All Chapters of The Ugly Duckling: Rise of the Forsaken Wife: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The moment Danice left the room, her straightened back immediately slumped. She hurried to her hospital room, locked the door, and released the breath she had been holding.The fierce look in her eyes from earlier vanished, replaced by relief.She had never spoken against or threatened anyone before. Everything she had done since waking up was new to her. Speaking up, intimidating people, and making demands were things the old Danice would never have dared to do.Danice looked down at her hands. Her pale, thin fingers trembled slightly. She couldn't tell if it was from nerves, anxiety... or excitement.The novels she had read, the dramas she had watched, and her sensitivity to people's emotions had all helped her.There was no way the Zagar couple would ever take seriously a Danice who was weak and cowardly. She had to appear fierce, unbothered, and ready to risk everything.Fortunately, her bluff had worked."Maybe I really can try acting," Danice muttered with a small smile.Once sh

Two weeks later, Danice was finally discharged.She had nothing left to retrieve from the Zagar household. Everything she owned now amounted to her backpack, a few clothes Jenny had given her, and the phone.She briefly considered renting a place, but as a minor, she knew it would be difficult. Fortunately, Jenny had already prepared for that.“I live in a two-bedroom unit, and I’m alone,” Jenny offered. “One of the rooms has been empty all this time. Want to be housemates?”Danice’s eyes lit up. “Can I really? I’ll pay rent and split the bills in half.”Jenny was about to protest, but Danice quickly showed her a credit card. “I have money now. I’ll pay.”Seeing the determination in Danice’s eyes, Jenny finally relented.When they arrived at Jenny’s apartment, Danice immediately fell in love with the place. It wasn’t grand like the Roans’ mansion or Javier’s villa, but to her, it felt warm and inviting. Like a home.Jenny’s unit was at the far end of the floor, with a small balcony th

"So, how was the movie?” The suspicious man suddenly asked her.Danice froze. His voice sounded strangely familiar. But with the man’s suspicious appearance, especially in this dim lit hallway, made her cautious. She instinctively took a step back. “And you are…?” The man stiffened, then scratched his head awkwardly. “I… I can’t say who I am. But if you really want to know… since you just watched this movie…” He mumbled something under his breath, incoherent, like he was trying to confess but couldn’t.Before Danice could press him further, another figure appeared—this time a short man running toward them in a panic.“Boss! I just went to the comfort room and you suddenly disappeared! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” He sounded frantic. When he noticed the tall man starting to lift his cap, his face went pale.“No! What are you doing, Boss?!” The short man leapt up with surprising agility and shoved the cap back down over the tall man’s head.Danice: ?The short man forced

"Happy Birthday!"Pop! Pop!Colorful confetti rained down in front of Danice. Jenny was holding a cake with glowing candles, while her coworker Manny and Attorney Hans each held a confetti popper. Behind them hung a huge banner that read Happy 18th Birthday, surrounded by balloons.Danice froze as she stepped through the door. She had never expected such a surprise to be waiting for her.“When did you guys prepare all this?”“We’ve been doing it in secret while you were away. Honestly, if Assistant Hans hadn’t reminded me that today is your birthday, we would’ve almost miss this precious day! Anyway, questions later—blow out your candles first. Ah, and don’t forget to make a wish!” Jenny said excitedly.Danice’s eyes rested on the flickering flames. She knew it was her eighteenth birthday, yet she had never truly thought about celebrating it.Back in the Zagar household, she had never known the exact date of her birth. She remembered a time in her childhood days when curiosity got th

The Roan family’s main mansion was two hours away from the Capital, and a day and a half travel from the countryside where the Zagars came from. To shorten the one day and twelve hours’ journey, Butler James arranged for a private jet to take Danice.Attorney Hans’s mouth nearly dropped when he laid eyes on the sleek, glossy, and beautiful jet. Although he had flown before, he had never once seen a private jet. On one side of the magnificent aircraft was a striking crest: a large maroon “R” wrapped in a red ribbon and entwined with a golden jade plant—the emblem of the Roan family for generations.But his astonishment didn’t end there. Inside, the jet’s interior was even more extravagant. Three attendants waited on them, serving an entire course meal despite the flight lasting less than an hour. Attorney Hans had never experienced such luxury.He glanced at Danice and saw her eating calmly, as though unfazed by the lavish treatment.The indulgence continued even after they landed. A s