The moment Liam showed up, the kidnappers started shaking like leaves in a storm. "Mr. Warren, we had no idea we were crossing you. Please, have mercy!"

They hung their heads low, regret written all over their faces. Everyone knew Liam was no joke. He ruled a massive empire that blurred the line between crime and legit business, and his ruthless reputation scared off anyone dumb enough to mess with him. Talk about bad luck running into him here!

Without even glancing at them, Liam strode directly to Kathryn and started untying her. But then, to his shock, she moved with lightning reflexes, snatching a dagger off the floor.

With a quick flash, the blade sank right into the throat of the kidnapper who had just tried to rape her.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

The remaining men froze in terror. "Who... who are you?" one stammered.

A cruel, wicked smile curved Kathryn's lips. "I'm the one who's sending you straight to hell."

Suddenly, the warehouse echoed with screams, desperate pleas, and the sickening cracks of breaking bones.

Kathryn stepped closer to the scar-faced leader, who was still breathing, his eyes wide with terror as though she were a terrifying monster.

"Talk. How much did Jolene pay you? What was the plan?" she demanded coldly.

The scarred man, trembling and stuttering, confessed, "She paid us five million to kidnap you. She figured your brothers would pick her... and then... then she wanted us to kill you after doing whatever we wanted..."

Kathryn's eyes gleamed steel. Jolene, her so-called brothers, and the fiance she had loved for three years would soon learn not to underestimate her.

She had craved their love and had bent over backwards to meet every demand from the Browns. Yet, they never accepted her and repeatedly crossed her boundaries. This time, she wouldn't show mercy. The Browns were fools for turning their backs on their own sister to protect Jolene, the changeling. She was done holding on.

"Get out of here, and don't ever come back!" Kathryn ordered sharply.

Terrified, the kidnappers scattered and disappeared quickly.

Liam observed quietly, intrigued by her.

He had assumed she was helpless, but instead, she was strong and fierce, nothing like what he expected.

Kathryn faced Liam and sincerely said, "Thank you for today."

Just as Liam was about to respond, a sudden wave of blood, metallic and bitter, surged up his throat.

He coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful as his body wobbled and his face drained of color.

Kathryn's eyes narrowed as she noticed his distress. Frowning, she steadied him and asked, "You've been poisoned, haven't you?"

Liam hesitated, then looked at her and said, "How did you figure that out?"

The toxin inside him was unusually rare. Its symptoms were subtle and impossible for most doctors to detect. So how did she manage to spot it immediately?

Kathryn studied his condition carefully, then slowly let go of his hand and stated with confidence, "This poison has been in your system for about a month. If it's not treated soon, it could cause serious damage."

Liam's voice was low as he asked, "Can you get rid of it?"

And indeed, she was right.

Apparently, someone close to him had been bought off by the Serpents to poison him, and even after posting a big reward on the DarkNet, Liam hadn't found anyone capable of reversing the damage.

"Do you trust me enough? If so, hand me your hand," Kathryn asked firmly.

Liam met her steady, resolute gaze. Normally cautious and wary, something in her made him answer instinctively, "I trust you."

"Hold still." Without hesitation, Kathryn drew a small blade, took his hand, and made a precise cut on his index finger, causing a drop of blackened blood to ooze out.

"Mr. Warren!" one of his men shouted, rushing over in alarm.

"We don't have the equipment to fully remove the poison here, but we can let out some of the toxins to slow it down for now," Kathryn explained calmly.

After some time, Liam noticed the symptoms easing and felt considerably better.

He glanced at Kathryn, noticing beads of sweat on her brow and a focused, intense look. "If you need anything, just say the word," he said softly.

Kathryn shook her head. "No need to thank me. Think of this as paying you back for saving me with that shot earlier. I'll make sure this poison is completely gone from your body."

Liam's eyes narrowed slightly. There was something mysterious about her he couldn't quite figure out.

"Until it's fully out of my system, you're going to have to stick close to me," he ordered with quiet authority.

He was a man who never let anyone, especially women, get that close. But with Kathryn, he broke his own rule for the first time.

She didn't seem fazed and just raised an eyebrow. "Fine," she said. "But you'll have to provide food and shelter. Though first, I need to go back home and cut off all connections with the Browns."

Liam smirked slightly. "Deal."

When Kathryn arrived home, she found her biological parents and three brothers gathered around Jolene, showering her with all kinds of care and attention. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she took it all in.

Without wasting a second, she closed the distance between them and grabbed a handful of Jolene's hair.

Before anyone could react, Kathryn slapped her hard across the face, the sharp smack echoing loudly through the room.

The Brown family stood frozen, completely stunned to see it was Kathryn who had just hit Jolene. Hadn't she been with those kidnappers?

Jolene held her cheek, crying out in disbelief, "Kathryn, have you completely lost it?"

Austin was the first to snap out of his shock. "Kathryn, what are you doing? You come home and start hitting Jolene? You better apologize right now!"

Anne Brown, their mother, frowned deeply, crossing her arms. "Kathryn, what kind of trouble are you stirring up this time? Since you've come back, there's been nothing but chaos. Maybe we never should have taken you in."

Kathryn shook her head, finding their accusations almost laughable. "Me? Causing trouble? Why don't you ask Jolene what she's really done? She's the one who set up that whole kidnapping to get rid of me."

When Kathryn was born, she was intentionally switched with the nanny's own daughter, Jolene, and then left to be abandoned. Luckily, Kathryn was adopted and raised by a mentor who cared for her deeply.

About six months ago, the Brown family discovered the truth and brought Kathryn back home.

But because they favored Jolene, who had been carefully groomed and was skilled at manipulation, they treated Kathryn coldly.

Jolene kept framing Kathryn, and even when her lies were uncovered, the Browns always forgave Jolene. This left Kathryn feeling deeply hurt and disappointed.

Anne was caught off guard by Kathryn's retort—and by how far she'd taken it. Her expression clouded with displeasure. "Jolene would never do something like that. You're misunderstanding the situation."

"Misunderstanding?" Kathryn's voice dropped low but sharp as a knife. "The kidnapper confessed it all. How can you just brush that off?"

Anne hesitated, then sighed heavily. "Why are you being so stubborn? Jolene got hurt too, but she's been doing everything she can to help find you. What more could you possibly want?"

"What do I want? I want out of this family. From now on, I won't care about any of you!"

Saying that, Kathryn turned and went upstairs to pack. After some time, when she came back down, Jolene's voice stopped her in her tracks.

Jolene was holding onto Anne, her nails digging into her own hand, but her face was pale and full of tears. "Kathryn, you've got it all wrong. How could I have anything to do with those kidnappers? They're ruthless monsters. If I had planned anything, how did you manage to come home alive?"

Rage bubbled under Jolene's tears. This kidnapping was supposed to be foolproof. Kathryn was meant to be violated and left for dead. How could things have gone so wrong?

Kathryn laughed coldly. "Looks like you won't admit the truth until you're staring it straight in the face."

She didn't even look at Jolene anymore. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the Browns, her eyes calm but filled with a deep, bitter resignation. "You all think I'm lying, that I'm just being stubborn and unreasonable, right?"

Anne frowned. "Isn't that exactly what's happening? Jolene has laid out her side very clearly."

"Oh, I see," Kathryn said, pulling her phone out slowly. "Then let me clarify things a bit more for you."

Static hissed through the speaker, and then two voices filled the room—the first Jolene's, the second a sleazy man's, unmistakably the kidnapper's leader.

"When it's done, the last payment will be twice as much. I want her completely destroyed—no chance of her ever returning to the Browns!"

"Don't worry. My men will handle everything, and we might even capture some unforgettable shots, haha!" the man responded with a laugh.

"Make sure it's done quietly. No evidence that connects back to me, got it?"

"Understood! You can trust us to get the job done."

Though the recording was short, every word was crystal clear, each sentence landing heavily.

The living room sank into a heavy silence, so still that even the faintest sound seemed loud.

Jolene suddenly stopped crying, her face turning pale as her whole body shook with fear.

The Browns stared at her in stunned disbelief.

"No... this can't be real. It must be fake!" Jolene yelled desperately.

"Fake?" Kathryn's eyes flashed with icy contempt. "Do you want me to send this to a professional for verification? Or maybe call the police and let them handle it? After all, attempted kidnapping isn't something to take lightly."

"No! You can't call the cops!" Jolene's voice cracked as she broke down. Switching tactics, tears streaming, she pleaded, "Kathryn, I'm sorry, please hear me out. It's not what it seems. Don't be angry. I'm the one who should leave this house. I'm the outsider here..."

The Browns softened at her tears, their expressions shifting to sympathy. They looked at Kathryn like she was being unreasonable.

"Kathryn, Jolene's apologized. Just drop it," Anne urged, his brows furrowed in concern.

Kathryn watched this absurd spectacle with a sinking feeling in her chest. Even with solid proof, they were falling for Jolene's act.

Grabbing her luggage, Kathryn declared, "It's either her or me. Since you've chosen her, I'm out of here."

Her determined exit left the Browns speechless, with Anne stomping her foot in frustration. "Can you believe she actually has the guts to walk away?"

Taking advantage of the moment, Jolene burst into tears. "I'll do whatever it takes to bring her back. I'll even leave the house myself if that's what it takes."

Anne hugged her tightly. "Don't say that. You're my precious daughter, and you're not going anywhere."

Laurence Brown, their father, nodded angrily. "Exactly. That troublemaker Kathryn has upset everything since she came back. If she wants to leave, so be it. She's grown up and can manage on her own."

"That's right," Austin added. "Jolene's beautiful and kind. There's no way Kathryn can even come close to her."

Jolene hesitated, biting her lip. "But she owns 35% of the company's shares. What if she tries to mess things up using that?"

When Kathryn was found, her grandfather, during his worsening illness, made a decision that shocked the entire family. Wanting to highlight the Brown family's emphasis on blood ties, he transferred a hefty 35% of the company's shares directly to Kathryn's name.

At the time, everyone was left speechless. Yet, despite their shock and objections, there was nothing they could do to reverse his choice.

Jolene's quiet words hit like a stone thrown into calm water, stirring up a storm of feelings among the Browns.

Laurence furrowed his brow deeply. "Yes, that's a real headache. But Kathryn has already walked away from the Brown family, so there's no way she can take the company's shares with her."

Jolene bit her lip, a spark lighting up her eyes.

Austin jumped up and headed for the door. He had to catch Kathryn before she took those shares.

Just as Kathryn stepped outside, a sleek Maybach rolled up right in front of her.

The driver got out fast, came over, and bowed politely. "Excuse me, are you Miss Brown?"

Kathryn nodded, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes but an otherwise composed demeanor. "Yes, that's me."

The driver opened the rear door with deliberate politeness. "Miss Brown, greetings. I'm Mr. Warren's driver. Apologies for the delay. Please, get in."

Kathryn gave a quiet reply and, noticing Austin coming out, slipped into the car without a second thought. She had zero interest in sticking around with those awful Browns.

Austin's jaw tightened as he watched her enter the luxury car. If his memory served, that model was an ultra-rare Maybach, globally limited, with fewer than ten on the planet. Who was this person? And how had she suddenly gotten involved with someone so powerful?

The more he thought about it, the more impossible it seemed. Unease settled like a cold stone in his gut.

With a dark scowl, Austin turned back inside, where the rest of the Browns immediately swarmed him.

"Well? Did you catch her? Did you bring up the shares?" Laurence demanded, his voice sharp with anger.

Austin exhaled sharply, irritation written across his face. "She didn't stay. She got into a car and took off."

"A car? What, some cheap taxi? It's not like she has cash to spare," Anne scoffed.

"No, it wasn't a taxi," Austin replied flatly. "It was a high-end Maybach, one of those rare, limited-release models. And the driver treated her like royalty."

"Come on, are you serious? A luxury car just to pick her up? That's got to be a joke."

The Browns exchanged doubtful glances, clearly skeptical.

Austin insisted, "It's true. Haven't you noticed? Kathryn's not the same since she came back."

Jolene, still curled up in Anne's arms, pressed her nails into her own palm, trying to steady the mix of jealousy and dread churning inside her. Kathryn had been raised in a forgotten, backwater place, so how could she know anyone influential?

"Austin, are you absolutely sure you didn't get it wrong?" Jolene asked, forcing a weak laugh. "Maybe she just... rented some fancy car to intimidate us?"

Isaac snorted. "That has to be it. These days, you can rent a luxury car on any app with a few taps. She's putting on a performance, that's all. Let's see how long she keeps pretending."

Laurence's face hardened. "Austin, stop wasting time. Go figure out what's really going on."

"Dad, relax," Jaxton added with a mocking smirk. "She'll come crawling back sooner or later. There isn't anywhere she can survive on her own."

Meanwhile, Kathryn sat quietly in the backseat of the Maybach, the world outside blurring past the windows. The more distance she put between herself and the Browns, the colder her heart felt.

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror with utmost respect. "Miss Brown, Mr. Warren is waiting at the residence. Should I head there directly?"

Kathryn pulled her gaze from the passing scenery and spoke calmly. "Yes. Thank you."

...

Soon, the car glided through the towering gates of an elegantly grand estate.

The Warren family's power and status were clearly unmatched—every stone of the estate radiated authority.

Kathryn stepped out, and the butler led her into the main house.

The living room was lavish to the point of decadence, yet it felt strangely cold, void of any sense of home, much like the man who lived there.

Liam was seated on a sofa, with a document resting in his hand. At the sound of footsteps, he lifted his eyes.

His face was still slightly pale from the lingering effects of the poison, but his piercing gaze and overwhelming presence were just as commanding as ever.

"Is everything settled?" He set the document aside, his voice low and composed.

"Yes," Kathryn replied coolly. "I've cut ties with the Browns."

She took a seat across from him, her posture relaxed, not the least bit intimidated.

Liam continued, "Your room has been prepared. If you need anything, inform the butler. From this moment on, you're my personal doctor. Your job is to remove the poison from my body. Until I'm fully healed, you are to stay within my reach."

"Alright," Kathryn said without hesitation. "But I have two conditions."

"I'm all ears."

"First, I need a complete medical lab and a few very specific materials. I'll send you a list later."

"That's fine."

"Second," she said calmly, "our relationship is strictly professional. You hire me, I treat you. Besides that, neither of us interferes in the other's life."

Liam studied her with a look of curiosity and slight amusement. She was clearly the one at a disadvantage, yet she spoke to him confidently, even negotiating boundaries without flinching. Who exactly was she? She definitely wasn't the useless daughter the Browns made her out to be.

After a beat, he let out a short laugh. "Alright, Kathryn. We'll handle things your way. But keep this in mind—if your medical skills don't live up to that confidence of yours..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the cold glint in his eyes made the threat painfully clear.

Kathryn didn't blink. "You'll see soon enough. My medical skills won't disappoint you."

She understood perfectly well that Liam Warren was like a lone, ruthless wolf—calculating, dangerous, and merciless. But she had never been afraid of wolves.