Nadine Clark lingered at the edge of a street, her gaze fixed on a modest two-story home tucked behind a small courtyard. This was it—the place where the Clark family lived. For more than twenty years, she'd clung to memories and imagined scenes of the home she'd never truly known. Now, standing here at last, her heart ached with questions she'd carried for as long as she could remember. What could have made her real parents turn their backs on her? How could they leave her to be passed off to strangers, only to end up in the nightmare that was Urygan? The last words from her foster parents rang in her ears. "You're Nadine Clark, the unwanted child, tossed aside by your own blood." It was that pain—and the hope of one day facing her birth parents—that gave her the strength to endure everything she'd suffered in Urygan's darkness. She was about to cross the street when a harsh sound echoed from a grimy alley just a few steps away. In the shadows, a man who should have been standing tall was instead crumpled on the ground, taking savage blows from a much smaller, mean-faced figure. "You still believe you're some kind of Clark family prince, that you can call the shots? Wake up! You think you'll get your hands on medicine for your crazy mother?" Without hesitation, the smaller man raised his boot and smashed it down on the outstretched hand of the man on the ground. The crack of breaking bone split the air. The tall man lay huddled on the dirty pavement, his body shaking with pain as a strangled groan slipped past his lips. Despite the agony, his grip never loosened around the bundle in his arms. Watching from the shadows, Nadine felt a strange ache in her chest—then, without hesitation, she appeared behind the man's attacker. The sound of bones snapping rang through the alley. A howl burst from the smaller man as he toppled over, clutching his ankle in shock. "You have a death wish or something?" Nadine asked, her gaze cold and unflinching. Writhing on the ground, the thug spat curses between sobs. "You have no idea who you're messing with, you little bitch. You're done for..." Before he could finish, Nadine pressed her shoe hard onto his injured ankle. His screams echoed down the alley, desperation twisting his face. "Please! I'm sorry, I swear! I didn't know—I'll never do it again, just let me go!" Nadine's voice was flat and cold. "Get lost." Without a second's delay, the thug scrambled to his feet and vanished down the alley. A moment later, a person dressed in black stepped out of the shadows and held out a folder. "Boss," he said respectfully. "Here's everything on the Clark family, including the truth behind your disappearance all those years ago." Nadine flipped open the folder, her eyes widening as she absorbed the words on each page. More than two decades ago, the Clark family's little girl vanished after being snatched by traffickers just outside their front door. That moment shattered a once-celebrated family, sending them into a downward spiral they never escaped. Her mother, Stacey Clark, lost her grip on reality, and madness consumed her. Her father, Jordy Clark, fell ill soon after, his health failing until there was no hope left. Brad Clark, the oldest brother and a gifted pianist, abandoned his dreams and humbled himself into a wealthy marriage—all for the sake of buying medicine for their parents. Kaden Clark, the second brother, was once the star of the police department. He was framed, arrested, and sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Jacob Clark, the youngest, turned to the city's underbelly, desperate to clear Kaden's name and track down his missing sister. His efforts only left him battered and powerless, kicked around by anyone with the slightest authority. Even as the family lost almost everything, they still scraped together every cent they could, never giving up the search for Nadine—even pouring millions into what everyone else called a hopeless cause. Nadine's hands shook as she reached the end of the file. The anger that had fueled her for years crumbled in an instant. She hadn't been abandoned at all. There had always been someone longing for her return. A rustling sound drew her attention—the taller man, battered and bleeding, struggled to his feet. He froze when he caught sight of Nadine, recognition dawning beneath the blood and grime. Then, half stumbling, half running, he reached for her. "Nadine! Is it really you? I'm Jacob, your brother!" Stunned, Nadine repeated, "Jacob?" Jacob nodded frantically, voice thick with emotion. "It's me! We never stopped searching for you. I can't believe you're finally home!"

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.