The girl standing in front of her looked about the same age, cheeks slightly flushed, her long, styled hair draping neatly over her shoulders.

She smugly jiggled the box in her hand, flashing the delicate bracelet inside. "Look at this, Elizabeth. You and your pathetic mom finally crawled out of the Kaiser family-wasn't I spot on?"

"From now on, I'm the real princess of the Kaisers, not you."

She burst into laughter, her face twisting with arrogance.

Elizabeth stared at her, red-eyed, lips trembling as she spoke, "That bracelet, your dress-those used to be mine. Mine!"

"Oh please," the girl snorted. "If you want them back, come and get them."

She popped open the box and purposely pulled the jade bangle out, waving it mockingly on her wrist.

"Charlotte, I won't let any of you off."

Elizabeth clenched her fists, coughing up blood as the fury in her chest boiled over.

"And you," she snarled, turning toward Lucas, "you cold-blooded coward. You trusted the wrong people."

"I hope you rot in hell!"

Her voice was full of pain, every word cut from her heart.

She staggered up from the ground, ignoring the cruel laughter behind her, and ran straight out of the villa, just wanting to reach the hospital and get her mom out.

Even though the way there was long and her tiny body could barely hold out.

She didn't know how far she'd run when the road led her into a quiet forest.

Messy bushes and low branches caught at her legs and made her stumble.

This time, when she fell, she didn't get up. Her limbs were too weak to move.

Her vision blurred, and her mind went heavy with fog.

"Mom..." she mumbled faintly, tears streaking down her dirt-covered cheeks.

Time passed. She lay there like a lifeless doll.

...

The ringtone from her phone jolted Elizabeth out of the memory.

She opened her eyes. The car had already stopped in front of the mall-it was her first time outside since leaving the organization.

Looking down, she pulled out her phone. It was her master calling."Kaiser, I raised you for ten years just for this moment. It's your turn to take over the company. I'm off to enjoy life now."

Elizabeth froze in shock. "Wait, but I really don't-"

"You dare talk back? What do you think I raised you for, huh?" The voice on the other end of the line got sharper.

Elizabeth scratched her nose awkwardly, looking a bit helpless. "Master, I'm more of a fighter, you know, not exactly the business type. Plus, you've got a whole line of senior disciples ahead of me."

"Who? Never heard of them. My assets go to a daughter, not sons. Got it?"

"Then maybe adopt another girl as your disciple?"

"You're already the last one I took in."

"Then just have a daughter yourself."

"Get lost!" her master snapped. "You've got three months. Be back and take over the company!"

Before she could reply, the call ended abruptly. Elizabeth let out a long sigh, feeling a headache coming on.

She'd barely stepped off the battlefield, and now she's being thrown into the business world? Seriously?

She dragged herself off the car and wandered aimlessly, her mind a mess.

Lost in thought, she suddenly heard footsteps speeding up nearby.

Looking up, a good-looking man was sprinting towards her, with a few men in black hot on his heels.

In broad daylight, and they were openly going after a guy like it was nothing?

"Bang!" One of the men suddenly pulled out a gun. The man being chased dove forward to avoid the shot.

Now that caught her attention.

Elizabeth blinked but didn't dodge. She went down with him as he tackled her.

When she looked up, she saw his face-despite being disheveled and breathless, he still looked annoyingly handsome.

Before the next shot rang out, Elizabeth rolled over forcefully. Sharp focus in her eyes, she sprang forward, going straight for the gunman's wrists and arms with decisive strikes.

A few brutal hits landed, and black-clad men coughed up blood.

Unfazed, Elizabeth joined her fingers and struck at some pressure points with precision.

The men didn't even have time to scream before collapsing on the ground like sacks of bricks.

Elizabeth brushed the dust off her clothes slowly, her satin robe swaying smoothly like water.

The man on the ground pushed himself up, narrowing his eyes slightly as he studied her. His voice was flat and emotionless. "Do you have any idea what messing with those guys actually means?"

His flippant tone faded into the air. Elizabeth glanced up, clearly unfazed.

"Then let them come," she sneered. "Let's see if they've got the guts."

Her smirk vanished without warning. She turned around and walked away, no interest in dragging things out.

That retreating figure caught Alexander Prescott's eye, and something stirred inside him.

He nudged one of the men slumped at his feet with the tip of his shoe, then pulled out his phone and called his assistant.

His perfect features were cold as ice. "Send someone to deal with the guys who tried to jump me. Make sure their bodies end up outside Mr. Lane's house. He needs a little reminder about the kind of trash he's using."

"I'm flying back to Capitol City tomorrow. Clean up what's left."

"And one more thing-look into someone for me."

...

Half a month later.

At the Regal Palace Hotel in Axis Center, today was the engagement day of Isabella Kaiser and Victor Lane.

A match between old money and corporate royalty. Talk about a power couple.

With both families being legends in Capitol City, the event pulled half the city's elite into attendance.

Isabella wore a handcrafted designer gown, elegant and elaborate. A sparkling tiara sat on her head, every diamond in it catching the light. And the massive gemstone glinting on her finger? Pure showstopper.

Leaning lightly against Victor's arm, she smiled sweetly, her look soft and flawless.

As everyone waited for the ceremony to kick off, the hall buzzed with gossip.

"Gotta admit, the Kaisers made the right call. Isabella really fits the Lane family. If it had been the other daughter, things would've gone south real fast."

"Yeah, I heard the one who disappeared-Elizabeth? Total psycho."

"I know, right? Not only does she look rough, I heard she's got zero manners."

"Don't even get me started on her mom. People say she's not even Lucas's kid."

"Shh... you wanna get kicked out?"

Isabella heard the chatter, and her smile only grew, full of quiet satisfaction.That's right, Elizabeth was nothing compared to her!

"Miss Kaiser and Mr. Lane truly make a stunning couple," someone seated beside Lucas complimented with a flattering smile. "You're lucky to have such a wonderful daughter."

Lucas responded with a modest nod, his gaze filled with pride as he looked at Isabella.

Since she'd taken on the Kaiser name, she'd brought him no end of honor. This engagement between the Kaisers and the Lanes was shaping up to be even more perfect than he'd imagined.

Up at the front, the emcee held the engagement contract, reciting a string of blessings. The audience clapped along, and both families in the front row beamed with joy.

Then suddenly, a loud crash came from the entrance.

A gorgeous woman stepped through the doors she'd just kicked open, strolling in like she owned the place.

She wore a simple tracksuit, sunglasses covering half her face.

Her casually tied ponytail bounced as she walked. She slid off her shades, revealing an utterly captivating face under the lights.

Every pair of eyes turned to her, and murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.

"She's stunning. Whose daughter is that?"

"Tch. Dressed like that? No way she's from a respectable family."

Lucas stared, dumbstruck, at that all-too-familiar face, his expression momentarily blank.

Swinging her sunglasses lazily in one hand, Elizabeth made her way to the stage without hurry, calmly snatching the mic from the emcee. No one dared stop her.

She held it up and flashed a bright, sharp smile. Her eyes locked onto Victor as she said sweetly, "Long time no see, fiancé. How long's it been? And now you're getting engaged...to someone else?"

Her voice carried clearly through the sound system, and the room exploded into chaos.

"Who the hell is this lunatic calling Mr. Lane her fiancé?!"

"Bet she's just one of those crazy fangirls trying to hook up with him. Seen it too many times."

"What a disgrace. Bet her family's embarrassed out of their minds right now."

The whispers grew louder as more people turned accusing eyes toward Elizabeth.

Panic shot through Isabella's chest. She shifted closer to Victor instinctively.

In the front row, Sophia Murray suddenly shot to her feet, glaring at Elizabeth with disdain. "Who do you think you are? This is a private event between the Kaisers and the Lanes. You have no business here. Somebody, get her out of here!"

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, about to speak.

Unexpectedly, Isabella quickly tugged at Sophia's arm, trying to look all innocent as she said, "Mom, no need to call security, right? She's young. Probably just lost her mind for a sec and stormed in here."

Then she turned around and walked a few steps toward Elizabeth, wearing that fake graceful look.

"Hey, girl, you should go now. This really isn't the place for you."

"Oh really?" Elizabeth's smile grew softer, but her tone had a chill sharp enough to bite. "And just so we're clear-you're the one who doesn't belong here."

After all these years, Elizabeth hadn't expected her to get even more shameless.

Her tricks were deeper now. She was playing the innocent act better than ever.

"How could you say that?" Isabella's eyes welled up, trying to look heartbroken. "I was just trying to help you."

Elizabeth let out a cold laugh, too tired to even fake politeness with her.

Slap!

Without any warning, Elizabeth swung hard, landing a sharp slap right across Isabella's face, knocking her off her feet.

The hall went dead silent.

Had this crazy woman seriously just laid hands on the Kaisers' daughter?

"Ahh!" Isabella clutched her face, eyes wide with pain and panic. Her lips swelled up instantly, blood-stained saliva dribbling down as tears brimmed in her eyes. She scrambled backward in fear.

"You bitch!" Sophia shouted, furious and shocked. She rushed forward and raised her hand, aiming for a slap. "Where the hell did you come from? How dare you hit my daughter! You shameless brat-"

"What on earth are you doing?" Victor stared at Elizabeth, totally stunned.

Elizabeth's smile didn't budge, but her eyes turned icy. She twisted her body, dodged Sophia's hand with ease, then threw back a slap of her own, smacking Sophia's face sideways.

That second slap left everyone in the room in total shock.

"You... you dared to hit me!" Sophia clutched her cheek, shaking with rage.

She had been Mrs. Kaiser for over a decade, spoiled and respected. No one had ever dared lay a finger on her.

Getting slapped by some nobody girl who popped out of nowhere? That was like being stripped naked and thrown in public. Her fury exploded, and logic went out the window.

Sophia swung at Elizabeth again, but it was useless. Elizabeth scoffed, then gave her a solid kick, sending her flying off the stage.

There was a faint crunch of bone.

"Aaaagh!" Sophia screamed, "My back... my leg!"

"Sophia!" Lucas shouted in panic.

He rushed to her side, helping her up and frantically checking her injuries. "Are you okay?!"

Meanwhile, Isabella finally snapped out of it. She messily wiped her mouth with a towel, giving Elizabeth a look full of blame and sadness. "I see now... you're into Victor too, aren't you?"

"I'll back off and let you have him. Just please... let me and my mom go, alright?"

Her pitiful sobs made Victor's heart ache. He said, "Elizabeth, don't say that nonsense. A lunatic like her doesn't even deserve me!"

"I wanna be with you, but I can't keep watching my mom get hurt..."

Just like that, Isabella slumped into his arms, and the two clung to each other.

To outsiders, she was delicate and miserable-totally the poor victim. But Elizabeth was getting sick of the act. Actually sick.

Elizabeth wasn't even sure she could stop herself from throwing another slap if Isabella kept it up.

"Cut it out," Elizabeth sneered. "Charlotte, drop the innocent act. You think pretending to be some poor little thing changes the fact that you're nothing but a filthy thief?"

Yeah, no one should be fooled-she and Sophia were two of a kind, both spoiled and sinister to the core.

She wasn't some sweet girl named Isabella.

She was Charlotte Murray.