Chapter 1

My adoptive father, Aaron Lind, owns a gym. He has always lived by one rule and taught me the same. "If you stand on the side of reason and justice, you'll never lose."

When I turn 18, my biological parents, Cedric Mercer and Katherine Vane, appear at my doorstep. They claim that I am the long-lost heiress of the Mercer family.

Those who practice martial arts value gratitude above all else. One must never forget the debt owed to those who gave them life. Hence, I carry Pops' old canvas bag and head to the Mercer residence.

Their adopted daughter, Lyra Mercer, rises from the couch with a sweet smile. "Kendra, you must be tired after such a long journey."

I lift my canvas bag. "I got this."

The butler, Harrison Reyes, leads me upstairs.

…

An hour later, I come downstairs to find Lyra leaning against Katherine's shoulder, weeping. A clear handprint marks her face.

When she sees me, she shrinks back. "Why did you slap me, Kendra?"

All eyes in the room lock onto me like daggers.

I walk toward her and raise my hand. The very next second, a sharp gust of wind sweeps through the room, and everyone's expressions change.

My hand stops just inches from her face. I spread my fingers, holding them right next to the handprint on her cheek.

Ten years of training have hardened my knuckles with calluses. My hand is a full size larger than the imprint left on her cheek.

"Does my hand match the mark on your face?"

The fingers she's using to cover her face curl inward.

"If you can't bring yourself to slap yourself properly, get someone else to help you next time." I dust off my hands nonchalantly. "When you're done with your performance, remember to call me for dinner."

Chapter 1

My older brother, Callum Mercer, lowered the wet towel in his hand. Water dripped onto the marble floor. He looked down, not at the floor, but to avoid looking at Lyra Mercer.

My mother, Katherine Vane, was rooted to the spot. Her lips parted and closed. Then, she chased after me. "Dinner isn't ready yet. Why don't you go rest in your room first?"

Her voice was noticeably gentler than it had been just a moment ago.

Harrison Reyes, the butler, took one look at Katherine's expression before guiding me upstairs.

He led me to a room at the end of the hallway that faced north, with thin curtains and an empty wardrobe. The mattress was unmade, and in the corner, a water stain snaked down the wall from the ceiling to the baseboard.

As we walked down the hall, a young housekeeper walked past us with a tray. Harrison lowered his voice and said, "Ms. Lyra said this room is quiet and suits her best."

I rummaged through my canvas bag. I had two T-shirts, a pair of jeans, and a pair of canvas sneakers.

Reaching deep into the bottom of my bag, my fingers closed around a voice recorder. My adopted father, Aaron Lind, had slipped it into my bag before I left. He had warned me that city folks were full of schemes, so it was best to keep my guard up.

…

Later that evening, the whole family was seated around the table for dinner.

My father, Cedric Mercer, sat at the head of the table. Katherine sat beside him. Callum sat next to Lyra, while I was seated at the opposite end of the long dining table.

Lyra stood up to ladle soup and serve dishes with practiced ease. Carrying a bowl, she made her way around nearly the entire table before setting it down in front of me. "Have some, Kendra. It's good for your stomach."

I picked up my spoon.

"Can you eat a little more quietly?" Callum asked.

"I haven't even taken a bite."

"I'm telling you in advance. We have rules here." He glanced at my old T-shirt. "I couldn't care less about how you dined in your hometown. However, don't you dare embarrass us here."

Lyra set her cutlery down. "Kendra's only just returned, Callum. Give her some time to adjust."

I looked at Lyra. "So what you're saying is… I do smack my lips when I eat. I was just unaware of it, right?"

Forcing a smile, she responded, "That's not what I meant."

"In that case, did you hear it clearly? Did I smack my lips or not?"

"I wasn't paying attention."

"If you weren't paying attention, why did you concede for me?" I set my spoon down. "Next time, make sure you listen carefully before you pick a side. If you didn't hear it with your own ears and still assume I'm at fault, that's not kindness. That's slander."

Silence settled over the dining table.

Katherine hurriedly played peacemaker. "The food's getting cold. Come on, eat up." Her cutlery had been resting on her plate the entire time, and she hadn't taken a single bite.

Cedric didn't look up. Yet, his movement slowed, and he wasn't considering what to eat next.

Callum stared at me for a couple of seconds before lowering his head. His cutlery scraped softly against his plate.

Lyra lowered her head as well, her lashes glistening with unshed tears. I didn't spare her another glance.

…

I returned to my room, and my phone lit up.

Pops: "Have you had dinner, Kendy?"

I replied with a simple. "Yeah." I didn't tell him anything else.

Just then, a housekeeper knocked on my door, informing me that someone from the Gray family had arrived—Caspian Gray.

The marriage alliance our two families had arranged had always been intended for the heiress of the Mercer family. Now, that burden had landed on my shoulders.

He took one look at my old T-shirt, his gaze lingering on my canvas shoes for a split second. "This is what you're wearing?"

He turned to Katherine. "I've discussed this with my father, Mrs. Mercer. Let's put our marriage alliance on hold for now."

Leaning back against the couch, I responded, "Sure. Let's put it on hold."

He was caught off guard. "Is that all you have to say?"

"You've already made up your mind. What else am I supposed to say? Besides, you came here to notify me, not to discuss it with me."

"Watch your attitude."

"You're the one calling off our engagement, yet you expect me to have a good attitude? Do I need to brew you a cup of coffee as well?"

His expression hardened, and he turned to leave. His leather shoes clicked sharply and hurriedly against the marble floor.

Lyra chased after him. The door was left ajar, and her voice drifted in. "Don't be angry, Cas. Kendra just has a sharp tongue."

I poured myself a glass of water. Caspian's cup remained pristine and untouched, so I slid it to the other end of the table.

Callum leaned against the doorframe of the living room. He hadn't gone out to see Caspian off. Gazing at me, he twirled his phone in his hand. "You think you're really good with words, don't you?"

I took a sip of my water. "Stop beating around the bush."

"Caspian's the sole heir of the Gray family. Watch how you talk to him. Do you think this engagement was arranged for your sake? It was for the sake of our family. You were absent from this household for 18 years. Don't ruin everything the moment you return."

I set my glass down, meeting his gaze. "So what you're saying is… when he called off our engagement, I should stand up, raise a toast, and thank him for gracing me with his presence?"

His expression darkened, and he turned to leave. His slippers scraped sharply against the marble floor.

…

That night, I called Pops.

"Kendy! How are things going? Did anyone give you a hard time?

"I'm fine. Your daughter isn't someone who can be pushed around."

"That's good to hear." He paused before continuing, "Remember, as long as you're in the right, you won't lose. And if you ever run into something you can't get through… your old man has connections!"

After wrapping up the call, I placed the voice recorder beneath my pillow. Beyond the window, the night in Neovita was as quiet as a pool of stagnant water.

Chapter 2

The next morning at breakfast, Lyra poured me a glass of milk. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Kendra, could you not practice boxing at home?"

She paused before lowering her voice, her tone gentle and considerate. "The housekeepers told me they were a little scared. They're worried that one of these days you might lose control and hurt someone."

"I was only practicing my stance yesterday. I didn't make a sound."

"I know, but accidents happen."

"Which housekeeper told you that?"

Lyra was stumped.

"Call them over so I can clarify." I took a sip of milk. "I believe everything you say, but I still need to know who it was."

"I don't know exactly who it was either. Someone just mentioned it in passing."

I set my glass down. "No one mentioned it. In other words, you made it up."

Her eyelashes trembled slightly.

"You want everyone in this household to think that people who practice martial arts have violent tendencies."

"That's not what I—"

"Why don't you just ask me point-blank—Kendra, are you going to hit me in the future?"

Lyra was at a loss for words.

"I won't." I rose from my seat. "But if you keep making things up like this, I can't be so sure."

Callum was beside us, sipping on his coffee. His hand froze in midair, and for the first time, he didn't chime in.

Katherine emerged from the kitchen, her apron still tied around her waist. She had heard the last of our conversation, and her movements faltered.

She took one look at Lyra, who had her head lowered, her lashes casting shadows over her eyes. Katherine didn't walk over to her. In the past, she would've rushed to her defense.

…

In the afternoon, as I walked past the living room, I found Lyra on the phone with her back to the hallway. "Kendra didn't mean to upset you yesterday, Cas. She grew up in a small town and doesn't know any better. So, please don't hold it against her."

Caspian's voice leaked through the receiver. "She feels wronged? What right does she have to feel wronged?"

"Kendra was brought up elsewhere, so her perspective's different—"

I walked up behind her.

Catching sight of me in her peripheral vision, she hung up the phone.

I placed my voice recorder on the coffee table. "Go on. I didn't catch all of it."

Looking at the recorder, the blood drained from her lips. "You recorded me?"

"You were speaking up for me. In that case, why would you be afraid?"

Without saying a word, she spun on her heel and headed upstairs. Her pace was twice as fast as usual.

I slipped the voice recorder back into my pocket.

Callum stood at the entrance to the kitchen with a glass of water. It was full. I had no idea how long he had been standing there.

He looked at the staircase, where Lyra's figure had just disappeared around the corner. Then, he shifted his gaze toward me.

Neither of us said a word. He carried his glass of water back to the living room without taking a single sip.

…

The following evening, Caspian paid us another visit. He came carrying a shopping bag—a limited-edition handbag for Lyra.

"Thank you, Cas!" Lyra accepted the bag and lowered her head. "Don't do this. Kendra's still here."

He stuffed the bag into Lyra's hands. "I'm giving you a gift. What does that have to do with her?"

Reaching into the fruit bowl on the coffee table, I picked up an apple and bit into it. "It has nothing to do with me. However, you called off our engagement yesterday, and in less than 24 hours, you're back to give my sister a gift. It seems like you're way more interested in this household than I am."

His expression stiffened.

"You're the one who called off our engagement, yet you're also the one who keeps coming here. Do you want to call off our engagement, or do you want to be engaged to someone else?"

Mortified, his face flushed crimson before turning pale. He picked up the bag and left, his leather shoes striking against the floor even faster than before.

Lyra chased after him before stopping in her tracks and turning to look at me. The look in her eyes was rather strange; she wasn't hurt or aggrieved. In fact, she smiled at me. "Kendra, is your apple sweet?"

"It's alright."

"In that case, you should eat a few more." She took two steps toward the stairs before turning around. "After all, there isn't much in this house that you can just take whenever you want."

With that, she went upstairs.

…

A couple of days later, Katherine dropped by my room. Cedric was hosting a grand banquet for his 50th birthday, and he planned to use the occasion to formally introduce me to his connections in Neovita.

A housekeeper delivered a custom-made gown for the event. It was purple and made of good material.

I tried it on. The inner seam of the skirt had its stitching removed, and the fabric had split open. If one didn't look closely, they wouldn't notice it. Yet, after putting it on and taking a few steps, it would tear apart.

I folded the gown and placed it back in the wardrobe.

Footsteps sounded from outside the door. Lyra poked half her body into the room, smiling sweetly. "Kendra, how's the fit on the gown?"

"It's alright."

"That's good to hear." She beamed at me. "Don't be late three days from now."

Her light, cheerful footsteps faded into the distance.

…

Late that night, I went downstairs to grab a glass of water and noticed the kitchen light was on. There were two people inside.

Lyra had her back to the entrance, and a housekeeper stood across from her. It was the one who had shown me around the first day I arrived.

"Plant this under her pillow on the night of the banquet. Once it's found, you don't have to make a sound. All you have to do is hang your head and stand here."

The housekeeper hesitated for a moment. "Ms. Lyra, if I get caught—"

"You won't." Lyra unlocked her phone and showed it to them. "Even if you do get caught… who do you think Dad is going to believe? You or me? Once the dust has settled, you'll get this much. It'll cover two years of your son's tuition. If you refuse, I'll replace you tomorrow."

The housekeeper fell silent.

I took a step back into the shadows of the unlit staircase. My voice recorder was in the pocket of my pajama pants, its red light glowing in the dark. Without making a trip to the kitchen, I headed back to my room and called Pops.

"Pops, do you have someone dependable over here in Neovita—"

"I do," he cut me off. "Your senior. He runs a security firm in Neovita named Bedrock Security. He handles most of the security for banquets in the capital. I'll have him reach out to you."

"My senior?"

"The kid who lived in the gym for five years. He even held you when you were little." He paused before inquiring, "Did something happen, Kendy?"

"Not yet, but it'll happen soon."

"Save his contact for now. It's up to you whether you call him or not, but you need to let them know you're not alone. By the way, Kaden's son is also in Neovita. You two should meet up when you have time."

In no time, I received a friend request from Bedrock Security, Hayden Brown.

Chapter 3

Cedric's 50th birthday banquet was held in the grand hall of the Mercer residence.

I didn't touch that gown. Instead, I dug out my own old clothes—an old dress—from my canvas bag. Then, I went downstairs.

The main hall was filled with guests. Dressed in a custom navy-blue gown, Lyra accompanied Cedric as he walked around to exchange toasts with the guests. She was a sweet talker, and she managed to make several of the ladies laugh.

Spotting me descend the stairs, she walked over with a champagne flute before sizing me up. "Kendra, didn't we have a new gown made for you?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for the guests nearby to hear. "Why did you wear this? Are you just not used to dressing properly, or do you simply not know how to wear it?"

The two ladies beside her exchanged a look.

Callum squeezed his way through the crowd. He glanced at the old dress I was wearing, and his expression instantly darkened. "Where's your new gown? The housekeeper said she had delivered it to your room."

"It doesn't fit."

"It doesn't fit? It was custom-made." He stared at me. "Don't you know what occasion this is? It's Dad's 50th birthday. How could you stand in the middle of the hall dressed like this? All our guests are watching!"

Lyra sighed beside him. "That's enough, Callum. Kendra probably just isn't used to these kinds of occasions—"

I spun around and headed upstairs. When I came back down, I was holding that gown in my hands.

I unfolded it in front of everyone. Under the chandelier light, the stitching along the inner skirt had been neatly unpicked. The tear started from the seam and ripped upward. With the slightest tug, it gaped open six inches wide.

"Custom-made." I tossed the gown onto the coffee table. "Care to guess who unstitched it?"

Callum gaped at the tear. His lips parted, but he couldn't find his voice.

Lyra's expression stiffened for a split second. "Kendra, this might just be—"

"This might just be my own doing?" I gazed at her. "I unstitched my brand-new gown just so I could wear my old raggy clothes to the banquet. What, am I out of my mind?"

Silence fell over the hall. Several guests clutched their wine glasses, staring at the gown on the coffee table. The tear was facing straight up.

Cedric finally turned around. He glanced at the gown and me before motioning for Harrison over. "Take the gown away."

Then, he pulled me aside and said lowly, "Stay out of sight and find a seat in the corner. Once I cut the cake, I'll send someone for you."

Having said his piece, he turned on his heel to greet a real estate tycoon. Lyra followed him, raising her wine glass.

No one paid any more mind to the gown on the coffee table. I found a corner and stood there.

Clutching a glass of red wine, a middle-aged man patted Cedric on the shoulder. "Cedric, your daughter really is something else. She carries herself well," he commented, pointing at Lyra.

Cedric's hand froze in midair, but he didn't correct him. I slowly swirled my wine glass.

Halfway through the banquet, a housekeeper rushed in and whispered something into Katherine's ear. The latter's expression shifted drastically.

"T-The watch." The housekeeper's voice trembled. "The antique watch in Ms. Lyra's room is missing. It's the one Mr. Mercer gifted her at her coming-of-age ceremony."

Lyra rose to her feet, color draining from her face. "No way… I saw it just this morning."

Harrison led a search around the house. Ultimately, the watch was found beneath my pillow.

Harrison placed the watch on the coffee table. All eyes in the grand hall pierced right through me, similar to the situation on my very first day here.

Lyra stood beside Katherine, her voice trembling. "Mom, it couldn't have been Kendra. She was probably just curious and wanted to take a look."

Callum frowned. "We have plenty of these things at home. Couldn't she have the decency to ask first?"

Cedric remained silent. Katherine appeared hesitant, as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't.

Caspian stood among the crowd, holding a glass of red wine. He took one look at the watch on the coffee table before shifting his attention to me. Then, he turned his head slightly and smiled at the male guest beside him. "Well, what did I tell you?"

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. The very next second, I set my voice recorder on the coffee table and pressed play.