The Heiress They Couldn't Break Free Preview

The hotel's banquet hall shone beautifully with glasses clinking all around. A carefully arranged engagement party was happening in full swing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate a very special occasion. It is my great honor to officially introduce to you the engaged couple, Mr. Vincent Dester and Ms. Amelia Nygard ... "

Before the host could finish, a phone started ringing.

Vincent took out his phone. When he answered, a woman's trembling and crying voice came through. "Vincent, I ... I had a car accident. It really hurts. I'm scared ... "

Vincent's expression changed immediately. "Gianna, don't be afraid. I'll come right away."

"But ... it's your engagement party ... "

He didn't wait to hear the rest. Turning to the host, he said, "The engagement is canceled."

Amelia, one of the stars of today's event, stood beside him. She saw the sudden change in his eyes, like he had just been hit in the chest.

Vincent didn't even look at her. He turned around and rushed toward the exit.

"Vincent!" Amelia instinctively reached for his sleeve but only caught empty air.

"Amelia, I'm sorry. Gianna was in a car accident. You should go home first," Vincent said gently.

"What if I don't want you to leave? This is our engagement party. If she's in an accident, shouldn't she call the police? Why do you have to go?"

And besides, she has three older brothers she could've called!

Why does it always have to be him?

Clearly, she's up to something.

Vincent frowned. "Amelia, don't be unreasonable. This is a serious matter."

"You know I don't like her. Are you my fiancé or hers?" Amelia's eyes stayed calm, steady as still water.

She had wanted to ask this for a long time.

Vincent was supposed to be her fiancé, but whenever Gianna Nygard had any trouble, he would drop everything to be by her side.

The worst part was that Gianna knew how to put on an act. She always schemed against Amelia. The Nygards began to dislike Amelia, and her place in the family became weaker.

But Amelia was the real daughter of the Nygards, one of the wealthiest families in Brookhaven.

Six years ago, Amelia disappeared during a family banquet.

The Nygards tried everything to find her, but she was never found.

Rumors spread outside the family. Some said she must be dead or have been taken to a faraway rural place and would never come back.

Six months later, her father, Raymond Nygard, brought home another girl, Gianna Nygard.

He told everyone that Gianna was the daughter of the man who had saved his life.

Before dying, that person asked him to take care of his child.

Gianna's mother had died young, and her past was full of sadness. The Nygards were told to treat her kindly.

Little by little, Gianna took over Amelia's place in the family.

She was sweet, pretty, talented, and knew how to act in front of people. She quickly won over Raymond and the rest of the family.

Even in social circles, she became known as the "daughter of the Nygards."

The Nygards were proud of her, thinking she was the real heiress.

But then, four years later, Amelia suddenly returned.

No one knew what had happened to her during those years.

She had become quieter, more distant, and carried a coldness in her personality.

The Nygards cared a lot about appearances. To them, Amelia was an embarrassment, a stain on the family, hard to like.

Even when she did everything they asked and agreed to a marriage alliance, they still humiliated her.

"Stop it, Amelia! What's gotten into you? Gianna's in trouble and you're causing a scene?" her mother, Emery Palmer, shouted.

Amelia only gave a cold laugh. She had expected this reaction.

Vincent's eyes showed a mix of emotions. "Amelia, now is not the time to throw a fit. Gianna ... "

"Whatever happens to her has nothing to do with me," Amelia said sharply, her voice making the entire hall feel colder.

Her oldest brother, Marcelo Nygard, shouted, "Amelia, what's wrong with you? She's your little sister!"

"Sorry, I don't have a sister like her. If she stays, I'm leaving," Amelia shot back without hesitation.

Her second brother, Miguel Nygard, added, "How can you be so heartless? Gianna has always been good to you. Why do you keep picking on her?"

Vincent patted Amelia's shoulder and tried to reassure her. "Amelia, be good. Now's not the time to get jealous. Gianna might be in real danger. I'll feel better if I go check on her."

For some reason, Amelia seemed different today.

A strange unease rose in his heart.

Usually, if Gianna were involved, Amelia would get angry right away. But today, she looked unusually calm.

Still, Vincent just wanted to check on Gianna.

He was definitely going to marry Amelia, because he had reasons he couldn't ignore.

Meanwhile, the third brother, Maxwell Nygard, was anxious. "Come on, your engagement is already set. Missing the party won't change anything."

"Yeah, it's just a ceremony. Isn't someone's life more important than that?" another person said, sounding critical.

But Amelia didn't move. She kept her eyes locked on Vincent.

That's when an angry female voice cut through the room. "I can't take this anymore! Vincent, are you a doctor or what? Do you have something going on with Gianna? Why does she always call you when there's trouble? And why does she always need the hospital whenever you're with Amelia? Is she cursed or something?"

It was Josie Hutton, Amelia's best friend. She knew how much this engagement party meant to Amelia.

But once again, that witch Gianna had ruined it.

Josie couldn't even remember how many times this had happened!

"Ms. Hutton!" Vincent's voice turned icy. "Mind your words!"

Josie was furious. This scumbag was completely under Gianna's spell. "What? Did I hit a nerve? Vincent, have you lost your mind? You're really going to ditch your fiancée for some fake drama queen?"

"Ms. Hutton, this is our family matter. You shouldn't interfere," Emery said, her face cold and stiff.

Vincent looked furious and embarrassed, as if her words had struck a nerve. His embarrassment turned into anger.

Amelia patted Josie on the shoulder, then calmly faced Vincent. "If you walk out that door, it's over between us."

Time was already slipping by. Vincent started to panic. He tried to calm her down. "Amelia, don't say things you don't mean. The engagement party can wait. We'll call it off for now. I just need to check on Gianna, and we'll talk when I get back."

Then he left without looking back.

All he could think about was whether Gianna was badly hurt. He had to see for himself.

He planned to explain everything to Amelia later. She would calm down eventually.

The rest of the Nygards rushed out after him, as if the girl lying in the hospital bed were their birth daughter.

Amelia stood still, watching their backs disappear from sight.

She stood tall, her gaze firm and unwavering.

She had once done everything she could to fit into this family, hoping they would accept her. But now she realized it was useless.

The Nygards had ignored her, all to dote on that fake mean girl, Gianna.

There was no place for her in this family anymore.

So she gave up.

The guests looked at each other and started whispering louder and louder.

"So, Vincent actually likes Gianna?"

"Isn't it clear? Didn't you notice? Even the Nygards treats Gianna better."

"Yeah, honestly, Gianna feels more like their real daughter."

"Exactly! Amelia disappeared for years. Who knows what she went through? Compared to Gianna, she doesn't stand a chance. Gianna outshines her in every way."

People stared at Amelia with mocking and pitying eyes, but she didn't react at all.

She acted as if they weren't even talking about her.

Josie almost exploded with anger. "Amelia ... "

She looked at Amelia, worry written all over her face. Hurtful words from strangers didn't matter, but wounds from family cut the deepest.

Amelia only gave a calm smile. "I'm fine."

She had already given up. There was nothing left to care about.

Just then, her phone screen lit up. A text from Gianna showed up, only two words, "I won."

Amelia looked at it and let out a small laugh.

She smiled, but it was a cold smile, laced with deep disdain.

If Gianna wanted leftovers, she could take them.

This marriage was just a deal between the Desters and the Nygards. Amelia was never the kind of person to beg or settle.

She took off her engagement ring and dropped it into a champagne glass.

Clink!

The ring sank to the bottom, making tiny splashes.

Josie's eyes widened. "Amelia, you ... "

"It's over!"

Amelia turned around, held up her dress, and walked out of the banquet hall without a glance back.

The guests moved aside to let her pass. Everyone was stunned by the cold aura she gave off.

At Centria Hospital.

The VIP room smelled faintly of disinfectant.

Gianna sat in a hospital gown, white bandages wrapped around her head. Her eyes were red and watery, making her look weak and pitiful. "Vincent, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. You should go back. Today is your engagement with Amelia. Don't let me ruin it ... "

Vincent frowned and spoke in a calm, gentle voice. "This isn't your fault. Just focus on getting better. Don't say things like that."

Gianna shook her head lightly. "But ... I'm worried Amelia will misunderstand. I want to explain to her."

"Gianna, don't move! The doctor said you have a concussion and need rest! Silly girl, you're injured yet still worried about others." Emery held Gianna's hand tightly, her face full of worry.

Then she looked at Vincent. "Vincent, Gianna has always been so thoughtful, not like Amelia, who's so stubborn. You shouldn't always spoil her."

She spoke as if Amelia wasn't even her own daughter.

Out of sight, Gianna's lips curled into a proud, sneaky smile.

She had planned this. At the last moment of the engagement, she had struck Amelia where it hurt the most.

Everything that once belonged to Amelia, Gianna was going to take away.

She believed she should be the only one heiress of the Nygards.

And soon, she had another "surprise" waiting for Amelia!

Amelia walked out of the hotel. The cool night wind brushed past her, helping her clear her mind.

Josie hurried after her. "Amelia, wait for me!"

She had just reached Amelia when a black van stopped suddenly in front of them with a loud screech! The side door flew open, and two men wearing masks rushed toward Amelia.

"Amelia, watch out!" Josie shouted.

Amelia's eyes turned sharp. She quickly moved aside, grabbed one man's wrist, and twisted it hard!

Crack!

"Ahh!" the man yelled in pain, but before he could fight back, Amelia slammed her knee into his stomach. He fell to the ground, groaning.

The second man swung a bat at her, but Amelia only let out a small grin. She spun around, dodged, and kicked him right in the jaw with her high heel.

Thud! The man dropped to the ground and passed out.

Josie froze, her mouth wide open. "Amelia, since when can you fight like that?"

Amelia smoothed down her dress, speaking calmly. "When you grow up away from home, you have to know how to protect yourself."

Back at the Nygards, she had always kept her skills hidden to protect the family's reputation, pretending to be a graceful lady.

But they only saw her as weak, someone easy to control.

She had already accepted the arranged marriage, yet they kept stepping on her pride.

Amelia bent down and pulled the mask off one of the men. "Speak! Who sent you?"

This couldn't be random. She had just left the hotel, and these men showed up right away.

They must have been waiting for her.

The man winced in pain but tried to lie. "No one sent us! We just thought you were rich and wanted to rob you!"

Amelia gave a cold smile and pressed her heel on his fingers, adding more pressure. "I'll give you one more chance."

"Ahh! Okay, okay!" Sweat ran down his face. "I-it was a woman! She told us if we kidnapped you and took some dirty photos, she'd pay us half a million. She even said we could ... do whatever we wanted to you!"

Josie gasped. "Who would do something like that? Gianna?"

Amelia's eyes turned cold. She snapped photos of the men's faces with her phone. Her voice was cold as ice. "Call the police."

The next day, Amelia came back home by herself.

As soon as she stepped into the living room, she saw her parents and three brothers gathered around Gianna, fussing over her.

Clearly, her injuries weren't serious after all. She had already left the hospital.

Amelia stopped at the doorway, watching with cold eyes, her lips curving into a mocking smile.

She knew very well that Gianna was the one who planned the kidnapping last night.

As if sensing her thoughts, Gianna glanced over at her. She gave her a small smile, her eyes full of challenge.

Anger surged through Amelia. Fury exploded in her heart. She walked forward and slapped Gianna hard across the face.

Smack!

The sound echoed in the living room. Gianna's head snapped to the side, and a bright red handprint appeared on her pale cheek.

Everyone in the Nygards froze in shock.

A moment later, Emery screamed and rushed forward. "Amelia! Have you lost your mind? I didn't even question you about where you were last night, and now you come back and hit your sister?"

Marcelo jumped up, his face dark. "How dare you hit Gianna? Apologize to her, right now!"

But Amelia was faster. She slapped him across the face, too. "No way! Shut up. She deserved it!"

Miguel cursed loudly. "Are you insane?"

Smack!

She slapped him without a second thought. "Shut up!"

When Maxwell opened his mouth to speak, Amelia didn't hesitate and smacked him as well.

Now it was even.

Unlike her family, who always took sides, she was fair. Everyone got the same treatment.

By now, Amelia's patience was gone.

They had crossed her bottom line.

Raymond's face turned red, looking like he was about to burst from anger. But before he could speak, Amelia snapped at him, "You better stay quiet, or you'll get the same treatment."

Gianna held her cheek, tears rolling down as her voice shook. "Amelia, why did you hit me? I never wanted to fight with you ... "

Amelia glared at her, her eyes sharp and cold. "Gianna, you know exactly why. Those two thugs already told me everything."

At that, Raymond's brows furrowed. "What thugs?"

"I was almost kidnapped last night," Amelia said coldly.

Gianna's face turned white, but she quickly forced out some tears to look pitiful. "Amelia, why are you framing me? I was in the hospital last night ... "

Emery rushed in front of her, glaring at Amelia. "What nonsense are you talking about? Gianna is badly hurt. How could she ever do such a thing?"

Marcelo gave a mocking laugh. "Amelia, have you lost your mind? Just to drag her down, you'd even stoop this low?"

Amelia looked at them all, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh.

"You don't trust me? Fine. Ask the police. I've already reported it." Her cold eyes locked on Gianna.

Gianna trembled instinctively and quickly hid behind Emery.

Amelia didn't bother to argue anymore. "In this house, it's either her or me. If she stays, I leave. If I stay, she's out. You decide."

At last, she saw their true colors.

She was done with this family. If they wanted to make her miserable, she'd make them even more pathetic.

Raymond shouted, his voice shaking with rage. "Ungrateful brat! Gianna will always be our precious daughter. This will forever be her home!"

"How unlucky for us to have such a cruel sister like you. Gianna is our sister, but you? You're the biggest shame our family has ever had."

Their cruel words piled on, one after another, making Amelia's anger from the past two years explode.

Her eyes turned completely cold.

"Fine. Perfect," she said slowly, her voice sharp. "Since you've chosen her, from today on, I'm cutting ties with this family. We are strangers now."

She turned around and walked away without looking back, as if staying one more second would suffocate her.

"Get out! We don't want a daughter like you!" Raymond roared.

Emery was shaking with anger, too. "Worthless child! We should never have brought you back!"

Gianna held onto Emery, crying as if her heart was broken. But behind the tears, a quick, smug smile flashed in her eyes.

"I always wanted to get along with Amelia, but she just hates me.

"Dad, Mom, after all, she's your real daughter. Maybe I should leave instead. She looked upset. You should comfort her. I'm just an outsider. Please don't ruin the family because of me.

"Or maybe I should beg her, apologize, and ask her to look after you all after I leave."

Her heartbreaking cries made the family feel touched and sorry for her.

Emery said, "Silly girl, don't say that. You'll always be my little girl, part of this family."

"Let that troublemaker leave!" Raymond snapped.

"But Amelia has company shares. Grandpa gave them to her. If she ... " Gianna hesitated, her eyes flickering.

The truth was, the only reason Vincent wanted to marry Amelia was because of those shares.

She owned a huge amount of company shares. If he married her, the Desters would rise higher.

When Amelia returned, her grandfather was so overjoyed—or maybe just losing it or trying to make up for the past—that he actually gave her 30% of his shares.

If Amelia left, those shares would be a problem.

"Hmph! If she's not part of the family anymore, we'll just take the shares back."

Amelia knew exactly what kind of dirty tricks they were planning.

But as long as she didn't sign anything, they couldn't touch her.

For now, she'd settle in.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Josie calling.

She answered while walking away.

Suddenly, a Rolls-Royce sped past. Its tires hit a puddle, sending water splashing high into the air.

Water splashed everywhere, flying straight at Amelia.

Amelia spotted it in time. With a quick, perfect turn, she dodged the splash perfectly.

Screech!

The Rolls-Royce stopped not far away.

Amelia hung up her phone.

The driver jumped out, apologizing in panic, "I'm so sorry, Miss. I didn't notice you."

Amelia patted her clothes calmly and said, "It's fine. Just be careful next time."

Then the back window of the car slid down slowly.

"What happened?" A deep, cold voice came from inside.

Amelia raised her eyes and saw a man with a strikingly handsome face.

His dark eyes, thin lips, and commanding presence made the air feel heavy, even in silence.

But his skin looked pale, almost sick, like he was unwell.

He was so handsome it seemed unreal, yet his cold aura made him frightening.

Still, what a pity. He'd been poisoned.

I guess life really is fair after all.

Amelia thought with a quiet sigh.

"Mr. Curran, I-I'm sorry. It was my fault," the driver stuttered, clearly afraid.

Jeremy Curran glanced at Amelia.

"Miss, I'm sorry. Just tell me how much you want. I'm in a hurry," he said in a cold voice. He pulled out a checkbook from his suit pocket. "Here's compensation."

Amelia looked him over, annoyed by his arrogance, then let out a short laugh. "What's the rush?"

She paused on purpose, then continued.

"Relax. You've got around three months before the poison in your body kills you. If you don't get treated by then, even the best doctor won't be able to save you."

Jeremy's eyes narrowed, his tone colder than before. "What do you know?"

Amelia shrugged lightly. "I just happened to know a little about medicine. Let me guess. You've also got a crippled leg, insomnia, and no appetite? Guess that's what happens when health problems pile up."

She pushed the checkbook back. "Keep your money. You'll need it to pay for your hospital stays."

Then she turned on her heels and left.

She wasn't about to put up with his arrogance.

Her mood was already ruined by her family troubles.

What a bad day, filled with nothing but problems.

The driver gasped quietly, staring in horror at the bold woman.

Anyone who dared talk to Jeremy like that was either not born yet or already dead.

Jeremy's eyes turned sharp with danger. "Who are you?"

Amelia lifted her hand and waved without looking back. "Nobody. Just someone passing by. You better hurry and find the best doctor, because normal doctors won't be able to cure you."

Jeremy's face grew darker, and his chest tightened for a moment.

How could this stranger know about the illness I had kept secret for so many years?

"Stop her," he said coldly.

Two men in black suits got out of the car and blocked Amelia's path.

Amelia turned, raising one eyebrow at him. "What's this? You want to trap me here?"

"If you can diagnose it, then you can cure it," Jeremy replied, pulling out a blank check. "I'm Jeremy Curran. Name your price."

Amelia froze for a brief second.

Jeremy Curran?

The leader of the Curran Group?

The richest man in Brookhaven?

She remembered well that her family and the Currans had always been rivals.

Back then, the Nygards were the richest family in Brookhaven, until Jeremy stepped in. Once he took control, he crushed them completely.

So the title changed hands.

And because Jeremy kept such a low profile, the media barely managed to take his photo.

She hadn't expected the famous, cold-hearted tycoon to be right here in front of her.

Suddenly, a thought sparked in Amelia's mind. She had already broken ties with her family. What she needed now was a powerful backer.

And this man was the perfect choice.

Her lips curved slightly, and her eyes flashed with determination.

"So you're Mr. Curran." She accepted the check, then slowly tore it into pieces in front of him.

"I don't care about the money. But if you agree to do me a small favor, maybe I'll think about saving you."

Jeremy's dark eyes narrowed, sharp like a knife. "Speak."

Amelia didn't rush. She said calmly, "I'm Amelia Nygard, the eldest daughter of the Nygards. But I've just cut ties with them."

His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile.

"The eldest daughter of the Nygards?" His tone was low, with a trace of amusement. "The real heiress they all dislike?"

Amelia lifted an eyebrow, a self-mocking smile on her lips. "Bad news sure spreads fast, doesn't it? Seems like you know me well enough."

Jeremy chuckled coldly. "Those fools in the Nygards—cutting ties is the smartest thing you've done."

The two families had always been business rivals, so it wasn't surprising he knew about her situation.

Even so, Amelia was a bit surprised. She didn't think this business tycoon would speak so harshly about her family.

She gave a light smile. "So, Mr. Curran, want to make a deal? I'll cure your poison, and you become my backer."

Her red lips parted as she spoke clearly, each word heavy with meaning.

The air seemed to freeze instantly.

The driver and bodyguard held their breath, afraid that their boss would order them to throw this bold woman out.

However, Jeremy only let out a low laugh, a flicker of interest flashing in his eyes. "Amelia, you've got guts."

"Right back at you." She stared back at him fearlessly. "You trust me to treat you, so I naturally get to make conditions."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because my grandpa gave me 30% of the company shares. The Nygards won't let me off, so I need your help against them.

"Also, I want your help.

"I want the Nygards to watch as the things they care about most are destroyed, one by one."

Her voice was quiet and cold, but there was a fire burning in her eyes.

Amelia had originally wanted a peaceful life when she came back, but they forced her hand.

Well then, they would pay the price.

She would make sure they regretted it forever.

At the same time, she wanted to find out the truth behind her missing all those years ago.

From the moment she returned, she had sensed something was wrong.

She had pretended to be clueless before, but now she would find the truth.

Those who set her up would pay in full.

Their eyes locked, the tension heavy in the air.

After a long pause, Jeremy finally spoke, "Deal."

Then, suddenly, he reached out to the back of her neck, leaning in dangerously close. "But remember, anyone who works with me ...

"Either lives or dies with me."

Amelia stared straight back, pressing a silver needle to his throat. "Funny enough, that's my rule with patients too."

"Then prove yourself!" Jeremy released her, his deep voice filled with challenge.

Amelia put the needle away and pulled out an old wooden box from her bag. Inside, dozens of very thin silver needles were neatly lined up.

"Mr. Curran, please take off your shirt," she said in a calm, professional voice.

Jeremy lifted an eyebrow. "Right here?"

"If you don't mind." Amelia glanced around. "Or we can go somewhere more private."

Up front, the driver and bodyguard were so nervous they didn't even dare to breathe.

"Go to Cloudspire Estate," Jeremy ordered briefly.

About 30 minutes later, the car pulled up in front of a quiet but luxurious villa.

Amelia followed him to the main bedroom on the top floor. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, they could see the entire city.

Jeremy unbuttoned his suit and slowly took off his shirt, revealing a strong, lean body.

Amelia's eyes fell on a deep scar on his lower back, surrounded by a strange purple bruise. She touched it lightly with her fingertip. "You were poisoned three years ago?"

Jeremy's body went stiff. "How do you know that?"

That poisoning was something no one was supposed to know.

Amelia explained, "It's Frostbone Poison. When the full moon comes, the pain feels unbearable. No one usually lasts more than three years." She pulled out one of her needles. "You must be tough. You've managed to survive this long."

"Can you cure it?" he asked.

"Yes, but it will take five treatments, one every week."

She lifted her hands, and silver light flashed between her fingers as nine silver needles went straight into his pressure points accurately.

"Ugh ... " Jeremy groaned, cold sweat forming at his temple.

She said calmly, "Hang on. The poison's been in you too long—driving it out will hurt."

Right after she spoke, Jeremy suddenly coughed out a mouthful of black blood!

"Mr. Curran!" The bodyguards outside rushed in instantly.

"Don't move!" Amelia shouted. "It's the poisoned blood. It's good that it's coming out."

She held Jeremy's shoulder steady while pulling out the needles quickly with her other hand.

As the last needle was removed, his pale face visibly regained color before their eyes.

Jeremy felt a subtle warmth spread from where the needles had been, and for the first time, the constant cold inside him had eased.

Amelia warned, "This poison can be cured, but you need to be careful. Not everyone can get their hands on this poison. The one who gave it to you must be someone close."

His eyes turned hard. "Understood. Thanks for the warning. When I recover, be my personal doctor."

For some reason, he already trusted her.

She gave a small smile. "Mr. Curran, are you looking for a long-term deal?"

"What, are you scared?" he asked.

"Fine. But remember. I don't like being controlled."

Jeremy laughed. "Good. I like the challenge of taming wild things."

After the treatment, Amelia put away her silver needles and gave him a small white bottle. "One pill each day. It will ease the pain."

He accepted the bottle, then suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Amelia, who are you really?"

Was she just an ordinary rich girl?

How could she solve a poison that even top doctors couldn't fix?

Amelia twisted her wrist and slipped free with ease.

She leaned in, her voice low. "Don't ask too much. You'll find out soon enough."

Jeremy's eyes darkened as he rolled the bottle in his hand. "Alright. I'll wait."

Then he added, "You'll stay here from now on. I'm rarely around, but I'll come here for your treatments."

Amelia was surprised. He was more thoughtful than she had expected.

She had just cut ties with her family and needed a place to stay.

Although this man had a reputation for being cold and ruthless, and people called him the Grim King, he didn't seem as heartless as the rumors suggested.

She looked around.

Cloudspire Estate was nicely decorated, with sweeping views and tight security. It was indeed a good place to stay for now.

"Thank you," Amelia said sincerely.

Her birth parents and brothers didn't feel as genuine as someone who had no blood ties to her.

Before leaving, Jeremy handed her a bank card. "This is a black card with no spending limit. Buy whatever you need. Oh, and there's a charity gala this weekend. Can you come with me?"

"Mr. Curran, I'm just your ... "

She hadn't finished when Jeremy interrupted. "You're my personal doctor. Shouldn't you be with me? And as far as I know, the Nygards will be at the charity gala, too."

Amelia's eyes went cold the second she heard the name Nygards. "Okay. It's time they see how the real daughter they threw away is doing now."

Jeremy nodded with satisfaction. "I'll come pick you up at seven on Saturday night."

He paused, then added, "Also, dress nicely. My personal doctor shouldn't show up to a fancy dinner in a lab coat."

Amelia took the black card from him. "Okay, I'll do that."

She had left home with nothing, so money was tight. There was no way she would refuse this.

Plus, she was helping him with his treatment, so asking for a little payment was fair.

Jeremy even assigned her an assistant, Tracy Gatlin, to help with whatever she needed.

After giving her these instructions, he left.

Amelia thought to herself. Not bad. He really thought of everything.

After he left, she took a long shower and slept deeply.

She felt refreshed!

Since leaving the Nygards, even the air seemed fresher.

When she woke up, she checked her phone and saw it was full of messages from the Nygards.

She had forgotten to block them before.

Still, feeling a bit vengeful, she started replying to them one by one.

Marcelo texted, "Where are you? Come back! We need to talk!"

Amelia replied, "Get lost!"

She didn't hesitate and immediately blocked him.

A cold smile appeared at the corner of her mouth as she scrolled down.

Miguel wrote, "Amelia, stop being stubborn. Come home now or you'll regret it."

Amelia replied, "Sorry, my only regret is not leaving sooner."

Then she read Maxwell's message. "Amelia, you ungrateful wretch! After everything we did for you, even a dog knows to show thanks."

Amelia texted, "If I'm a dog, then you're worse than one."

Fake girl Gianna wrote, "Amelia, where are you? Aren't you coming back?"

Amelia replied, "Don't worry. Even if I don't go home, I'll still expose your fake little act."

Next was Raymond's message. "You disgrace! Come back now. We need to talk."

Amelia replied fast, "Mr. Nygard, we're done. What's there to talk about? The 30% company shares? Forget it! I'd rather die than give them back."

After that, she blocked the whole Nygards.

Now, there's only one word to describe her feeling.

Satisfying!

Huh! All their sweet words were just about the shares.

So fake!

After blocking them, she tossed her phone aside and stretched lazily.

The sunlight outside was perfect. She decided to go out and find a dress for the charity gala.

She called Tracy. "Tracy, please take me to the shopping mall."

Half an hour later, Amelia was standing in front of the city's fanciest shopping center.

She walked straight to the high-end boutique.

"Miss, these are all this year's newest styles," the staff said with a smile.

"I want to try that one," Amelia said, pointing at a champagne-colored gown on a mannequin.

Just as the staff went to get it, a familiar female voice shouted, "I'll take this one!"

Amelia turned around. Sure enough, it was Gianna.

How can I even run into her here?

What a bad day!

Amelia narrowed her eyes as she watched Gianna walk over arrogantly.

She was dressed to the nines, with Maxwell following behind her.

Gianna looked up, and their eyes met.

Her voice was sharp and annoying. "Amelia? What are you doing here? Mom and Dad are really worried. You should come home."

She glanced Amelia up and down, clearly surprised to see her looking so fresh and polished, nothing like someone who had just been kicked out.

Maxwell stared in surprise. "Amelia? What are you doing here? Are you trying to confront us on purpose? And why are you blocking all of us?"

Amelia laughed lightly. "Confront you? Ha, you really think you're so important. Why can't I be here? Do you own this store or something?"

Not wanting to argue, she turned to the staff. "I'll take this dress. Please wrap it up for me."

"Sure," the staff said.

Gianna's eyes went wide. "That's the one I wanted! And can you even pay for it? Don't be ridiculous. Do you even know where you are? Every dress here costs at least several hundred thousand. This isn't some cheap market!"

"I know it's a luxury store. Unlike you, I'm not clueless," Amelia shot back.

She pulled out the black card Jeremy had given her, spinning it between her fingers with ease.

Gianna's eyes widened.

That kind of black card—only a few people in the city had one.

"How ... how did you get that?" Gianna asked, her voice shaking.

Amelia had been kicked out. How could she possibly have so much money?

Maxwell's expression changed, too. "Amelia, where did you steal it from?"

"Steal?" Amelia sneered. "Not everyone's like your family, always doing shady things."

"Where did you get the money? Are you crazy? Why do you always have to fight with Gianna over everything? Didn't you see she wanted that dress first?" Maxwell shouted.

"Mr. Nygard, ever heard of 'first come, first served'? And where my money comes from is none of your business," Amelia replied coldly.

The store staff, feeling the tension, quickly started wrapping the dress.

"Wait!" Gianna shouted. "That card must be fake!"

"Whether it's real or not, just let the staff swipe it and see," Amelia replied.

She nodded at the staff, who immediately went to swipe the card.

With a beep, the payment went through.

Amelia pointed to a few more dresses. "I'll take these too. Please wrap them all up."

The staff was smiling from ear to ear.

Amelia's bold move was like a slap in Gianna's face. It really hurt her pride.

Even though Gianna was spoiled in the Nygards, her allowance was limited.

She could never buy things this expensive.

Today, she'd brought Maxwell to pay for her shopping, but even he didn't have this much money.

"Amelia, what shady things have you done? Are you selling yourself for money now? Have you no shame?" Maxwell shouted, getting angry.

The more he talked, the more ridiculous it sounded.

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Did a dog bite you and you forget your rabies shot? Is that why you bark at everyone you see?"

Maxwell was furious, ready to fight. "Amelia, what did you just say? I'm still your brother!"

Amelia stepped back, her voice calm. "I don't remember having a brother. I'm an orphan now, so stop pretending we're family. If you're sick, go see a doctor."

Maxwell was speechless.

Damn Amelia!

She called herself an orphan? Wasn't that basically wishing death on our family?