Chapter 4

Back then, when the Wilson family locked me in the study, someone snuck in and tried to burn it down.

I saw everything with my own eyes. It was Amy.

Amy lit the curtain on fire and waited a few minutes for the flames to spread, so by the time the place really went up, she'd already have her alibi.

After Amy left, Yara had no clue her mom had just been here. She waltzed in, all smug, showing off her engagement to Liam.

I was ready to take Yara down with me. As the flames started to rage, Peter burst in and dragged Yara out. When he saw us fighting, he grabbed a vase and cracked it over my head. Everything went black for a moment.

If the smoke hadn't jolted me awake and I hadn't smashed the window and jumped, I'd be dead.

That whole Wilson family was killers, every last one of them.

So when I got out of prison, going back to the Wilson family was the last thing on my mind.

I threw off the covers, stumbled out of bed, and lunged for Liam's hand. Clutching it with both of mine, I pleaded, "Please, I'm begging you. Help me. I'll do anything, just help me."

My voice cracked with every word; I kept dipping my head, forehead bumping the hardwood each time, as if the thud could force him to listen.

Liam was the only person I knew who could actually go up against the Wilson family and win, no contest.

But that was only if he was willing to help me.

Liam crouched down, grabbed my chin, and lifted my face. He said, "You should be begging yourself, not me."

I just stared at him, confused.

Liam said, "I broke off the engagement with the Wilson family because you were the one I wanted from the start."

His eyes were cold, empty of any affection.

I knew he didn't love me. Not for a second did I believe it.

He had another agenda.

*****

Two months later, I came back from overseas.

I wasn't some stray anymore. Now, I was the heir to a powerful family.

At the charity gala, when I dropped 1.6 million on an antique vase, everyone suddenly knew who I was.

Whispers about my identity started spreading through the crowd.

Back when I was with the Wilsons, I kept out of the spotlight; partly because I felt I didn't belong, partly because they feared I'd build allies of my own.

So, on the rare occasions I did appear, no one knew who I was.

That was until Yara strutted over, flashing a fake smile.

She said, "You've been gone two months; I almost thought you'd gotten yourself locked up again. Didn't expect to see you at an event like this. So, did you finally cozy up to some sugar daddy?"

She practically cackled, making sure her voice carried across the room.

I swirled my wine glass and gave her a composed, graceful smile.

Her laughter faltered when Yara caught the way I looked at her, like she was nothing but a joke. People nearby started to frown, clearly finding her crude and out of line.

Yara said, "Last time, you tried to steal documents from the White family, you got two years in prison. What are you after this time?"

I fixed her with a cool stare and said, "Funny you should mention that. I'd almost forgotten. I've already sued you and Henry. One for theft, the other for perjury. Better get yourself a good lawyer, by the way.

"Henry's law license has already been revoked."

Just then, the host of the charity gala hurried over with two bodyguards, looking all respectful. "Would you like us to have Yara Wilson removed?" he asked.

I nodded.

And just like that, the three members of the Wilson family were kicked out.

In the car, Peter was frantically calling around, desperate to find out what was going on with me.

They all assumed I was attending as Mrs. White, but they had no idea I was actually there as the heir to a major family.

After he got the news, Peter looked like he'd seen a ghost. His face went completely ashen.

Amy sensed something was off and asked Peter what was going on.

"The Wilson family is finished," Peter murmured.

Two months ago, Liam brought me to a manor overseas.

That's where I finally reunited with my family.

Turns out, my parents had taken me back home to look for our relatives, but we got caught in a mudslide. I was the only one who survived, and after that, I was sent to an orphanage.

Back then, news didn't reach my grandfather; he thought I was dead.

It wasn't until a few years ago that he finally got word I was still alive.

By then, his health was shot, especially after a string of major surgeries, and the family was tearing itself apart over the inheritance.

In the end, he handled the chaos all by himself: cut off the troublemakers, split up the assets that needed to go, and made sure whatever I inherited was locked down tight so nobody could mess with it.

Once Liam got wind of all this, he started scheming right away.

He wanted to tie the knot with me. He didn't have full control of the White family yet. If he wanted to call all the shots, he needed me in his corner.

The Wilsons were never the target; he'd been after me from the start.

Once the DNA test with my grandfather came back, Liam asked me what I wanted: Did I want to take revenge on the Wilson family myself, or let him help me, if I agreed to help him in return?

Money was all I had, but without influence, teaming up with him was my only option.

I was going to make the Wilson family pay.