Chapter 1

"Blair, you've suffered all these years."

"I've already found you a marriage match. After you marry into that family, I guarantee you'll never have to worry about food and clothing again."

Blair York looked at Michael Brown rambling on in front of her, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

Her mother, Anna York, was the only daughter of the wealthy York Family in Harmony City. Back then, her father Michael had married into the York Family.

Fifteen years ago, Anna passed away.

Michael sent five-year-old Blair to the countryside to fend for herself.

All these years, forget about visiting—he hadn't even given her a single penny. Now he's here playing the loving father?

"Where are my mother's belongings?" Blair interrupted Michael, her clear eyes seeming to see right through everything.

Looking at Blair's delicate features that were identical to Anna's, Michael instinctively raised his voice: "Blair, is this how you treat your father!"

His anger tried to cover his emotions, but Blair saw through it easily.

She sneered. Sometimes she really had to admire just how shameless Michael could be.

Michael had put on a good act at first, but once everyone from the York Family died, he showed his true colors.

One week after Anna's death, he rushed to remarry his first love, Celeste Miller.

And brought back a daughter, Elodie Brown, who was a year older than Blair.

Although he claimed she was his stepdaughter, she was actually Michael and Celeste's illegitimate child.

If it weren't for Anna's belongings, Blair wouldn't have planned to return to this disgusting place at all.

"Honey, Blair's still young. Why are you getting angry with her?"

A sickeningly sweet voice rang out. Blair looked over to see Celeste and Elodie coming down from upstairs.

Her eyes turned colder.

She still remembered when Anna had just died, Michael brought Celeste and Elodie back to the villa.

Celeste greedily took over all of Anna's luxury items, and whatever didn't interest her, she destroyed or sold.

And Elodie brazenly took over her room.

When Michael found out, he only vaguely said a few words to Elodie, but didn't make her leave the room.

That's when Blair understood—she no longer had a father.

Elodie bounced over like a cheerful bird to Michael's side, intimately hugging his arm.

"Dad, Mom's right. Maybe Blair just isn't close to you."

Triumph showed on her face, and from an angle Michael couldn't see, she looked at Blair provocatively.

Why should Blair be born a socialite while she was an illegitimate daughter?

She was going to take everything Blair had!

Hearing Celeste and Elodie's words, Michael's expression grew even darker.

In his view, his authority was being challenged.

Blair suddenly moved. She broke into a smile and walked up to Elodie.

The next second, a slap landed, the sharp sound echoing through the huge living room.

Elodie was stunned, covering her face, feeling the burning pain.

Michael was furious: "Blair, why did you hit Elodie!"

Blair sneered: "My mom only had one daughter—me. I don't have any sister."

She raised her eyes arrogantly, a sense of pressure washing over them.

Looking around, she said: "You seem to have forgotten that right now, you're the ones begging me to agree to this marriage."

Michael threatened through gritted teeth: "Don't you want your mother's belongings anymore?"

Blair seemed to hear something funny and laughed softly.

"Even if you don't give them to me, I have other ways to get them back."

If she didn't know exactly what Anna's belongings were, she wouldn't have needed to make this trip.

"But if I don't agree to the marriage, where are you going to find a third daughter?"

She paused, then said meaningfully: "Or are you planning to have Elodie marry him?"

Elodie looked at Michael pitifully, saying anxiously: "Dad, you promised you wouldn't make me marry Arthur."

A flash of understanding crossed Blair's eyes. She knew it—if it were really a good marriage match, would Michael have thought of her?

The Hamilton Family appeared to be the top family in Harmony City, but behind the scenes, they were in the business of selling firearms and weapons.

If they could connect with the Hamilton Family, it could elevate the Brown Family by two social classes.

But the Hamilton Family's younger son, Arthur Hamilton, was also famously a playboy.

Among the women he'd been through, quite a few had mysteriously disappeared.

Even though the Hamilton Family had overwhelming power and influence, this fact had scared off many families.

And those who actively came forward willing to sell their daughters, the Hamilton Family looked down on.

Although she didn't know how Michael had connected with the Hamilton Family, the fact that Michael needed her was her leverage.

As expected, Michael's body stiffened, and his tone softened several degrees.

"Blair, don't look at Mr. Hamilton's bad reputation. All men are like that—they mature once they're married."

"As for your mother's belongings, they should be yours anyway."

"After you marry into the Hamilton Family, I'll give you all the belongings."

"I'm your father—would I really harm you?"

Not necessarily, Blair sneered inwardly.

But she didn't want to make things too ugly either. If Michael decided to go down with the ship and destroyed all the belongings, that would be troublesome for her.

Blair lowered her eyes, hiding the expression in them.

She said coldly: "The fact that I'm willing to come back here shows I'll agree to the marriage."

"But I don't want any irrelevant people appearing in front of me."

"Otherwise, I can't be sure I won't change my mind."

Michael breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face: "Of course."

"Your room has been cleaned up, it's still the same one."

Blair walked upstairs without looking back, casually tossing out: "Forget it, I find it dirty. A guest room will do."

Only after Blair's figure disappeared did Elodie snap back to her senses, stamping her foot in dissatisfaction.

"Dad, how can Blair treat you like this?"

Michael frowned, his warning gaze falling on Elodie: "Don't bother with her. She won't be home for more than a few days anyway."

"If I find out you've provoked her again and made her change her mind, don't blame me for being harsh."

Usually he doted on Elodie, but compared to power and influence, what was a daughter?

If he could climb up to the Hamilton Family, he'd laugh in his sleep.

Elodie paused, forcing down her resentment: "Dad, I understand."

Back in the room, Celeste no longer had that gentle demeanor from earlier, scolding: "Elodie, you're too impatient."

Elodie pressed her lips together: "Mom, she's back."

Celeste gently stroked Elodie's head.

"So what if she's back? I drove her away before, and I can do it again."

"Everything is to make the Brown Family better."

Elodie opened her mouth hesitantly: "But what if she really manages to seduce Mr. Hamilton?"

Celeste said meaningfully: "I've already thought of that."

"The current head of the Hamilton Family, Rupert Hamilton, is famous for his hatred of women."

"I've already arranged for someone to lure Blair to Rupert's room."

"Once Blair angers Rupert, the marriage will be impossible, and the Hamilton Family will give us compensation."

"Then everything in the Brown Family will be yours."

Elodie's eyes lit up, her mood lifting considerably.

She couldn't wait to see Blair get kicked out of Harmony City after provoking Rupert.