Chapter 1

The day I was thrown into the story as the fake heiress of a wealthy family, my adoptive parents slapped a 1.5 million check in my face.

"Our real daughter is back. Take the money and get out of the Grant family. From now on, don't call yourself our daughter."

The system shrieked in my ear. 'Host, don't take it! The Grant family is about to be raided for tax evasion. They're all going to prison.

'If you put aside the past, sacrifice yourself, and help them pay off their debts, their regret will be off the charts.'

My eyes lit up. "So I need to make them regret it, and the mission is complete?"

"Exactly. So you need to melt their hearts with family loyalty—"

I didn't wait for the system to finish. I shoved the check into my bag and grabbed the car keys off the table. "Fine. I'll go. I'm taking the car too."

Playing savior to a bunch of ungrateful people who threw me out like garbage? Not a chance.

Once they were locked up, I would visit them every single meal. I would eat the best food money can buy, right in front of their cells.

I pushed open the Grants' front door and hit the unlock button on the key fob.

"You really think you can walk out, Olivia?" Richard Grant's voice rang out behind me.

I yanked open the car door, slid into the driver's seat, and started the engine. The roar swallowed the sound of the rain.

Richard stormed down the steps, but his wife, Katherine Grant, grabbed his arm.

She pointed at my car as I pulled away. "Let her go. I bet she won't last a week without the Grant name."

As the car sped out of the gated community, the System panel appeared right in front of the windshield.

'Warning. Plot deviation at ten percent.

'Richard has called the bank to freeze the check.

'Emily is reporting you to the police for car theft.'

I floored the gas pedal. The red exclamation mark on the System panel kept flashing.

'Host, you can still turn back now. If you go back, get on your knees and apologize, and beg Emily for forgiveness, the mission can continue.'

I reached over and turned off the car radio.

There was a red light ahead. I pressed the brake, but it wouldn't go down.

The speedometer was pointing at eighty. The red light at the intersection glared right at me.

'Richard has remotely disabled the brake system,' the System's robotic voice announced flatly. 'This is your warning. Go back and admit you were wrong.'

A truck suddenly came out of nowhere from the side. I jerked the wheel to the right, desperate to avoid it.

The car scraped against the guardrail, throwing sparks everywhere in the pouring rain.

The front of the car slammed into the bushes by the roadside. The airbag deployed, and smoke began to curl around me.

I pushed the door open and staggered out, blood trickling from my forehead into my eyes.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Emily.

[Olivia, Dad says this was a little warning. If you don't come back and sign as the company's legal representative to take the fall for me, next time it won't be only the brakes that fail.]

The rain washed over my phone screen. I wiped the blood and rain off my face.

The System popped up again. 'Regret value: 0.

'Happiness level of the entire Grant family: 100.'

I stood in the rain, staring at the smoking Ferrari. I was broke, had no ID, and was now a suspect in a theft.

*****

I walked into a convenience store. The cashier glanced up at me.

I was soaked to the bone, with dried blood streaked dark red across my temple.

"Um, how much for this?" I pointed at the skewers simmering on the counter.

The cashier scanned it. "Eight bucks."

I dug into my pocket. My phone screen lit up.

The payment app said: [Your account has been frozen.]

Not giving up, I switched to another payment App. Same thing. [This account is at risk. Transactions restricted.]

Richard moved fast. He was determined to force me back.

The cashier gave me a skeptical look. "Not buying it?"

I pulled back my hand. "Never mind."

I turned and walked out of the convenience store. A poster was plastered outside the glass window.

The big screen in the commercial center was broadcasting entertainment news. Emily's innocent face flashed across the screen.

She spoke into the mic, her eyes rimmed with red. "Olivia had a moment of confusion. Even though she took the family car and 1.5 million, my parents aren't angry with her.

"As long as she's willing to come back, the Grant family will always welcome her back."

The camera switched to Richard, who looked heartbroken as he faced the media. "We took her in for twenty years, never thought she'd turn out so ungrateful.

"She's wanted for theft and fraud, and we've already reported it to the police. If anyone spots her, please let us know."

People on the street paused, staring. Someone pointed at the big screen, then glanced over at me.

"Hey, isn't that—"

"She does look like her."

"Isn't that the phony heiress? The one who stole from her adoptive parents and skipped town?"

Someone raised their phone and started taking pictures of me. Flashes popped all around.

I ducked my head, pulled my collar up, and hurried into the alley.

The System buzzed annoyingly in my ear. 'Look, everyone's turned against you now. This revenge thing doesn't suit you. Go back.

'The Grant family needs someone to take the blame. If you're willing to take the fall for Emily and do the time, they'll regret how they treated you.'

I slumped against the damp wall, my stomach growling.