Worried Nadine might doubt him, Jacob quickly reached beneath his shirt and pulled out a worn pocket watch.

He popped it open, revealing a faded photograph inside.

"Nadine, look at this. That's our family—see for yourself!"

The image showed a graceful woman with a gentle smile, cradling a little girl who looked like a porcelain doll. Both were beaming, their happiness captured forever.

There was no mistaking it—the woman's features mirrored Nadine's own. Their faces had the same soft shape, and when they smiled, identical dimples formed at the corners of their mouths.

Nadine's breath caught.

Now she understood how Jacob had recognized her instantly. He really was her brother.

"You vanished twenty years ago—a trafficker grabbed you right outside our gate. We went crazy looking for you. Mom lost herself from the grief. She clings to your favorite doll and whispers your childhood nickname, Naddie, all day long..." Jacob's hand reached out, trembling, but he hesitated before touching her sleeve.

With a desperate hope, he pleaded, "Please come home. Mom's sick—she's never stopped waiting for you to walk back through the door."

Nadine nodded, her answer gentle but sure. "I'll come with you."

While they walked, Jacob asked how she'd managed to find them after so many years apart.

Nadine offered a simple reply: she'd registered with a missing persons initiative that bridged Archam and Urygan. By chance, the search reunited her with her family.

The man in black who had appeared earlier was simply a government escort, tasked with bringing her home.

Nadine decided to keep her true circumstances to herself.

Everything she had endured, and the influence she now held, felt impossible to explain to her family in a way they could understand.

She worried that the truth might only frighten them.

When Jacob heard that Nadine had been trafficked to Urygan, his entire body trembled with guilt and sorrow.

Regret gnawed at him—if only he'd kept a closer eye on her years ago, maybe she wouldn't have endured so much pain.

A fierce promise took root inside him. He would stand by his sister from this day on, never letting harm come her way again.

He never let go of her hand for a single step as they approached the house.

The moment the door swung open, a disheveled woman raced out, clinging to a worn, filthy doll. "Is my baby home? Has Naddie finally come back to me?"

The woman's gaze found Nadine's face, and hope blazed in her eyes. "Naddie... my sweet Naddie... It's really you!"

She crushed Nadine in a desperate embrace.

For a moment, Nadine went rigid, overwhelmed by the woman's wild energy.

Could this truly be the mother who had lost her mind searching for her child?

Nadine wrapped her arms around Stacey, choking back a rush of emotion. "I'm here, Mom. I've come back."

This time, Nadine was determined—she'd never let anyone harm the Clark family again.

Just then, another door creaked open behind them.

A girl draped in expensive silk, a luxurious bracelet flashing at her wrist, leaned against the frame, her expression cold and unimpressed. "So the real daughter finally shows up? Perfect. I've played the stand-in long enough. Now I can leave without a backward glance."

Daniela Clark, standing in the doorway, gave Nadine a slow, contemptuous once-over. "Enough with the touching mother-daughter reunion at the entrance. It's making me sick. Get inside, will you? I don't want you wasting my time—I need to finish packing."

Jacob's face turned pale. "Daniela, where exactly do you think you're heading? This family has cared for you for more than ten years. Have we ever treated you badly?"

"So I'm supposed to stick around?" Daniela sneered, her voice sharp. "For what—so I can nurse a mother who's lost her mind and a dying father? I'm not letting you ruin my future with your endless problems."

"That's enough!" Jacob's hands balled into fists, anger simmering in his eyes.

Daniela only laughed harder, her voice rising. "What, did I hit a nerve? Go ahead, enjoy your little reunion. From this moment on, I want nothing to do with this miserable place!"

With a toss of her hair, she disappeared into the house.

Watching her, Nadine pieced it together in an instant.

So this was the adopted daughter who'd grown up under the Clark family's roof—eager to walk out the second an opportunity arose, clutching every last valuable she could carry.

Moments later, Daniela reappeared, wrestling a stuffed suitcase behind her.

Nadine stepped squarely in her path. "So that's it? Now that you've drained the Clark family of everything, you're just going to walk away? You leech."

"Don't talk rubbish! Move!" Daniela shrieked, voice shrill.

Without a word, Nadine wrenched the suitcase from her grasp, then swiftly slipped the bracelet from Daniela's wrist and unclasped the necklace at her throat.

To Nadine, Daniela was nothing more than a thief—someone who'd already taken too much.

Daniela screamed and lunged. "What do you think you're doing, you maniac? Give those back!"

Nadine dodged her easily, letting Daniela sprawl awkwardly to the floor.

A twist of Nadine's wrist cracked open the suitcase, scattering its contents—gold bracelets, necklaces encrusted with diamonds, and several pieces of rare jewelry—across the floor.

What remained in Daniela's suitcase was likely all the Clark family had left of any value.

Daniela clearly intended to leave them penniless and desperate.

"Those belong to me! Give them back!" Daniela shrieked, her eyes wild as she scrambled to snatch the scattered treasures.

But Nadine stood her ground, knowing full well these items were the only way to afford medicine for Stacey and Jordy.

She thought of Jacob taking beatings just to get by, and fury flashed in her eyes.

Without warning, Nadine raised her foot and drove her boot straight into Daniela's stomach.

"Ah—!" Daniela's cry split the air as she tumbled into the muddy courtyard, clutching her side in agony.

Glaring down at her, Nadine's words came out cold as stone. "Get out. If you show your face around here again, you'll regret it."

Coughing and trembling, Daniela dragged herself upright, shooting Nadine a look filled with hatred. "This isn't over! Just wait!"

She pointed a shaky finger at the pile of jewelry and gemstones, sneering, "Keep it. Think of it as a parting gift for your dying father and your mad mother."

Then, lips curling into a malicious grin, Daniela added, "Almost slipped my mind—congratulations, Nadine. You're engaged to the Bailey heir. The one everyone calls a lost cause—a notorious playboy. Enjoy your happy ending!"

A fit of coughing echoed from the doorway.

Jordy, whom Daniela had called a dying father, braced himself on the frame and dragged his feet forward, determined not to collapse.

"Are you Nadine?" His voice wavered, but his eyes shone with a fragile hope as he looked her way.

A strange warmth welled up in Nadine's chest, leaving her shaken in a way she could not quite explain.

Did all those stories about family bonds ring true after all?

"I am," she replied, her voice steady.

Jordy's composure shattered at her answer, and tears rolled freely down his cheeks. "You've come home. That's all I ever hoped for. Just having you here is enough for me."

In the middle of this, Stacey quietly emerged from the chaos, holding an old wooden box in her arms. "Naddie, come see... everything in here is for you."

When Nadine peered inside, she found a treasure trove of keepsakes—a faded pink dress fit for a little princess, sweaters that had been lovingly hand-knit, and a handful of hair clips still wrapped and untouched by time.

Jacob, his voice soft and eyes rimmed with red, stood by her side and explained, "Nadine, we saved these gifts for every birthday you missed after you were gone. Mom and Dad, and all of us, kept them for you every year. At last, we can finally give them to you ourselves."

Her hand trembled as she reached for the princess dress, brushing the rough fabric with her fingertips.

The texture brought a sting of emotion so deep she almost forgot to breathe.

All this time, she had not been forgotten. They had always been waiting for her to come home.

"Nadine... Nadine, my little girl." Jordy's hand clamped over his chest as a violent cough overtook him, and blood spilled past his lips, darkening the floor.

Even with pain twisting his features, a gentle smile tugged at his mouth. "You came back to me, Nadine. That's all I needed. I can go in peace now."

"Dad!" Jacob lunged forward, catching Jordy just as he faltered, panic rushing into his voice. "Don't give up! Stay with us, Dad! I'm calling for help! Brad and Kaden aren't even home yet. We need you here!"

Moving on instinct, Nadine bent down and brushed her fingertips across the crimson on the ground.

She lifted her hand, bringing it close for a quick sniff.

Decadesleep Toxin. Only a handful of people in the world would recognize it—she did. Lethal, patient, impossible to cure once it took hold. Jordy had reached the very end.

Someone had waited years for this. Who hated the Clark family so deeply?

Now wasn't the time to search for answers. Nadine's eyes hardened with determination.

She gently eased Jordy onto his back and, without hesitation, produced a scalpel from a hidden pocket at her waist.

Jacob, frantic, tried to intervene. "Nadine! Are you out of your mind? What are you doing?"

She shook her head. "If you want him to live, trust me. I'm not letting him die here."

There was no way she would lose the family she had just gotten back.

Nadine dropped to one knee and sliced Jordy's shirt open in a single, practiced motion.

Her scalpel danced with precision, never straying near anything vital, parting flesh and muscle to reveal the heart that was struggling to go on.

With swift, practiced hands, she pressed the scalpel's tip to a series of precise points around Jordy's heart.

Thick, inky blood welled up and spilled out in slow streams.

Each drop that left his body seemed to make his breathing just a bit calmer, the strain in his chest slowly fading.

Wiping her blade clean, Nadine lifted Jordy into her arms and carried him straight to the neatest bedroom she could find.

She moved so quickly, the entire rescue lasted less than sixty seconds.

For a moment, Jacob stood frozen, mouth open, unable to process what he had just seen.

Could this really be happening? Had Nadine just pulled their father back from the edge of death?

Specialists from across Sheftol had all said there was no hope. Yet, here was Nadine, missing for two decades, saving their father's life as if it was nothing more than a routine procedure.

How was this even possible?

"How did you... Nadine, you... you're unbelievable," Jacob stammered, his voice shaky with awe.

As soon as Jordy was tucked in and stable, Nadine turned, exhaustion written all over her face. "Jacob, I need a place to lie down. I'm worn out."

Jacob snapped out of his daze. "Of course! Right away!" He led her down the hall and opened the door to a bright, well-kept room. "This has always been your room, Nadine. We've made sure to keep it clean every single day. You rest now. I need to call Brad and Kaden. They're going to be thrilled to hear this!"

Stacey lingered in the doorway, eyes brimming with emotion. Nadine smiled and motioned for her. "Mom, come over. Let's share the bed."

...

Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner of an exclusive club in Sheftol, Rhys Bailey sat quietly, a cold, distant look in his eyes.

A woman dressed to turn heads strolled over, her voice laced with bravado. "Mr. Bailey, you look a little lost on your own. Want some company and a drink?"

Rhys shot her a glare. "Go bother someone else."

His friend, Nicholas Howard, let out a low chuckle from across the table. "Rhys, you really ought to learn a thing or two about charm. Are you really that devoted to your mystery fiancee, Nadine Clark? You have not even met her, man."

Just the sound of her name made Rhys tense, irritation flashing across his face. "That engagement ends tomorrow. I am done."

Nicholas arched a brow, his grin playful. "Calling it quits, huh? You think your old man is just going to smile and let you walk away?"

"I'll choose my own path when it comes to marriage," said Rhys, his voice cold as he slouched back on the sofa. His hand drifted to the scar over his chest, lost in memory.

Three years earlier, everything had gone wrong at the Urygan border. Trapped by enemies, left bleeding from gunshot wounds, he was certain he would not see another sunrise.

Through a haze of pain, he remembered a woman's steady hands, a scalpel flashing in the dim light, saving him from death.

He fought to focus, catching only a glimpse of her face before darkness took him.

When he woke, she was gone as if she had never existed at all.

Since then, Rhys had unleashed every resource the Baileys possessed, searching every corner of Urygan. The woman who saved his life and captured his heart remained a mystery.

Whatever agreement his family made with the Clark family, he knew what he wanted.

Only the woman who pulled him back from death could ever truly be his.

Sunlight spilled across the sheets. Even before Nadine peeled her eyes open, a strange tension prickled her skin—she sensed two other presences in the room.

Her hand hovered near the hidden blade tucked in her sleeve, muscles taut and ready for anything.

When she opened her eyes, nothing seemed threatening.

Stacey and Jacob stood nearby, their faces filled with tenderness and quiet heartbreak, watching her as if afraid she might disappear.

Stacey's lips trembled, and her eyes shimmered with fresh tears. "Naddie, thank goodness you're still with us."

Standing beside her, Jacob, tall and usually confident, twisted his hands in a rare show of nerves. "You went through so much yesterday, Nadine. If you need more rest, we'll be right here."

Frustration tugged at his features. He could not forgive himself for being powerless the day before.

He had been forced to stand by while his adopted sister stripped the house of anything valuable and watched his father break down, coughing up blood.

Nadine had stepped in and held the family together. Without her, they would have been lost.

To him, Nadine was nothing short of extraordinary.

She pushed herself up, glancing around the neat but faded room, her gaze catching on a childhood portrait she could not even remember posing for.

She had to get to the bottom of everything that happened. There was too much at stake.

Why did things unravel so quickly after she disappeared?

Who had been working in the shadows against them?

She gathered herself and spoke, her voice raspy from sleep. "Don't worry about me. Can you tell me... where is Dad now?"

Speaking the word out loud felt strange, as though it belonged to someone else.

Jacob's entire face brightened. Hearing Nadine ask about their father was like a promise—she was finally letting them in.

He believed, in that moment, she was here to stay.

"Dad's doing a lot better. He woke up this morning and managed some porridge, then drifted back to sleep. I haven't seen him this peaceful in ages."

He could not hide the admiration in his voice. Nadine had worked a miracle.

"Okay." Nadine nodded, though inside her thoughts tumbled over themselves. The Decadesleep Toxin remained a ticking clock inside Jordy. Her intervention yesterday had only bought them time, not a cure.

She knew there was not much time left unless she found a way to cleanse the poison.

Jacob broke into her reverie with a hopeful grin. "You must be starving, Nadine. Mom's made breakfast for you. Let's go down and eat together."

She offered a faint smile and climbed out of bed.

At the table, Jacob hovered close, always reaching to pour her tea or pass her food, determined not to let her feel the slightest discomfort.

Stacey never stopped watching, her gaze soft and unwavering, as if afraid Nadine might disappear again.

After a long stretch of silence, Jacob finally gathered his courage. "Nadine, the Baileys have called for a meeting today about the marriage agreement." His voice faltered with embarrassment, dropping even lower. "We still haven't heard from Brad, and as for Kaden..."

A troubled look passed over him, but he squared his shoulders. "Don't worry. No matter what happens, I won't let you be pushed into anything you don't want."

Nadine placed her spoon aside and dabbed her lips with a napkin, her calm composure returning.

To her, the whole marriage arrangement was nothing more than a minor irritation.

"Send me the location, Jacob," she said quietly.

Jacob stared at her, surprised. "Nadine, are you saying..."

She gave a small, decisive nod. "I'm ending the engagement today."

It was clear to Nadine that if the Baileys genuinely cared about this alliance, the Clark family would never have been left to fall apart.

Besides, whispers around town claimed that Rhys Bailey—the notorious heir from a family with a reputation steeped in shadows—was already in love with another woman.

This was the perfect opportunity. The Clark family's troubles gave her all the justification she needed to walk away from this arrangement.

...

At the Stardust Cafe, Rhys sat near the window, a storm brewing just beneath his calm expression.

His eyes flicked to his watch.

Three minutes had passed since their scheduled meeting time.

He felt only impatience for a fiancee he had never met and wanted this pointless contract dissolved as quickly as possible. He was just about to rise and leave when the chair across from him slid out, and a poised woman sat down. "Mr. Bailey?"

Rhys' gaze lifted with a frown. But in the next instant, shock rooted him to the spot.

That face—he could never forget it. It haunted his dreams and filled the empty sketches scattered across his desk.

Years ago, bleeding out in an abandoned warehouse on the Urygan border, it was her face he saw just before the world went black. She had been the one who brought him back from the brink.

Nadine, on the other hand, misread the tension in his eyes, thinking it was simply annoyance over the engagement. That was exactly how she wanted it.

She slid a small box across the table, her gaze unwavering. "I'm Nadine Clark. Let's not waste time. The engagement is over. You won't have to worry about it anymore. Everything the Bailey family sent to my family is right here. I'm giving it all back."

Rhys felt his entire world tilt. For three relentless years, he had hunted for the woman who saved his life.

He had thrown all of the Baileys' influence behind the search, overturned every stone in Urygan, and always came up empty.

And now, the woman he had been looking for sat right across from him—Nadine Clark. His fiancee.

Rhys' voice caught as he forced out the words. "You really don't remember me?"

Nadine watched him with a hint of irritation.

From what she'd heard, he had a reputation for being a player.

She wondered if the talk about his STDs was true as well.

Pulling her chair back a little, Nadine offered a cool, mocking smile. "No, I have no idea who you are. If that's all, Mr. Bailey, we're done here. The engagement is finished. Goodbye."

She pushed back from the table and turned to go.

Rhys shot up, arm outstretched to block her way. "Who said I agreed to end the engagement?"