle of the living room, with tears in her eyes, clutching a document tightly in her hand.

Elaine, eyes red, gently patted Luna's back and said, "Luna, don't cry. You're home now. That's all that matters."

Ronald was sitting on the couch, looking conflicted.

Dylan and my sister, Chloe Mercer, stood aside, their faces showing a mix of emotions.

When Luna saw me come back, she said timidly, "Is that my sister Stella?"

She turned to Ronald and Elaine, crying even harder and saying, "Mom, Dad, I've been lost out there for over twenty years. I've always dreamed of coming home. Stella's position was supposed to be mine."

I didn't answer her. Instead, I looked at Ronald and asked, "Dad, what's going on?"

Ronald cleared his throat and replied, "Stella, this is Luna. She's our biological daughter. The DNA results just came out. There's no doubt about it."

Elaine wiped her tears and came over, holding my hand. Her voice was choked with emotion as she said, "Stella, I know this is unfair to you, but you've always been the most sensible and grateful."

I pulled my hand back and looked at her with a calm expression. "So what?" I asked.

"So it's time to hand over what belongs to Luna," Dylan said coldly, snatching the car keys from my hand. "You've been occupying her place for many years. Shouldn't you be content by now?"

Chloe chimed in, "That's right. Stella, you're not their real daughter. The company should go to the true heir."

Just then, there was a commotion at the door. It was my fiancé, Caleb, who had rushed over after getting the news.

I looked at him, maybe, out of everyone here, he was the only one who would have my back.

After all, we had been together for three years and were so in love.

Caleb just glanced at me for a second before his gaze fell on Luna.

He turned to me and said in a cold and distant tone, "Stella, since Luna's the real daughter of the Mercer family, I guess our engagement should end here."

He paused, then continued, "After all, the Mercer family's next heir has to be someone with the real family blood."

I stood in the middle of the living room, scanning all these faces, I'd known for years, but now they felt cold and almost like strangers.

In ten years, I poured my soul into turning the Mercer Group from a mess into a powerhouse, and what did I get? Not loyalty, not love, just everyone turning their backs on me in an instant.

I just nodded gently and said, "Alright, I'll hand it over."

As soon as I finished, everyone looked like a weight had finally been lifted off their shoulders.

Elaine tried to hold my hand, but I quietly pulled away, making sure she barely noticed.

Dylan smirked openly, not even bothering to hide how pleased he was, while Caleb had already walked to Luna's side.

It turned out that what they recognized was never my value, but was just the position I happened to fill for a while.

From the day I was adopted, I knew it could all be taken away from me.

I had tried my best in the past ten years. It was not to cling to the Mercer name. Instead, it was to make sure that even if I lost it all, I'd have the power to rise again, anytime I wanted.

I turned and walked upstairs, and behind me, Luna was already giving orders to the servants like she owned the place.

She said, "Move my luggage into the master bedroom, the one facing south. That's Stella's room, right? Well, that's exactly what I want."

That afternoon, the news that Luna was the real heiress of the Mercer family had already gone viral online.

Ronald called an emergency board meeting and announced in public, "From today onwards, Luna is officially taking over as CEO of the Mercer Group. She will lead us into a new chapter!"

As soon as he finished, the room erupted in thunderous applause.