The Sky of the Phoenix Has Fallen

It took a full ten years for Danielle to truly understand the human heart, a lesson far too costly. The moment she dragged her suitcase out of her husband’s house, a crowd of neighbors had already gathered outside, eager to watch. Some immediately mocked her, while others showed pity. Once compared to a noble phoenix, she was now nothing more than a swallow that had lost its direction. People’s tongues were always sharp, always eager to see those who once stood high fall to the ground. Everyone was curious to see how a noble lady would look when reduced to such disgrace.

And indeed… this was exactly how she looked, pitiful and miserable.

Looking up at the sky now thick with dark clouds, the sudden downpour blurred the tears on Danielle’s face. Good. At least no one would notice that she was crying.

…

The bustling city at night felt cold and indifferent. Crowds passed by her drenched, fragile figure without a second glance. Danielle hesitated for a long time before finally gathering the courage to push the door open.

“Dad, Mom, I’m home!” she called out weakly, but no one answered.

A suffocating stench of blood filled the air before her.

There was no sign of anyone. Nothing at all.

Her once beautiful, spacious home had been completely wrecked by creditors. Red marks were slashed across the white walls, furniture overturned, everything of value taken away.

Danielle completely broke down. Her limbs went weak as she collapsed onto the floor. At this moment, she could no longer endure it. All her emotions had exceeded their limit, and she burst into tears, blaming herself over and over again. During the time her family had been in trouble, she had known nothing, completely cut off from the outside world by her husband’s family. It was only when the news reported the Angelina family’s bankruptcy that she learned about her parents’ situation.

In their most desperate moment, they must have tried to reach her, but failed. She had been kept in the dark, manipulated, a daughter of a noble family reduced to circling the kitchen all day. It was no wonder Frank Tino looked down on her.

“Please don’t forgive me. Please… never forgive me.”

Her parents were missing, and not even a single servant remained in the house. All she could do was pray for them.

2 a.m.

Thunder and lightning struck relentlessly over the small garden. Danielle lay curled up on the cold bed. The rain outside continued to pour heavily. She had always hated the rain, hated the damp smell it brought, hated the indescribable sadness that came with it. To her, rain had never brought anything good.

Suddenly, the image of her parents appeared in her mind, her father’s voice echoing in her ears just like when she was a child.

“Don’t worry, my dear. After the rain, the sky will clear. A rainbow will appear and bring good luck.”

Danielle broke down in tears like a child.

“Dad… Mom… I miss you so much. When I wake up tomorrow, you’ll be there with the rainbow, right?”

Exhausted, Danielle fell into a deep sleep, lost in her illusions. She silently prayed that everything that had just happened was only a dream, a nightmare that would disappear when she woke up.

…

The next morning.

Even though it was daytime, the sky remained gloomy. There was no birdsong, only heavy, pressing noises closing in. Seeing Danielle burning with fever as she lay there, people grew anxious and tried to wake her.

“Wake up, girl!”

“Get up, you can’t sleep here.”

“Who is she? Is she homeless?”

“No, I think she’s the daughter left behind from the Angelina family…”

“How pitiful!”

The police arrived and sealed off the house. From now on, it no longer belonged to the Angelina family. Her parents had fled with charges of tax evasion, and despite her high fever, Danielle was forced to leave. A kind officer called her a taxi and paid the fare. He advised her to go to her relatives, at least to have a place to stay. At a time like this, she should not wander alone, because some of the more aggressive creditors were connected to the underworld and were searching for her parents. It would be dangerous if they discovered she was still in the city.

Danielle accepted the fever patch from the officer. It was the first time she felt warmth from a kind stranger.

The taxi driver kindly asked where she wanted to go, but Danielle could not answer. For a brief moment, sadness flashed in her eyes. She knew exactly what kind of people her relatives were. No one would want to be associated with a family drowning in billions of dollars of debt. As for friends, she had none. Only one person.

She was younger than Danielle, an orphan who had been raised by Danielle’s family as their own daughter until she grew up and became a famous film star.

Julia Quinn.

An actress rising in popularity, known as the fallen angel, a symbol of the provocative film genre adored by men.

Thinking of her beloved foster sister, Danielle felt a spark of hope. Like a candle relit in the dark, she finally saw a way forward.

“Take me to XXX Street, Elise Luxury Apartments.”

“Wow… that’s where all the celebrities live,” the driver exclaimed.

Danielle could not hide her pride as she told him all about Julia Quinn, showing just how much she cared for her.

Though they rarely met, Quinn would occasionally visit her during the New Year. Even her ex-husband’s family used to adore her. Their bond had always been strong. Danielle truly saw her as her own sister. Right now, all she wanted was to run to her and receive a comforting embrace.

Showing up unannounced like this made Danielle a little nervous. She had been ringing the doorbell for quite a while.

Just as she thought no one was home and turned away in disappointment, the door suddenly opened.

Along with it came the voice of a man.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and get dressed properly! It must be the manager bringing the contract. Don’t let them see us like this…”

“What’s the problem? Sooner or later, the whole city will know you’re mine. A rising B-list actress with a fiancé who’s a businessman, Frank… T…”

He did not even finish his sentence before both of them froze upon seeing Danielle standing at the door.

They were still wrapped in thin, revealing bathrobes, damp and barely covering their bodies.

Julia Quinn gasped in shock.

“OH MY GOD… DANIELLE???”