Chapter 1

The imposter daughter exposed her identity to bring me back, only to make me marry her crippled fiance.

She put on a show in front of the whole family, trying to sow discord between me and them.

But what she didn't know was that we could all hear her thoughts.

When she slashed her palm with a fruit knife to frame me, she was secretly thinking, "Why isn't that useless father of mine hitting her yet?"

When she tumbled down the stairs and accused me, she was cursing in her mind, "Stupid old hag, why don't you teach her a lesson?"

And when she snuggled up to my brother in feigned innocence, she was thinking, "You're really a loyal dog, my dear brother."

The expressions on the faces of the three of them shifted in an instant, their anger rising to the point of madness.

I just smiled faintly and turned away, ignoring her, only wanting to get this "special" task over with as quickly as possible.

When Kendra Miles found me, I was fishing by the river under the blazing sun.

She grabbed my hand with joy, tears welling up in her eyes. "Sis, I finally found you."

Before I could react, a group of people rudely yanked me off the fishing boat and shoved me into a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

As soon as the car door slammed shut, Kendra's smile vanished, and her icy gaze shot at me like an arrow.

Her lips didn't move, but I could clearly hear her cursing in her mind.

"How infuriating! This unlucky fool is actually so good-looking. What good is being pretty? She's destined to be my stand-in and marry that cripple!

"It's all my useless mother's fault. She couldn't even get rid of the engagement. If it weren't for that, I would never let this freak come back!

"Even if she returns to the Miles family, I won't let her live a day in peace."

Half an hour later, we boarded a private plane and arrived at the top of the most luxurious skyscraper in Priemon before nightfall.

The place was lit up like a dazzling star, hosting a grand banquet.

Kendra led me through a side door to a luxurious suite.

Before entering, she pulled a fruit knife out from somewhere, the blade glinting menacingly.

She raised an eyebrow at me, and the next moment, blood started flowing from her palm, and I found the knife in my hand.

She slammed open the door, threw her arms wide, and threw herself into a noblewoman's embrace, screaming, "Dad! Mom! Leonard! Help!"

Blood trickled down her arm as the people in the room rushed to her, their eyes filled with shock and sympathy.

Leonard Miles quickly ripped off his handkerchief to wrap her wound.

"Aurelia... Aurelia is trying to kill me!

"Aurelia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to steal your life. Why don't you believe me?"

Her biological parents and brother, who had never met me before, gathered around Kendra, all frowning in unison.

They looked at me with clear disdain.

I stared at the united front of this family, a faint sorrow tugging at my heart, before I calmly said, "She hurt herself. It has nothing to do with me."

My so-called brother clenched his fist. "The weapon is in your hand, and you still dare to argue? Just like the private investigator said. You're truly malicious!"

They had hired a private investigator to look into me? How did I not notice?

My elegant and dignified mother, clutching the sobbing Kendra, comforted her gently before turning to glare at me. "Even though we know you have a bad nature, Kendra still begged us to find you, worried that you'd suffer out there. How could you be so heartless to hurt her?"

My successful father sighed in deep disappointment. "If you want to return to the Miles family, you must kneel and apologize to Kendra. We don't have ungrateful, knife-wielding scum in this family. Kneel!"

Kendra raised her chin smugly, her eyes full of provocation.

I had imagined the scene of meeting my biological parents, but I never expected it to unfold like this.

I stood still, staring at them without moving.

"Leonard, if she doesn't kneel and apologize to Kendra, break her legs!"

Leonard stepped forward, closing the distance.

I gazed at him with cold eyes, fingers flexing, the fruit knife twirling between my fingertips as I watched them wide-eyed.

With a snap of my fingers, the fruit knife flew through the air, and when it fell, I caught the blade steady, then flicked my wrist. The knife whistled through the air, grazing Leonard's head and embedding itself in the wall.

I slowly walked into the room, my voice frigid. "I don't leave anyone alive if I strike. But since you're my family, I'll overlook this. Remember, never again."

Leonard stiffly shut his mouth, swallowing hard.

My father instinctively pulled my mother closer, his eyes full of panic.

At that moment, Kendra's thoughts echoed in my mind.

"Go ahead, stupid dog, you're already scared? Didn't I tell you she's learned acrobatics? That was all to trick you idiots.

"Are you just standing there brewing shit? Aren't you the ones who claim to love me the most, unwilling to let me suffer a bit? Why don't you teach her a lesson?"

The three of them froze in place, their gazes unintentionally shifting toward Kendra, the tension in the room thickening.

I gave a slight smile.

She probably still didn't know that we could all hear her thoughts.

With Kendra in the picture, this whole mission just got a lot more interesting.