Chapter 1
At the auction, Stella Summers, the fake heiress, spent a fortune to buy the Summers family's lost heirloom that had been floating around after the family went bankrupt.
Dad begged her to sell it back, but she broke his legs right there on the spot.
"Old goat, I'm not your daughter anymore. Why are you still acting all high and mighty?" Stella sneered.
Dad said in pain, "I never treated you badly. When you wanted to leave, I even gave you half of the family fortune."
Stella just smashed the family heirloom without a second thought.
She spat, "Who cares? Ever since that bitch Charlotte came back, you've been all about her.
"Listen up, I'm the new financial queen blowing up online, with more money than you could ever imagine.
"I'm back to make you and Charlotte pay."
I was speeding in the helicopter when I heard her words from the screen. Then I froze.
If she was the financial queen, then who was I?
*****
Stella bent down and tapped Dad's face, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Old brat, when you brought Charlotte back home, bet you never thought it'd come to this, huh?
"Once I'm done with you, Charlotte, that bitch, is next."
Dad clutched his broken legs, his face twisted in agony.
His glasses had been knocked to the ground, and with his terrible eyesight, he was down on all fours, blindly feeling around with one hand.
The crowd around him erupted in laughter.
"Well, well, isn't this the legendary Mr. Summers? Look at him now, crawling on the floor like a dog," someone jeered.
"Summers Group used to be untouchable. Folks like us had to book months ahead just to see you. Mr. Summers, why are you groveling like this? Come on, get up already," another voice mocked.
Finally, Dad found his glasses and slipped them on with shaking hands.
He paid no attention to the crowd mocking him.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, he tried to explain, "Stella, I don't know where you got this idea, but your mom and I never wronged you.
"Even Charlotte, after being away for so many years, didn't say a word against it when she heard we were giving you half the family fortune.
"She even said she'd treat you like her own sister."
Stella wasn't buying it.
She sneered. "Shut up, old brat. You really think I'd believe that? Are you going to keep bragging about those tiny favors for the rest of your life?
"Ever since that bitch came back, you only cared about her.
"If I hadn't been clever enough to stash some of the money away, I'd be left with nothing."
She slammed her heel down on Dad's shattered legs, pressing down mercilessly on the wounds.
"Since you're so confused, let me help you wake up," Stella sneered.
"Ah!" Dad let out a blood-curdling scream.
Someone finally couldn't watch any longer and tried to stop her.
Stella swept the room with a chilling glare.
She said, "Listen up, I'm the new financial queen you've all heard about. Just last month, I crushed the four biggest families in Harbor City and bankrupted them in a single day.
"If anyone here wants to stand up for him, go ahead and try.
"But before you do, make sure you've got what it takes."
Behind Stella, a dozen hulking, muscle-packed bodyguards closed in, their presence instantly oppressive.
Their predatory stares swept the room, making it clear they were ready to strike at anyone who stepped out of line.
The one-eyed leader sneered, raising a finger to the ceiling.
"Just so you all remember, this ship is on the open sea," he said coldly.
In a heartbeat, the whole room fell into a chilling silence. Nobody dared to make a move.
With a bang, I couldn't help myself and slammed my fist into the helicopter wall.
Morris frowned. "Ms. Summers, she's out there claiming to be the financial queen, stealing your thunder. We need to teach her a lesson."
I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth.
I said, "We'll settle the score with her later. Right now, we need to save my dad.
"Morris, this auction house belongs to Terence Group. Contact Mr. Cole and have him send someone to rescue my dad."
"Got it," Morris replied.
"And one more thing." I shot a look at the bodyguards Stella brought. "These guys aren't just regular muscle. Find out who's really backing Stella."
"On it," Morris said.
Right as I finished speaking, I saw my dad pick up his phone.
I instantly realized what he was about to do.
"Morris, get the satellite connection ready," I said.
"Yes, Ms. Summers," Morris replied.
The next second, my phone received my dad's call.
I hit answer, but before I could get a word of comfort out, a screeching noise suddenly blasted in my ear.
Stella slapped the phone right out of my dad's hand.
When she saw my name and profile photo pop up on the screen, she went ballistic. She stomped on the phone, grinding the screen to pieces, and started screaming like a lunatic.
She shrieked, "You bastard, how dare you call that bitch!
"You guys, break his hands, too. Let's see how he's gonna call that bitch now."
I shot to my feet, my whole body shaking uncontrollably. I hoped I could just fly over there and help him right now.
But right now, there was nothing I could do.