Chapter 1

My adoptive mother, Sarah Wellington, slammed the agreement onto the table in front of me.

"Sign it, Clara. After today, you don't get a single dime from this family."

I picked up the Waiver of Family Trust Fund Rights and flipped through the pages.

Wendy leaned against Victor Jackson, her new fiancé, giggling into her hand.

"Don't feel too bad, Clara," she purred. "Marrying Harry is a generosity.

“A bankrupt cripple and an adopted orphan? People will say it's a match made in heaven."

My adoptive father, Killian Wellington, tapped his knuckles on the heavy mahogany desk.

"We raised you for twenty years. It is fair not to ask for anything in return."

I flipped to the final page and hovered my pen over the signature line.

"Once I sign this, any future favors you ask from me will be treated as loans, not debts of gratitude."

Sarah's face instantly darkened.

"You haven't even left this house, and you're already saying all these?"

Wendy walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder, her voice dripping with fake sweet concern.

"Clara, don't upset Mom and Dad. You can't keep the family name to avoid stealing your sister's spotlight."

I pressed the pen to the paper and signed my name.

A string of bright comments floated across the pages.

“Sign it! That paper won't even be worth using as toilet paper in a month.”

“She's walking away from a few million to claim a multi-billion-dollar empire!”

I pushed the agreement back across the desk.

"Keep it safe. Don't come crawling to me when your pockets are empty, I do not owe you a dime."

The smile froze on Wendy's face.

"You act so tough for someone that is about to start eating out of trash can."

Victor whistled and spun his Ferrari keys around his finger.

"Harry, she's all yours. Take your trash and make sure she never comes back to beg."

Sitting calmly in the wheelchair, Harry raised his eyes and his cold gaze landed on my worn-out handbag.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

I picked up my bag. "Fully ready."

Sarah yelled at me as I turned around. "Once you step out of that door, you are no longer part of this family!"

I didn't look back. I just adjusted the strap on my shoulder.

"Make sure you do not forget that too."

---

Harry brought me to a rundown, leaking apartment on the edge of town.

The door lock stuck three times before it finally clicked open.

In the corner, a plastic bucket caught drips of water from the ceiling.

He wheeled himself over to the small table and set down two plates of instant noodles.

"This is all I have."

I sat down and took the spoon. "Hope it's delicious?"

He paused, staring at me for a split second before sliding a small shaker over.

"Are you not going to whine and complain about this?"

"Back at my family house," I said while taking a mouthful, "I only got cold leftovers after washing the dishes.”