At the James Estate, tension hung heavily in the air.

Benny James sat stiffly, his brows drawn together as he spoke. "Start from the beginning. I want every detail of what happened today."

Eric dipped his head slightly. "Yes, sir. As instructed by Mrs. James, I invited Miss White to Moorland Villa so she could rest and recover. But she refused."

Benny leaned forward, his voice sharp. "What exactly did she say?"

Eric lifted his gaze just enough to answer. "She said that from this day on, she has no ties left with the James family." He paused briefly before continuing, "She also said that whatever Miss James owes her, she will collect it bit by bit."

Alan James, Benny's second son, pushed his chair back and rose to his feet. "She actually said that?"

At that moment, Rachael stepped out of the kitchen holding a tray of fruit juice.

The words hit her like a blow. The tray slipped from her hands, and the glasses shattered as juice spread across the floor.

Her eyes quickly turned red as she spoke, her voice trembling. "So she really blames me... I took her place in the family. If I leave now, maybe she'll come back."

Alan reached out and stopped her. "Don't say things like that. You've lived your whole life here. How could you just walk away from the family?"

Norah James, Alexia's birth mother, watched with red eyes. "It wasn't right to put the blame on her for Rachael, but we care about them the same. If she hadn't stepped in, were we supposed to send Rachael to jail?"

Standing nearby, Cayden James, Benny's first son, adjusted his glasses, his gaze turning cold as it landed on Eric. "What happened next? Where did she go?"

Keeping his head lowered, Eric answered clearly, making sure everyone heard him, "After saying that, she got into a car waiting by the road. It was a..."

He stopped again, letting the silence stretch.

Alan frowned, his patience running thin. "Stop dragging it out. What kind of car was it?"

Only then did Eric continue, his tone steady. "A Rolls-Royce. It was a newly customized model. The driver treated her with great respect. From what I could tell, he was there just to pick her up."

A strange stillness settled over the living room, no one speaking for a while.

Breaking the silence, Alan let out a cold laugh. "You must have mistaken it. A girl who grew up in the slums and just got out after five years in prison riding in a Rolls-Royce? That doesn't add up."

Eric shook his head without hesitation. "I'm certain of what I saw. There's no way I could be wrong about that car."

Years of service in the James household had exposed him to all kinds of luxury vehicles.

With that kind of experience, his words carried weight, and no one could easily dismiss them.

Rachael stepped closer to Norah and gently held her arm, her voice soft and concerned. "Do you think Alexia might have picked up some bad habits in prison? Maybe she got involved with the wrong kind of people?"

Alan's temper flared again. "That has to be it. Otherwise, where would she get the nerve to act like this toward our family? I'll go find her right now and drag her back!"

"Enough," Cayden said sharply. "Rushing to her without knowing the full situation will only create more problems."

Alan turned to him, frustration clear on his face. "Then tell me what we're supposed to do."

Cayden paused for a moment before shifting his gaze toward Benny. "Dad, we should hold off for now. Let's figure out what's really going on before we make any moves."

His eyes then moved to Alan and Rachael. "Until then, both of you stay here. Don't try to find her. If she's really connected to someone powerful, provoking her could backfire on us."

Rachael lowered her gaze, looking wronged, while anger burned even stronger in Alan's expression. "Cayden, how can you say that?"

"Cayden's right," Benny said, pressing his fingers against his temples as exhaustion showed on his face. "Alexia won't cause any major trouble. We'll look into it first."

Rachael nodded obediently, but the look in her eyes told a different story.

Deep down, she had hoped that woman would never make it out of prison. Yet somehow, she had returned.

It didn't matter. She still had plenty of ways to deal with her.

After all, she was the only daughter of her parents.

No one could ever take that away from her.

Over at Hillcrest Manor, the doors swung open, revealing two neat lines of servants standing in perfect formation.

Stepping inside, Dominic raised his voice so everyone could hear him. "This is Miss Alexia White, a guest personally invited by Mr. Campbell. She'll be staying here for some time, so make sure she's well looked after."

In unison, the servants bowed and greeted Alexia. "Welcome, Miss White."

Alexia slowed her steps, taking in the scene before her.

Noticing her reaction, Dominic spoke again. "Mr. Campbell knows you've just come out of prison. He wants you to focus on resting for now. Everything else can wait."

Alexia gave a small nod. "Please pass along my thanks to Mr. Campbell."

Even as she said it, her thoughts stayed sharp.

Her connection to the James family wouldn't stay hidden for long. Sooner or later, word would spread, and Ethan would piece everything together.

If she failed to show her worth soon, he could easily change his mind about working with her.

She couldn't afford to waste any time.

Once he made sure Alexia was settled, Dominic left the villa.

A middle-aged woman then stepped forward and introduced herself with a polite smile. "Miss White, my name is Lucy Miller. I manage the household here. If there's anything you need, you can come to me."

Alexia inclined her head slightly. "Thank you, Lucy."

Her calm and respectful attitude quickly put Lucy at ease.

Although she was there as Ethan's honored guest, Alexia spoke to the staff as equals, something few in her position ever did.

With a gentle tone, Lucy added, "I'll have a bath prepared for you right away."

Warm steam filled the bathroom, blending with the soft scent of lavender in the air.

Resting against the edge of the tub, Alexia let out a quiet breath as the tension in her body slowly eased.

The water soothed her skin, yet her thoughts refused to settle.

After waking up with a second chance, she had wasted no time. The cellmate who poisoned her in her previous life was dealt with, and she kept her distance from everyone else in prison, leaving behind an image of someone no one dared approach.

Still, she knew Rachael wouldn't give up that easily.

No matter how careful she had been with her food and clothing, the prison had never been a place where safety could be guaranteed. Anyone determined enough could find a way to get close.

The road ahead would not be simple. One wrong step now could ruin everything before the vengeance even began.

After stepping out of the bath, Alexia slipped into the silk pajamas Lucy had prepared for her.

Alexia stood at the mirror and dried her hair while Lucy watched from the side, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

Alexia already had a face that drew attention, and the smooth fabric only made her presence stand out even more.

Her movements remained unhurried, yet the look in her eyes carried a distant chill that kept people from getting too close.

There was a contrast in her that couldn't be ignored. She seemed relaxed, almost careless, but something about her still made others uneasy.

That mix of quiet charm and hidden edge gave her a pull that was hard to look away from.

Anyone who earned Ethan's recognition would never be ordinary.

Once she finished, Alexia placed the hairdryer down and turned toward Lucy.

"Lucy, go get some rest tonight," she said. "Come with me to Tranquil Health Center tomorrow."

Lucy blinked in surprise. "Should I arrange an appointment first?"

"No need," Alexia replied as she walked toward her room. "We'll just head there."

Lucy watched her disappear down the hallway and shook her head without thinking.

Alexia didn't seem to realize that Tranquil Health Center wasn't open to just anyone. It required membership and was known for its strict privacy and high-end care.

Without a prior booking, even getting through the entrance would be difficult.

After a moment, Lucy turned to a nearby servant. "Go and arrange an appointment for Miss White."

The servant nodded at once. "Understood."

The following day, inside Tranquil Health Center, the hallway felt quiet and orderly.

Seated on a bench, Alan looked at Rachael with concern written all over his face. "If Alexia hadn't caused concern, you wouldn't have lost sleep last night. Look at you. You look exhausted."

Rachael leaned gently against his shoulder, her voice soft and affectionate. "Thank you for arranging such an expensive checkup for me, Alan. You always take such good care of me."

Alan reached out and tousled her hair with a fond smile. "You're my sister. Of course I'm going to take care of you. Who else would I do this for?"

A short distance away, the display screen called out the next number.

Alan lowered his gaze to the slip in his hand and did a quick count. "Just five more ahead of us. We won't be waiting much longer..."

His words trailed off as noise suddenly broke out deeper inside the clinic.

Several well-known medical experts rushed out at once, their white coats moving in unison as they formed a line at the entrance. Then, without hesitation, they bowed together. "Welcome, Miss White!"

The scene left everyone around them stunned.

These doctors weren't ordinary staff. Each one held a respected position in the field, and securing an appointment with them usually took months.

Even the high-ranking officials' wives had to wait until they had time.

Yet now, they had all gathered just to greet one person. Whoever she was, her status had to be extraordinary.

At the doorway, Alexia turned toward Lucy with a faint look of resignation. "Did you make an appointment for me?"

Still processing what she had just seen, Lucy struggled to respond, "I did. I thought it might be hard for you to get in otherwise. I just didn't expect... this."

A quiet breath left Alexia. "I had a feeling this would happen. Next time, don't make decisions for me."

Lucy lowered her head at once. "I understand."

At that moment, Philip Murphy, the director of the health center, stepped forward and personally led Alexia toward the VIP lounge.

"Why come here in person? If you needed anything, you could have told me. I would have arranged treatment at your residence."

Before Alexia could answer, a sharp voice cut through the moment. "Alexia? What are you doing here?"

Alexia paused and turned her head, spotting Rachael and Alan waiting nearby for their turn.

A sharp look flashed across Rachael's face as she stared at Alexia. She was unable to make sense of what she was seeing. How could someone who had just come out of prison, someone who grew up in the slums, be personally received by the director of Tranquil Health Center?

She was still waiting for her turn like everyone else, yet Alexia was already being led into the VIP area for a private consultation. It felt completely unfair.

Philip turned slightly toward Alexia. "Miss White, are you acquainted with them?"

Alexia cast Rachael and Alan a distant glance. "No, I don't know them."

She was about to continue walking with Philip when Rachael suddenly raised her voice.

"Alexia, why are you saying that? Are you really cutting ties with your family? You've just come out of prison, and you're probably not feeling your best, but we're still family. No matter what, we'll stand by you."

The hallway quieted at once, and every pair of eyes shifted toward Alexia.

So this was the James family's real heiress, the one who had just been released from prison.

Five years earlier, the James couple had made a public announcement about finding their biological daughter, stirring up a lot of attention.

Not long after, word spread that she had been jailed for fraud tied to business dealings.

Since then, the story had been passed around in elite circles as a source of gossip.

Many looked down on the girl who came from nothing, saying she lacked experience. She could have lived comfortably as the rightful heiress, yet she ended up behind bars because of her own choices.

People in the hallway stole glances at Alexia, curious about the woman everyone had labeled as foolish.

What they saw didn't match the rumors at all.

Her appearance was carefully put together. She wore a couture dress from Luxe Kingdom, a designer brand, and her hair was loosely tied, falling in soft waves that framed her neck.

When her eyes settled on Rachael, there was nothing warm in them. She carried herself with a quiet distance that made her seem untouchable.

Wasn't she supposed to be the unruly girl from the slums?

Then why did she carry herself with more composure than Rachael, who had been raised in privilege all her life?

Without hesitation, Alexia stepped forward and stopped right in front of Rachael. "Don't bring up family ties with me. You're not qualified to say that."

A faint curve appeared on her lips, though there was no warmth in it. "You've worn the James name for so long that you've convinced yourself it belongs to you."

Alan moved at once, placing himself between them as his expression hardened. "Rachael is the real heiress of the James family!"

Alexia's gaze shifted to him, and she let out a quiet scoff. "You're protecting the very person who fooled you. Keep doing that and see where it leads."

Anger flashed across Alan's face, and he was about to respond when her voice cut through again.

"I already told you. What Rachael owes me will be repaid, piece by piece. You'd better make sure all evidence of the crime she committed five years ago stays hidden, because if I find anything..."

Alexia's lips parted slightly, and her smile turned cold. "A game without any challenge isn't worth playing."

Murmurs spread through the crowd as the tension rose.

Could there be more to what happened five years ago than they thought?

Rachael's fingers tightened around Alan's sleeve as fear crept into her voice. "Alan, she... she's..."

Alan steadied himself and retorted firmly, "What are you even saying? The court already made its decision. Are you trying to blame Rachael for something she didn't do?"

A faint curve appeared on Alexia's lips. "That depends on whether you're capable of keeping it buried."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked toward the VIP section, leaving their darkened expressions behind.

No matter what she said, Alan would refuse to believe it.

Rather than argue, she chose to walk away and let her words linger in everyone's mind.

Rachael and Alan stood frozen, watching her disappear, neither of them able to recover right away.

Five years had changed Alexia completely.

A tremor ran through Rachael's voice as she spoke. "Alan, do you think she'll really expose what happened back then?"

Alan shook his head, trying to sound certain. "That's impossible. Everything was settled years ago. There's no way she has any proof."

Even as he said it, doubt crept into his thoughts.

The same girl they once cast aside and sent to prison now came back in a Rolls-Royce, received personally by Philip, and spoke with such confidence.

That unsettling smile of hers lingered in his memory, sending a chill down his spine.

At that moment, a nurse approached them with a polite expression. "Mr. James, Miss James..."

Alan snapped out of his thoughts and nudged Rachael. "It's finally our turn."

The nurse maintained her smile, though her tone turned firm. "I'm sorry, but our director has instructed that you are not to be seen here. Please leave."

"What are you talking about?" Alan's voice rose, anger flaring. "We've been waiting all this time. We're about to be called, and now you're telling us to leave?"

Rachael grabbed his arm in a hurry. "Alan, don't make this worse..."

But the situation had already slipped out of control.

The nurse pressed a button and called for security. Within moments, several guards approached them with serious expressions.

Alan clenched his jaw. He knew causing a scene here would only humiliate them further.

After shooting the nurse a glare, he turned and left with Rachael.

As they walked away, he muttered under his breath, unable to understand how Alexia had gained Philip's favor.

Even the nurse assigned to the VIP lounge found herself wondering the same thing.

Many powerful figures had offered high fees for Philip's attention, yet he rarely agreed to treat them personally.

Now, he had examined Alexia himself.

Inside the VIP room, Philip remained focused, unaware of the thoughts outside as he carefully studied Alexia's toxicology report. His expression grew more serious as he spoke. "Your system still contains several substances that have been suppressing your nerves for a long time, and there's more than one type involved."

Alexia's brows drew together. "Explain it clearly."

Philip pointed at different sections of the report. "This group affects your central nervous system. It can cause breathing failure during sleep and serious damage to your liver. This one interferes with your autonomic nerves and leads to lasting harm to your nervous system. And this..."

After going through each one, Philip let out a quiet breath. "Whoever did this didn't hold back."

A cold laugh escaped Alexia.

Just as she expected, Rachael had already made her move in this life as well.

If she hadn't stayed alert and avoided the worst of it, she might have never made it out of prison alive.

Carefully folding the report, Alexia kept it close.

She was determined to make Rachael pay for her wrongdoings.