At that moment, Stefan slowly lifted his gaze. His eyes settled on Katherine's delicate features, scrutinizing her with the predatory focus of a hawk assessing unfamiliar prey.

After a moment, his thin lips parted slightly. "Have we met before?"

Katherine instinctively lowered her lashes and answered in a soft, obedient voice, "No."

Stefan White—the newly appointed head of the White family—was infamous in elite circles for his mercurial temperament and ruthless decisiveness. Katherine knew better than to entangle herself with a man like him. Distance, she sensed, was her safest choice.

Hearing her calm reply, Stefan withdrew his oppressive gaze. The faint suspicion lingering in his eyes slowly faded.

A year ago, during an ambush overseas, he had narrowly escaped death. A mysterious woman with extraordinary marksmanship had appeared out of nowhere, saved him, and vanished without leaving a trace. Despite all his resources, he had never managed to find her.

That woman had concealed her face with a black scarf, revealing only a pair of eyes. Those eyes—cold, resolute, and fearless—had the same shape as Katherine's.

Yet the girl standing before him now looked far too gentle, too innocent. She couldn't possibly be the same person.

Callum, who had just arrived beside them, was utterly stunned.

He never imagined he would live to hear Stefan strike up a conversation with a girl. He even considered recording the moment and sending it to their private group chat—purely for historical preservation.

His little sister, it seemed, possessed an unexpected talent for charming even men like Stefan.

Clearing his throat, Callum stepped in. "This is Stefan White. The Smith and White families have been close for generations. The flight base where I bought these helicopters belongs to his family, and I'm generous enough to give him a ride."

"I gave you a twenty-percent discount," Stefan added coolly, his voice tinged with displeasure.

His gaze flicked toward Katherine once more.

She remained composed, her expression serene.

Callum waved it off carelessly. A discount—or the lack of one—meant nothing to him anyway.

He turned back to Katherine, his tone softening. "Mom and Dad were overjoyed when they learned you were alive. They've been waiting for you at home."

Katherine's heart skipped. She felt a strange flutter of anticipation.

The sky was beginning to pale with dawn.

Soon, a line of helicopters descended gracefully onto the vast grounds of a magnificent estate. Nearby, a Rolls-Royce Phantom belonging to the White family waited in silence.

Without a word, Stefan stepped into the car, his expression as indifferent as ever.

Callum glanced at Katherine and offered a reassuring smile. "Don't mind him. He's just got a terrible temper. Don't be afraid of him."

Katherine blinked slightly. She hadn't even said she was afraid.

Inside the moving car, Stefan stared at the shrinking figure in the rearview mirror. The suspicion he had suppressed began to surface again.

Not only did Katherine's eyes resemble that woman's… Even her silhouette looked strangely familiar.

Could two people in this world truly be so alike?

Levi Ward, Stefan's longtime assistant, noticed his unusual distraction.

He had rarely seen his employer lost in thought like this.

After a moment's hesitation, Levi asked carefully, "Sir, would you like to pay a visit to the Smith family?"

Stefan's cold eyes darkened.

He had no reasonable excuse.

After a brief silence, he ordered, "Reinvestigate the assassination attempt from last year. Collect every piece of footage related to that woman."

"Yes, sir." Levi was surprised, though he said nothing.

He knew Stefan had never given up searching for his savior—but he hadn't expected him to bring it up again now.

As the White family's car disappeared into the distance, Katherine followed Callum toward the main building.

A woman rushed toward them, her frame slender, her expression strained with urgency and sorrow. Before Katherine could fully take in her features, she was pulled into a tight embrace.

Juliette Smith, Katherine's biological mother, clung to her as if afraid she might disappear again. "My darling… I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

For twenty years, regret had haunted Juliette relentlessly. She believed that if she hadn't fallen during pregnancy, Katherine wouldn't have been born prematurely. If she had been more vigilant… If she had protected her better… None of this would have happened.

Before Katherine could speak, Juliette's tears soaked her shoulder.

Katherine gently returned the embrace. "It's alright," she whispered. "I'm home now."

She met her mother's reddened eyes. Warmth spread through her chest, flowing into her limbs like a quiet tide. Juliette was thinner than she had imagined—fragile, almost translucent.

On the way home, Callum had told her everything. Juliette had blamed herself day and night for two decades.

She had punished herself with endless guilt, barely sleeping, barely eating. Her health had deteriorated year after year. It was all because she believed she had been the one to blame.

Now, hearing Katherine's gentle words, Juliette finally broke down. She sobbed uncontrollably in her daughter's arms. For the first time in twenty years, her heart felt lighter. For the first time, she felt that perhaps she could finally forgive herself.

The middle-aged man standing ahead, whose features bore a striking resemblance to Callum's, was Laurence Smith—Katherine's biological father.

Emotion shimmered in his eyes as he discreetly wiped the moisture gathering at their corners. Clearing his throat, he said gently, "Katherine, you must be worn out after such a long journey. Come, let's go inside."

Before Katherine could respond, a young woman dressed with meticulous elegance spoke up from Juliette's side. "Aunt Juliette, your health isn't strong. Ricky said you shouldn't let your emotions run too high."

Juliette finally managed to steady herself. Still, her hand clung to Katherine's.

"My darling, from now on, I'll take care of you myself," she said softly, her voice trembling with resolve. "I won't ever let you leave my side again."

Katherine felt a warmth bloom quietly in her chest. "Okay," she replied, her voice sincere.

The young woman stepped forward at once, carefully supporting Juliette. Turning to Katherine, she offered a gentle smile. "I'm Caylee Wright—your cousin. I've been looking after Aunt Juliette all these years. She's always talked about you. I'm truly happy you've finally come home."

Katherine acknowledged her with a soft hum.

Yet, in that brief exchange, she had already sensed something amiss. Behind Caylee's flawless smile lingered a trace of hostility—subtle, well-hidden, but unmistakable.

Seeing her daughter before her seemed to have restored some color to Juliette's face. She smiled faintly and said, "Caylee, I'm deeply grateful for everything you've done for me all these years. But now that Katherine is back, you don't need to come by so often anymore. You should spend more time doing things you enjoy."

Caylee stiffened. Her smile faltered, and her eyes reddened in an instant. "Aunt Juliette… are you asking me to leave?"

"That's not what I meant," Juliette replied gently, patting Caylee's hand. "I just don't want you exhausting yourself because of me."

A flash of jealousy and resentment flickered through Caylee's eyes. So soon after reuniting with her biological daughter, Juliette was already eager to push her aside.

Lowering her head, Caylee dabbed at her eyes and said softly, with carefully measured sorrow, "Taking care of you was never a burden to me. If you don't want to see me anymore, I won't come again."

Juliette's expression immediately softened.

Over the years, she had genuinely grown fond of Caylee and could not bear to see her distressed. "That's not what I mean at all," she said hurriedly. "If you wish, you can stay here with Katherine and me."

Caylee lifted her head then and turned to Katherine, her expression cautious, almost fragile. "Don't misunderstand, Katherine. I just want to stay by Aunt Juliette's side."

Throughout it all, Katherine had remained calm, her expression unreadable. Having already seen through Caylee's little performance, she replied evenly, "That's fine. I don't mind."

To Katherine, worry would only arise if Juliette had discarded the girl who had stood by her for twenty years as easily as Ariella once had. As long as Caylee didn't provoke trouble, her presence meant nothing.

Her composed, flawless response left Caylee momentarily speechless.

Instinctively, Caylee understood—Katherine was not someone easily manipulated.

By then, Juliette had already made her way toward a neatly arranged stack of luxury gift boxes in the living room. She beckoned Katherine over with a tender smile. "Your father and I prepared these for you. A few more are still on their way."

The familiar brand logos caused Katherine's eyes to widen slightly.

Most of them belonged to Katrine's brand.

Juliette reached for an ornate brocade box and opened it carefully, revealing an emerald necklace of striking elegance, its gemstones glowing with a deep, timeless luster. "This belonged to your grandmother," Juliette said softly. "Now, I want you to have it."

Katherine couldn't help thinking that she had finally received something not of her own design.

Well-versed in fine jewelry, she recognized at once the rarity of the gems. The necklace was easily worth over a hundred million dollars.

Across from her, Caylee's smile stiffened. A ripple of frustration and bitterness surged within her.

That necklace was the Wright family's heirloom, passed down through generations and bestowed only upon the family's true leader.

Her own father, Juliette's brother, had been a disappointment, which was why her grandmother had entrusted it to Juliette instead.

The necklace symbolized authority—proof that even after marrying into the Smith family, Juliette still held the final say in the Wright family's most critical matters.

Caylee had always believed it would eventually be hers.

She had never imagined Juliette would give it to Katherine so casually.

Suppressing the jealousy clawing at her chest, Caylee forced a gentle tone and asked, "Aunt Juliette… this is still the Wright family's heirloom. Shouldn't we consult Grandma first?"

At Caylee's remark, Juliette merely smiled and waved a hand lightly. "That won't be necessary. Your grandmother told me I could decide for myself. She was overjoyed when she learned that I had found Katherine and kept urging me to bring her back home as soon as possible."

Juliette's undisguised affection was the final blow to Caylee's fragile hopes.

In that moment, she understood with painful clarity that Juliette no longer cared for her as she once had.

A faint shadow of resentment flickered in her eyes as she turned to Katherine, forcing a brittle smile. "Katherine, you've probably never seen emeralds of such quality before, have you?" she said softly. "I wonder… would a necklace like that even suit you?"

She had heard that Katherine had grown up in a poor fisherman's household and assumed she must be unsophisticated, unaccustomed to refinement. To Caylee, handing such a priceless heirloom to Katherine felt like an unforgivable waste.

Katherine raised an eyebrow, her expression calm yet faintly amused. "Do you want it?" she asked plainly.

She owned countless jewels of equal rarity and value, and out of respect for the years Caylee had spent caring for Juliette, she felt no desire to quarrel over a necklace.

Caylee was struck speechless by the question.

Juliette, Laurence, and Callum all turned to look at her.

Even Juliette appeared momentarily puzzled. "But when I asked you before, you told me emeralds didn't suit you."

Caylee nearly lost control of her expression. What Juliette had referred to back then was an entirely different necklace—but she could hardly clarify that now.

She quickly recovered and replied, "I was only worried Katherine might not like it."

Yet inwardly, she burned with irritation. Katherine's casual offer felt less like generosity and more like condescension.

"I like everything my mom gives me," Katherine said, deliberately ignoring Caylee's strained politeness. She thought quietly that Caylee could not even seize an opportunity when it was placed directly in her hands.

Juliette's heart softened completely. Smiling with radiant joy, she pressed a sleek black card into Katherine's palm. "From now on, I'll give you so many more gifts," she said warmly. "If there's anything you want, just buy it. Do whatever makes you happy."

Caylee clenched her fists beneath her sleeves, her nails biting into her skin. The favoritism was unmistakable. Juliette had handed Katherine a black card without hesitation, while Caylee herself received only a monthly allowance of one million dollars.

Katherine closed her fingers around the card, her eyes quietly reddening.

Roger and Ariella had never truly spent money on her. Yet over the years, she had poured vast sums of her own money into Warren Group's projects, ensuring they launched smoothly and continued to thrive.

At that moment, she understood with aching clarity the difference between being loved and merely tolerated.

The news that the Smith couple had finally found their long-lost daughter sent shockwaves throughout the business world.

To demonstrate just how deeply he valued Katherine, Laurence arranged a grand banquet two days later to formally announce her return to the Smith family.

Juliette took the event with utmost seriousness.

She personally ordered a gown for Katherine and asked Callum to accompany her to the fitting.

As they drove, Callum leaned closer and said mysteriously, "Mom and Dad have prepared a surprise for you."

Katherine raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"

But Callum only smiled. "I can't tell you. I promised to keep it secret."

His previous visit to the Warren family had never taken place as intended, so Juliette and Laurence deliberately invited the Warrens to the banquet. They hoped to establish a business partnership as a gesture of gratitude for raising Katherine and wished the evening would unfold in warmth, harmony, and joy—above all, that it would make Katherine happy.

The car came to a smooth stop.

Katherine stepped out and lifted her gaze toward the storefront, only to halt mid-step as a wave of familiarity washed over her.

The wooden sign above the door bore the words 'Katrine's Boutique', carved with understated elegance.

A shop assistant, who had clearly been waiting, greeted them politely. "Mr. Smith, the 'Ethereal Dream' you reserved has arrived from overseas. Please follow me."

Inside, a mannequin stood beneath soft lighting. It wore a white mermaid gown, its layered hem cascading like gentle waves. From waist to train, countless tiny diamonds shimmered, scattering light like falling stars.

Callum crossed his arms, clearly satisfied. "Only something like this is worthy of you," he said. "Go try it on."

Katherine found herself momentarily speechless. Without a word, she turned and entered the fitting room.

Just then, Callum received a call from Laurence and stepped outside to answer it.

When Katherine emerged in the gown, she found that only the shop assistant remained. Callum was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a sharp, incredulous voice cut through the air at the doorway. "Katherine? What are you doing in Vroiksey?!"