Chapter 1

If she had known that one act of fleeing would lead to a lifetime of love and hatred, Xanora Hansen would never have acted on a whim and run away. But at that time, she was truly driven into a corner with no other choice.

As the only daughter of the Hansen Corporation, she grew up surrounded by others’ envy. Her father, Drake Hansen, controlled everything in her life, treating her like a princess. From career plans to daily necessities like clothing and meals, everything was meticulously arranged for her. To outsiders, she appeared to be the beloved daughter of a powerful family—smart, graceful, and carefree. But only she knew that this “indulgence” was actually a shackle disguised as sweetness.

At twenty, a junior in college, she hadn’t even had a proper relationship yet. It wasn’t that no one liked her, but no one dared to—after all, no one wanted to offend Drake Hansen, who controlled half of the city’s economy. Over time, not having had a relationship became a thorn in her heart. It wasn’t inferiority complex, but rather resentment—at not even having the right to like someone in her own life.

At this moment, she was lying collapsed on her bed in the dormitory, flipping through the boring principles of economics. Her phone kept vibrating frantically on the desk. The buzzing sound reached the bed through the desk surface, annoying her to the point of headache.

“Shanora! Your phone keeps vibrating non-stop!” Karen Lowell, who was on the bed across from her, took off her headphones and glanced at her with a frustrated expression. She was deeply engrossed in the game, with her hero still barely alive on the screen. “If you keep ignoring it, I’m really going to throw your phone out!”

Karen Lowell was her childhood friend from childhood. She was the only daughter of the Ouyang Corporation. The two of them had very similar personalities—both spoiled but also longing for freedom. Back then, they would drink together at parties, refusing to admit defeat to each other. In the end, they became inseparable best friends. From middle school to university, they were fearless and no one dared to mess with them.

“Could you pick up the phone for me? I’m too lazy to get up.” Xianola Hansen turned over, burying her face in the pillow, her tone full of laziness.

“You’re so beautiful!” Karen Lowell rolled her eyes at her. Her fingers moved swiftly across the screen. “Can’t you see I’m in the middle of a team fight? If I lose, it’s your fault!”

As soon as the words were spoken, the phone stopped vibrating. Before either of them could breathe a sigh of relief, the vibration started again, this time even more frantic, like a death knell.

Karen Lowell couldn’t take it anymore. She snatched her phone and was about to reject the call when she saw the message on the screen. Her face fell instantly. “Oh no, it’s your old man! Good luck to you!”

Shanora Hansen sat up abruptly. All traces of her earlier laziness disappeared. Her hair was tousled, and her eyes showed signs of panic, but she tried to remain calm. “Why panic? I often don’t answer his calls.” Still, she reached for her phone, took a deep breath, and pressed the answer button. Her tone instantly became obedient. “Hello, Dad, what’s wrong?”

From the other end of the line came Drake Hansen’s steady voice, carrying an authoritative tone that didn’t admit disagreement: “Shanora, you’re not a child anymore. You’re twenty years old. It’s time to think about settling down. Look at you—after twenty years of living, you’ve never brought me a single boyfriend.”

Shanora Hansen felt nervous and quickly interjected, “Dad, can I be blamed for this? It’s your fault! Everyone avoids me when they see me. Who would dare to chase after me?”

“Stop talking nonsense to me.” Drake Hansen’s tone grew stern. “I’ve discussed this with your Uncle Summer. His son, Madeline Summer, will be returning to the country next month. She’s a great person and comes from a suitable family. You should go on a date with her.”

“Dating?!”, Xianola Hansen’s voice soared in pitch. She almost threw her phone away. “Dad, are you serious? What century are we living in anyway? I’m not going!”

Karen Lowell, who was applying makeup at the time, heard this and her hand trembled. Her eyebrow pencil left a black mark on her face, giving her the appearance of an angry Calabash Warrior. Without bothering to wipe it off, she leaned in and mouthed, “What? Blind date?”

Shanora Hansen didn’t have the time to deal with her. She said urgently into the phone, “Dad, I don’t want to go on any blind dates. I’ll find my own boyfriend. Please stop worrying about it!”

“You have no choice in the matter,” Drake Hansen said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “I’ve already discussed this with the Summer family. We cannot let the Hansen family’s reputation be tarnished. Madeline Summer will be returning to the country next month. This month, you need to work on improving your emotional intelligence. Come home to live with me on Friday. You’re not allowed to stay in the dormitory this entire month—you must stay at home!”

“Dad! What about Karen?” Shanora Hansen tried to struggle again.

“Let her go home with you. No more talking. That’s the decision.” With that, the phone was hung up with a “click”.

Shanora Hansen held her phone in her hand, standing there frozen, her mind completely blank. A blind date? And then be confined to home for a month? She absolutely couldn’t accept that!

“Shanora, your dad really wants you to go on a blind date?” Karen Lowell wiped the black marks from her face and leaned in, her tone somewhat smug yet also tinged with concern. “Do you even know Madeline Summer? What if she looks completely ugly?”

“I have no idea!” Shanora Hansen threw her phone onto the bed angrily and scratched her hair in frustration. “My dad hasn’t even met the person I’m supposed to date. He just insists I go on this blind date. It’s completely unreasonable!”

Just then, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. Her eyes lit up as she turned to Karen Lowell with urgency in her voice: “Karen, let’s run away! I can’t go home, and definitely not to that blind date!”

Karen Lowell was shocked. She quickly waved her hand and said, “Are you crazy? Who is your father? In less than three days, he can turn 整个中国 upside down to find you. How do you think you can get away?”

“I have to run, even if I can’t get away!” Xianola Hansen stared determinedly as she began rummaging through her suitcase. “He can’t read my thoughts. If I hide somewhere, he definitely won’t be able to find me! Karen, please, help me!”

Seeing her friend’s determined expression, Karen Lowell sighed. In the end, she couldn’t help but soften her heart. “Alright, I’ll help you. But be careful. I don’t want your father to catch you and scold you.”

The two of them quickly packed their things. Shanora Hansen didn’t dare bring too many bags, so she borrowed Karen Lowell’s small Louis Vuitton suitcase. She packed only a few change of clothes, toiletries, her phone, and a little cash.

“Remember, don’t stay in fancy hotels, don’t use your ID to check in, and avoid using the internet casually. Your father will definitely keep an eye on your movements.” Karen Lowell kept reminding her while helping her pack. “I have a card here with over a hundred thousand dollars in it. Use that instead of your own card—it’s easier to use and less likely to get blocked.”

Shanora Hansen felt a lump in her throat as she hugged Karen Lowell. “Karen, you’ve always been the best to me.”

“Stop being so sentimental,” Karen Lowell pushed her away, though her eyes were slightly red. “Hurry up and get ready. I’ll take you to a place we went on a spring outing to before. The scenery there is beautiful, and there aren’t many people. You can hide there for a while until the storm passes.”

Shanora Hansen nodded vigorously, with only one thought in mind: to escape, to get away from this life that had been meticulously planned for her. What she didn’t know was that this hasty escape would not only lead her to meet three completely different men, but also uncover a past she had never even imagined.