MasukThat was the last time I ever saw my father.Later, I heard bits and pieces about them from old classmates.After my father got home from Boston, he had a sudden stroke that left him completely paralyzed and bedridden.They lived in that cramped, leaky apartment. Evan got wasted every day, and whenever anything went wrong, he screamed at our paralyzed father and our mother, who had lost her mind.Every day, my mother sat by the window, clutching a paintbrush I'd used when I was little.Sometimes she waved at the empty street and called out with a smile, "Selena, come home for dinner. I baked your favorite cookies."But her Selena was never coming home.Camilla, the one they'd spoiled rotten, was later arrested on suspicion of credit card fraud and ended up in a local jail.She called home from jail more times than anyone could count, begging for help. But the home that had once sheltered her from everything had crumbled to dust, and there was no one left who could save her.Their unche
A year later, another heavy snow fell over Boston.I stood at the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor of our house, holding a mug of warm milk. My belly was starting to round. I was four months pregnant and moved a little more slowly these days.Adrian wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and rested his chin against my neck."Watching the snow?" he asked softly."Yes." I smiled.Over the past year, I'd become a rising star in North American architecture.Adrian and I had started a family of our own, and our life together was peaceful, fulfilling, and happy."Someone's been standing down there for a long time." Adrian followed my gaze, and his expression sharpened.Through the swirling snow, I saw a figure by the iron fence outside the house.It was an old man in a worn-out coat, his hair gone gray and his face gaunt and haggard. He was badly hunched over. He clutched a hat and shivered in the snow.It was my father.In just one year, the Prescott family had declared ban
Three months later, the Prescott family's real estate company, their pride and joy, faced the worst crisis in its history.After the gala in Boston, Hartwell Holdings, the conglomerate Adrian's family ran, pulled out of every possible deal with the Prescott family. Then it spread the word across the industry that it wouldn't finance any project connected to them.It was like the first domino falling.Their cash flow dried up, partners pulled out, and banks called in their loans. In just three months, Richard's empire was teetering on the edge of collapse.And Camilla's scandal was the straw that broke the camel's back.Oxford formally expelled her and sent a notice of her academic fraud to every top university.Camilla's reputation was ruined. The socialite friends who used to flock to her now avoided her like the plague.In the middle of a heavy snowstorm, Camilla got kicked out of her apartment in Oxford and slunk back to the Prescott estate, which was falling apart."I told you I di
Our corner of the ballroom went dead silent.My father stared at me, wide-eyed and breathing hard. He'd never seen me confront him so ruthlessly.For the past 20 years, all he'd had to do was raise his voice a little, and I'd lower my head and take whatever they put me through. He'd grown so used to my obedience that he'd forgotten I only obeyed because I still had hope for them."You... you've lost your mind!" My father jabbed a finger at me, his hand trembling slightly. "You think you can defy me just because you've got Adrian? Don't forget, ten percent of the Prescott family trust is still in your name! One word from me, and you won't see a single cent. You think the Hartwell family is going to accept some penniless Cinderella?"He'd pulled out what he thought was his deadliest weapon. In his warped way of thinking, money and self-interest were the best ways to keep someone under control.My mother quickly backed him up, coaxing me as if I were a child. "That's right, Selena. Stop b
The gala was held in the grand ballroom of the Four Seasons in Boston.Adrian and I walked in side by side.I wore a simple deep blue velvet gown. My hair was pinned up, and I wore no elaborate jewelry. Even so, I drew the attention of countless reporters and investors."Is that Professor Hartwell's date? Isn't that Selena, the rising star who designed the new art museum?""I heard she won two industry gold awards in just four months. She's going places."I held my glass of champagne and smiled in response to the friendly greetings. Adrian stayed at my side, half a step away, his hand hovering near the small of my back in silent support.Just then, the ballroom doors swung open again.My father, my mother, and Evan appeared in the doorway, looking worn out from the trip.My father had pulled every string to find out I'd be at this gala tonight, then flown straight to Boston with my mother and Evan.My mother scanned the room. When she spotted me looking radiant at the center of the roo
Richard stared at the tablet screen, breathing hard.His shock gave way to rage. He felt betrayed."Ungrateful brat! She's nothing but an ungrateful brat!" He slammed his fist down on the table. "She applied to Harvard behind our backs? Does she think we're a bunch of fools? She used this family's resources to apply, didn't say a word when she got in, and then ran away right in the middle of Camilla's celebration. She's trying to humiliate us on purpose!"Alice had paled a little, too. She remembered how unnervingly calm Selena had looked the night before, and unease crept over her. Even so, she instinctively sided with Richard."Richard, don't get so worked up. Selena's just too stubborn. She ran off to Boston on her own, with no money from us. How is she going to survive? Is she going to pay her tuition and living expenses by waiting tables?"Evan was already dialing Selena's number."We're sorry. The number you have dialed is not in service." A cold, robotic female voice came throug







