Chapter 1

In a suburban prison in Rossenville City.

"Prisoner 847, Jessie Stewart. Your family's here to pick you up. Try to behave yourself this time. Don't come back."

Jessie Stewart numbly accepted a box of her belongings from the prison guard, nodded silently, and followed the instructions to change out of her uniform into the same clothes she had arrived in.

A short-sleeved dress that had sat folded for three years, its fabric faded and creased, now hung loosely on her.

'Family?'

Jessie let out a cold, mocking chuckle.

Three years ago, the Stewart family had shown up at the orphanage with a paternity test in hand, tearfully claiming she was their long-lost daughter. They brought her back to Rossenville City.

It wasn't until she returned that she learned the truth. To cope with the pain of her disappearance, the Stewarts had adopted another girl, Mia Stewart.

They'd cherished Mia for fifteen years, doted on her, and refused to let her go. To outsiders, they vaguely explained Jessie's existence by saying she was their frail, older daughter raised in the countryside. Mia remained the Stewart family's second daughter in public.

It wasn't until one day when Mia killed someone in a hit-and-run.

Jessie's family said to her, "If it weren't for you dragging us to your graduation ceremony, we wouldn't have missed Mia's performance. She was distracted while driving because of that. It's your fault. You owe her."

Before Jessie could even react, her family had already set everything in motion. She was thrown into prison.

'Family? What family?'

The prison gates slowly opened. Sunlight shone through, and Jessie squinted as her eyes adjusted to the glare. Not far away stood a man leaning against a car.

He wore a beige trench coat, his polished appearance a stark contrast to Jessie's worn-out clothes.

That was Mark Stewart, her biological brother.

He had been the one to personally bring her home the day she returned to the Stewart family, holding her in his arms and saying she was part of the family.

And yet, it was also he who had forced her to press her fingerprint on the confession, all to protect Mia.

When Jessie didn't move, Mark stepped forward and reached for the bag in her hands. "Let's go home."

Jessie laughed bitterly.

Back when she first arrived at prison, she used to dream every day that someone from her family would come and get her.

Over the three years, she had experienced being beaten until she vomited blood, starved until she was crawling on the floor, and locked in the freezing bathroom overnight. All this time, not a single person from the Stewart family came to visit her.

Eventually, she accepted that Mia was the only daughter they truly loved.

The words 'let's go home' no longer meant anything.

Jessie lowered her gaze and subtly avoided Mark's hand. Her voice was cold and distant. "I don't need your help. I can carry it myself."

Mark's hand dangled stiffly and awkwardly.

He remembered Jessie as someone easy to coax.

Just a little kindness and she'd forget every wrong, smiling sweetly and clinging to him.

He had expected tears and gratitude today. Instead, she was ice-cold. He felt an ache in his chest.

She was his biological sister, after all. Mark held back his frustration and explained, "Mia developed depression after the accident. Her emotions have been unstable. We've had to take shifts watching her to make sure she doesn't hurt herself. That's why we couldn't visit you."

Then he added, as if just remembering, "When we get back, don't stay in your room. Use Doria's room for now. If Mia sees you, it might upset her again."

Jessie found that deeply ironic.

Mia had taken a life, yet somehow became the victim whom everyone tiptoed around.

The entire family catered to her, so much so that they couldn't even visit their real daughter in prison. Now, they were even worried Jessie's return might bother her.

Jessie no longer cared where they made her stay.

A breeze blew by. She rubbed her arms and quietly replied, "Whatever you decide."

Except for that first glance, she hadn't looked at Mark again.

Yet Mark was suddenly reminded of her at twelve years old. That day he picked her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and shyly asked, "Mark, when I go home, will I have my own room?"

What had he told her back then?

He said, "Our little princess will always have the biggest and prettiest room."

But later, that room went to Mia. Jessie had cried for days then, but now she couldn't care less.

Mark's chest felt stuffy. He frowned. "If you're not comfortable, just say so. I have other properties. I can arrange for you to stay somewhere else."

Jessie shook her head. "I wouldn't want to trouble you."

That sentence was spoken with distant formality, something she picked up from groveling in prison for so long.

But to Mark, it stung. "You were only in prison for three years, with food and shelter. Mia, on the other hand, nearly died a few times. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for dragging us to your graduation and making her miss her performance. That accident was your fault. She never once complained. What right do you have to act like this?

"Did you forget how you lived in the orphanage? Did we ever mistreat you? Maybe you've just forgotten what it means to be grateful! Or did you want me to take time out of my busy schedule to personally break off your engagement with the Lawson family?"

With that, he slammed the car door and drove off without a second glance.

Jessie hadn't expected anyone to pick her up anyway. She didn't feel sad.

It just felt ironic to her. She thought maybe the Stewart family had shown up out of some sense of family or decency. But no, Mark only came to make sure she personally broke off the engagement.

Mia's engagement to Henry Lawson was originally arranged by David Stewart, their grandfather, when they were both children.

After Jessie's return, David insisted that Jessie would replace Mia and marry Henry instead.

Because of that, everyone in the family resented her for ruining Mia's future.

Even Henry himself believed Jessie had schemed to separate him from Mia. He hated Jessie deeply.

Now, Jessie was an ex-convict with a criminal record. Henry had inherited the Lawson family's business and become the man in charge.

They were deemed an unfit match.

Of course, Jessie believed the engagement should have been broken.

She shouldn't feel upset about it. Jessie kept reminding herself about this.

Tightening her grip on her bag, she knew the phone inside had long since died. She had a few bills on her but couldn't bear to spend it on transportation.

Mark had told her to find her own way, so she would.

But once she got to the foot of the hill, Jessie realized Rossenville City had changed. She didn't know which direction the Stewart family estate was.

Trying to ask for help, she approached some passersby, but they all avoided her after realizing she had just been released from prison.

Lost and unsure, Jessie picked a direction and began walking.

Just then, a black sedan pulled up beside her. A man's calm, cool voice came from inside.

"Ms. Stewart."