Chapter 1

My dad was a con artist. A genius who could forge art so perfectly that even the world’s top appraisers were fooled.

He used that genius to trick my mother and completely drain the Vance family’s three-generation art collection.

My grandfather died of a broken heart in his own ransacked art vault.

After the scandal broke, my dad fled with the money.

He left behind my mother, whose reputation was ruined and whose mind was completely shattered.

Eventually, he was caught overseas. And I, as his only flesh and blood, was sent back to the Vance family.

The sky was a dull gray. A female police officer, Officer Davis, held my hand as we stood before a pair of heavy, dark oak doors.

"Chloe, we’re here." She knelt down, straightening my slightly messy collar. "Be on your best behavior when you see your mom, okay?"

I nodded, my heart pounding wildly.

For as long as I could remember, I had only seen my mother in a single photograph.

In that picture, she had a warm, gentle smile.

I had traced her face in that photo countless times, imagining our first meeting. I imagined her holding me tight and whispering my name softly, just like in the picture.

The front door was slightly ajar, and the faint, melancholic sound of a piano drifted out.

Officer Davis knocked, and the music abruptly stopped.

The heavy oak door creaked open, slowly revealing a sliver of the inside.

A woman stood in the shadows. Her long hair was messy, obscuring half her face.

Her eyes locked onto me. They weren't warm or gentle like in the photograph.

"Ms. Vance, we’ve brought your daughter back," Officer Davis said softly. "This is Chloe."

I instinctively gripped the officer’s sleeve but managed to whisper, "Mom..."

Before the word could fully leave my mouth, a tall figure stepped forward, blocking my view of her.

"Officer Davis," the man said, nodding politely but with sharp, piercing eyes. His gaze swept over me, pausing for a cold second. "I’ll take custody from here."

Officer Davis looked conflicted. She looked down at me, then back toward the shadow. "Ms. Vance... don't you want to say something to your daughter?"

Evelyn peeked out from behind the man’s shoulder. She took one look at me and immediately averted her eyes. "Can... can I choose not to take her?"

She didn't want me?

Tears welled in my eyes. I bit my lip hard, staring at her.

Officer Davis sighed helplessly. "Legally, you are her only remaining guardian..."

"But I don't want her!" Evelyn suddenly screamed hysterically. Her body shook violently as she clutched her head and stumbled backward. "I can't look at her! Make her leave! Get her away from me!"

The man’s brow furrowed in deep disgust as he glared at me. "That monster already ruined my sister! Now you want her to face this child every day? Are you trying to kill her?"

I flinched, trembling from head to toe.

He took a deep breath, softening his tone slightly. "We will raise the child. But please understand, my sister is in no mental state to handle this right now."

Officer Davis was silent for a long time. Finally, she patted my head. "Chloe, you have to listen to Charles from now on."

I nodded numbly. I couldn't stop the tears from falling, wetting the back of Officer Davis's hand.