Chapter 1

At my birthday party, tears streamed down Estella Foster's delicate face. She was my parents' adopted daughter. She said she wanted to give me back the engagement that was supposed to be mine.

She said, "Keira just came back from that small town. She must have suffered so much. I don't want to take what's hers."

My fiancé, Andrew Grant, looked at me with disgust. "Country bumpkin. That's all you've got. Just asking for things."

My parents frowned too. "Don't fight with Estella for Andrew. She's not strong."

Everyone thought I would feel inferior, lose my mind, or get jealous.

But I took out my phone and made an overseas call.

"Hey, Eden? Bring my helicopter over. And send me one of those globally limited haute couture dresses," I said.

After hanging up, I looked at these people acting like clowns.

"Let me tell you something. That trash of a man? Only you would treat him like a treasure. I came back to buy out your company," I said.

That night, the news that the richest heiress had returned shot straight to the top of the trending charts.

*****

The air in the ballroom froze for three seconds.

Then laughter exploded like popcorn in a hot pan.

My birth mother, Alina Foster, held her chest. She looked like she'd just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

She pointed at me. The huge diamond ring on her finger flashed so brightly that it nearly made me dizzy.

She sneered, "Keira, have you lost your mind? Buy out our company? Do you even know how much Foster Holdings is worth?

"You've been out in the boonies too long. Fried your brain, huh?"

Andrew was laughing so hard that he nearly doubled over. He had his arm around that fake heiress, Estella. His eyes were full of mockery.

He scoffed. "A private helicopter? And a globally limited haute couture dress? Do you know how much that costs? Selling you wouldn't even buy one tire."

Estella's eyes were red, but she tugged at Andrew's sleeve, trying to look all sweet and understanding. "Andy, don't talk to Keira like that. She just wants to fit in with us so badly. She's just trying to impress us."

She said to me, "Keira, if you want an evening dress, I have a few old ones from last season in my closet. They're out of season. But they're still better than that cheap outfit you're wearing."

She played the part perfectly. She put me down and showed off how generous and understanding she was at the same time.

The guests around us started whispering.

"The real heiress has no class. She's full of it."

"Exactly. Ms. Estella Foster is so well-mannered. She's not blood-related, but she's got that elegance down cold."

I didn't say anything and just looked down at my watch. It was a custom-made Patek Philippe, the only one in the world.

Too bad these people had no clue. They thought it was just some ordinary digital watch.

"Three more minutes," I said calmly.

Andrew let out a scoff. "Three minutes? Your helicopter lands in three minutes? If it doesn't show, are you gonna blame it on air traffic control?

"Stop embarrassing yourself. Just go back to your room. Get out of our sight."

My father, Richard Foster, waved his hand impatiently like he was shooing a fly. "Enough. Stop making a scene. It's Estella's birthday. Don't ruin it on purpose.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll pretend I never had a daughter like you."

I looked at this slightly overweight middle-aged man. This was my birth father.

In the face of profit and pride, blood ties were as fragile as glass.

The day I came back, he was exactly the same. He didn't ask how I was doing. He didn't ask if I'd had a hard time.

The moment he saw me, he said, "From now on, keep your mouth shut in public. Don't embarrass Estella."

I smiled. It was a cold, bitter smile. "Mr. Foster, I hope you remember that. In three minutes, you'll be begging me to talk."

As soon as I finished speaking, a huge roar came from above. It was the sound of rotor blades cutting through the air. Heavy, crushing, arrogantly unstoppable.

The crystal chandelier in the ballroom started to tremble slightly. The red wine in the glasses rippled in tiny circles.

Everyone looked up, stunned and alarmed. The brutal force of the wind even pushed right through the tightly closed floor-to-ceiling windows.

"What's happening? Is it an earthquake?" someone shouted in panic.

I straightened my sleeves. I was wearing a silk shirt, hand-sewn by a top tailor. I turned and walked toward the door. "Looks like it won't even take three minutes."

The grand doors swung open. A wild gust of wind rushed in, carrying the fresh smell of the lawn. A black helicopter was hovering over the grass outside the house.

On its fuselage, the golden family crest shone brightly under the spotlights.

It was the mark of a global top-tier financial conglomerate. The private seal of the Austin family.

Everyone was dumbfounded. They were only small-time rich and powerful families in Harbor City, but they still knew enough to recognize that.

Andrew's glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor. Red wine splashed on his pants, but he didn't even notice.

The helicopter door opened. Four men in black tailcoats and white gloves walked over quickly. They carried several elegant boxes in their hands.

Inside was the "Queen's Heart" haute couture collection, which had never even been shown at Aurelia Fashion Week.

The lead butler, Eden Archer, had a wrinkled face, but stood sharp and spirited. He ignored everyone else around him.

He walked straight up to me and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees. His posture was more respectful than any servant in the world.

He said, "Ms. Foster, your helicopter is here. The dress you requested is here as well.

"Also, Mr. Austin asked when you are planning to acquire this... tiny operation Foster Holdings? All the funds are ready."

The whole room fell dead silent. Only the sound of the wind howled through the air.