Just as Hannah stepped near the entrance, unfamiliar voices drifted out from within the room.

Curiosity pulled her gaze forward, and when she looked inside, she spotted her family gathered together, with Kenneth standing among them.

A heavy look settled on Brett's face as he fixed his eyes on the group. "Where's Hannah?" he asked, his tone edged with urgency.

Silence stretched between Jake and Kenneth, and neither of them spoke a word.

Without hesitation, Lainey broke down, and tears streamed down her face. "Brett, this all happened because of me. There wasn't enough space on the lifeboat. Hannah tried to shove me off, but she lost her footing and fell into the sea instead. They were trying to pull me to safety, and when they finally looked back, the waves had already taken her."

Shock took hold of Brett, and his voice came out strained. "What are you saying? Are you telling me Hannah was taken by the waves?"

With her voice trembling more convincingly, Lainey continued, "This is all because of me. I should have been the one who didn't make it, not her."

"Lainey, Hannah was the one who tried to harm you, and she ended up paying the price herself!"

Moving quickly to her side, Kenneth reached out to console her, though a quiet sense of relief passed through him.

In his mind, he found comfort in the situation. With Hannah gone, Lainey would remain the only daughter of the Oliver family, and that meant his family could no longer pressure him into marrying Hannah.

Without wasting a second, Brett shifted his attention to Jake and spoke in a firm voice. "Explain everything to me. I want the full truth."

Caught off guard by the pressure in his eldest brother's voice, Jake stiffened before answering, "Brett…"

"Someone as cruel and unfeeling as Hannah being gone wouldn't be a loss. We've done everything we could, and my family has already sent out rescue boats, so whether she makes it or not depends on fate now." Impatience showed on Kenneth's face as he cut in.

A faint, chilling smirk formed on Hannah's lips as she heard those words from outside. With a steady motion, she pushed the door open and stepped inside without hesitation.

"Rescue boats? I didn't come across even one."

Hannah's sudden appearance left everyone in the room frozen in shock.

Shock flashed across Lainey's face, and the resentment in her eyes became harder to hide.

How did Hannah manage to survive this?

Why did fate seem to favor her again?

Disbelief filled Jake as he looked at her, yet the weight on his conscience disappeared just as quickly.

Relief washed over him as he realized Hannah had returned safely.

A deep breath escaped Brett as relief finally settled over him.

Across the room, Kenneth's expression shifted, and his face grew noticeably grim.

"How did you even make it back?"

Trying to appear overjoyed, Lainey pressed her lips together before rushing toward Hannah.

"Hannah, you're back at last! I truly thought I had lost you forever."

Lainey opened her arms, ready for a hug. Instead of accepting the gesture, Hannah moved aside and raised her hand without pause, striking Lainey hard across the face.

The sound of the slap rang sharply in the air, and the room fell silent as everyone stood frozen in shock.

Under the force of the blow, Lainey's face jerked to one side, and her cheek quickly flushed red as it began to swell. "Hannah, you…" she managed to say, her voice shaking.

Fury overtook Kenneth, and he hurried forward as he shot Hannah a furious glare.

"Hannah, have you completely lost control? You need to apologize to Lainey right now!"

A chilling curve formed on Hannah's lips as she looked at Kenneth like he was already finished.

Her eyes held a dangerous edge, and the killing intent in them made his body tense with unease.

"Why would I apologize to someone who tried to take my life?"

If she had still been the same person she once was, Lainey wouldn't have survived this.

A flicker of fear passed through Lainey, yet she kept one hand on her cheek and forced an innocent expression. "Hannah, what do you mean by that? I really don't understand."

Before anyone could react, Hannah lifted her hand again and struck Lainey once more, her voice filled with contempt. "Want me to be more clear? You shoved me into the sea because you wanted me dead!"

Anger took over Jake as he rushed forward to confront her. "Hannah, stop making things up! Lainey cares about you more than anyone else. She even said she was willing to die with you."

Kenneth cut in immediately, "Lainey's gentle and kind, and she would not even hurt something as small as an ant. There's no way she would push you. Apologize to Lainey right now, or you will regret what happens next!"

A mocking laugh slipped from Hannah as she looked at him with disdain. "What makes you think you have the right to command me?"

"How dare you!"

Shock flashed across Kenneth's face, and he lifted his hand as he moved to strike Hannah.

Before his hand could come down, Brett stepped in and gripped his wrist tightly, stopping him midway.

A look of clear displeasure settled on Brett's face as he stared him down. "What exactly are you trying to do to my sister?"

Irritation took over Kenneth as he pulled his hand back with force. "Lainey is also your sister, so why did you ignore it when Hannah hit her? Do you really believe anything Hannah is saying?"

With a firm and unwavering tone, Brett answered, "Naturally, I trust my own biological sister."

Hearing that, Hannah turned her gaze toward Brett, caught slightly off guard. Among everyone in the Oliver family, he was the only one who seemed to think clearly.

At that moment, she understood why he had stressed that she was his biological sister.

His words carried more than reassurance for her, and they also served as a direct warning to Kenneth that her place in the Oliver family couldn't be questioned.

Trying to reinforce his stance, Jake spoke up. "Brett, we all witnessed it back on the boat. It was obvious that Hannah fell into the water by accident."

With a mocking tone, Hannah said, "Oh, really? Then why don't you take a proper look at this?"

Without delay, she reached into her pocket, took out her phone, and started playing a recorded clip.

Security cameras had been installed on the boat, and she had already saved a copy of the footage to cloud storage ahead of time so she could use it to reveal Lainey's deception.

On the screen, it was plainly visible that Lainey shoved her first, and only then did both of them end up falling into the water.

A heavy weight settled in Lainey's chest, and panic crept in as she silently cursed the presence of cameras on the boat.

A shadow filled Brett's expression as his gaze locked onto Lainey.

"Lainey, is this really what happened?"

Even though Lainey had been taken in by the Oliver family and didn't share their blood, she had spent years living with them, and over time, they had built a strong bond.

However, if her actions were driven by selfish intent and had nearly cost the life of the family's true daughter, then such behavior would never be tolerated.

Caught off guard and unable to respond properly, Lainey lowered her gaze and refused to meet anyone's eyes. "I have no idea why it looks like that. The camera angle must have been misleading. I truly didn't push Hannah…"

Turning toward Kenneth, she silently begged him for support, and her expression showed her desperation.

With a firm grip, Kenneth tightened his hold on her hand and let out a cold scoff. "One piece of footage does not prove anything. This could easily be something Hannah arranged to set Lainey up."

A chill settled in Hannah's gaze as she looked straight at him, and her voice carried a note of clear mockery. "If you're willing to twist the truth just to defend her, then so be it. I will give you exactly what you want. I'm calling off our engagement!"

Although her tone remained steady, the weight of her words shook the entire room.

A hint of satisfaction flickered in Lainey's eyes before she could hide it.

Even Brett and Jake showed clear signs of surprise at what they had just heard.

Color drained from Kenneth's face, and anger tightened his expression as he spoke through clenched teeth. "Hannah, this engagement was arranged between our families long ago. Do you really think you can break it off whenever you feel like it?"

Two decades earlier, the Oliver and Warren families had already set this marriage arrangement in place.

For many years, before Hannah was brought back, Lainey had been the one everyone expected Kenneth to marry.

Everything shifted the moment Hannah returned, and the engagement was then given to her without question.

Over time, Edmund Warren, Kenneth's grandfather, made it clear to Kenneth that marrying Hannah was the only way for him to secure his rightful inheritance from the family.

Because of that condition, Kenneth endured his dislike for Hannah and never once thought of backing out of the marriage.

In his mind, he had already mapped out a plan. He would go through with the marriage, claim his inheritance, and then divorce Hannah so he could be with Lainey without hiding.

Before Hannah could say another word, the sound of footsteps interrupted the tension as two figures entered the room.

"What's going on here?"

The ones who had just arrived were Hannah's parents, Bruce and Alicia Oliver, who had only just returned home.

Irritation showed on Alicia's face as she looked at Hannah and spoke sharply. "You want to break off the engagement? What kind of nonsense are you causing now?"

The moment she stepped inside, she had already caught enough of their argument to understand what was happening.

Without hesitation, Lainey rushed into Alicia's arms, and she made sure her swollen cheek was clearly visible while putting on a protective act. "Mom, please don't blame Hannah. She didn't mean to hit me."

Anger surged through Bruce. "Hannah! How could you strike Lainey like that? You have gone too far! If we had known you were this cruel and selfish, we would have never brought you back!"

Silence surrounded Hannah as she looked at her biological parents.

Although they were bound by blood, she had never once felt any real care or warmth from them.

Arrogance returned to Kenneth's expression at Bruce's words, and his earlier frustration faded as he spoke with authority. "She needs to apologize immediately, and Lainey should return those slaps twice so things are settled."

A sharp, cold look passed through Hannah's eyes as she turned to him and replied without hesitation, "What if I refuse?"

"Hannah!" Alicia's patience snapped, and she shouted in anger. "How long do you plan to keep acting like this? Why can't you take a lesson from Lainey? She may not be our biological daughter, but she surpasses you in every way! Do you even realize how much embarrassment and gossip the Oliver family has endured because of you this past year?"

A mocking smile appeared on Hannah's lips as she answered, "You were the ones who insisted on bringing me back. Did it ever cross your mind to ask how I managed to survive all those years on my own?"

Fury took over Bruce, and he pointed at her as he raised his voice. "How dare you speak to us like that? It looks like I need to discipline you myself today. Someone, bring me the whip!"

A cold light flashed in Hannah's eyes, and not a trace of fear could be seen. The idea of being taught a lesson by them meant nothing to her because they held no worth in her eyes.

Disbelief showed on Brett's face as he stepped in. "Dad, that is a cowhide whip. A single strike can tear the skin and cause bleeding. Hannah is a girl, and she will not be able to withstand something like that."

"Brett, step aside. If I don't discipline her today, she will bring even greater trouble to the Oliver family in the future!"

Not long after, the butler hurried back and handed over the whip.

With a firm grip on it, Bruce fixed his gaze on Hannah and spoke coldly. "You will remember this punishment for the rest of your life."

Without another word, he lashed it forward and aimed straight at her.

Standing completely still, Hannah did not even blink as she faced it. At the very last second, a figure rushed forward and stepped in front of her to block the blow.

Surprise flashed across her face as she looked at the man before her. "Brett…"

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, yet he endured the pain and spoke through it. "Hannah, don't be afraid. I'm here, and I will keep you safe."

A hint of softness appeared in Hannah's expression.

Among everyone in this family, Brett was the only one who had ever shown her true care.

Seeing this, Bruce grew even more furious, and his voice rose. "Good! So you have the nerve to go against me as well. If that is the case, I will punish both of you!"

Before the next strike could land, Hannah pushed Brett aside and reached out without hesitation to grab the tip of the whip. With a sudden pull, she yanked it free from Bruce's hand and took control of it.

Shock spread across the room as everyone watched in disbelief.

With nothing but her bare hands, Hannah seized the whip and even tore it away from Bruce.

Without a second thought, Hannah flung it to the floor and pinned it under her foot. Her gaze locked onto Bruce, and a chilling, murderous intent filled her eyes.

"Because we share blood, I'll let this pass this one time. But if it happens again, don't expect any mercy from me."

If not for the fact that Bruce was her biological father, she would have already used that whip to leave him in agony.

A jolt of fear ran through Bruce, and he staggered backward before dropping onto the sofa.

"You..."

Never before had he seen such a terrifying side of Hannah, and in that moment, he felt as if his life rested in her hands.

Shock held Alicia in place for a brief second before she regained herself. Raising her voice in anger, she said, "Hannah, are you seriously thinking of attacking your own parents? How could I have had such an ungrateful daughter like you?"

A flicker of mock panic crossed Lainey's face before tears spilled out once more. "This is all because of me. I took Hannah's place and ended up living the life that should have been hers."

Without delay, Kenneth stepped forward and spoke up for her. "Lainey, none of this is your doing. You never intended to take her place, and you're a victim here as well."

A gentle laugh finally escaped from Hannah as she listened.

A sharp edge settled in her beautiful eyes, and there wasn't a trace of warmth left, only a cold and distant chill.

Irritation showed on Kenneth's face as he frowned and asked, "What exactly is so funny?"

"I'm laughing at how foolish you sound and at your completely distorted sense of right and wrong," Hannah answered without pause.

In the past, she had roamed the streets alone as a helpless child, and she had fought stray dogs just to find something to eat. Even now, a deep and ugly scar from a dog bite remained on her leg as a reminder of those days.

If her adoptive father, who led an underworld group, had not taken her in back then, she wouldn't have survived.

That pain was never meant for her to endure in the first place.

For over ten years, Lainey had lived the life that should have belonged to her.

A cold light filled Hannah's eyes as she spoke with steady resolve. "You claim Lainey is the victim. Then what does that make me?"

Cutting her off without hesitation, Alicia spoke with clear impatience. "Hannah, I'm done listening to your explanations. Apologize this instant, or you can leave the Oliver family!"

Calmness settled over Hannah as she looked at her mother, and the final trace of familial warmth in her heart quietly broke apart.

Deep down, every child longed for love and care from their family. But at this moment, the Oliver family had already torn that bond apart with their own actions.

"Fine. I will walk away from the Oliver family and cut off all ties with you. From today onward, we are nothing but strangers."