Chapter 1

Thirty-two years ago, my mother dragged the young heir of the Sterling family out of a crushed car during a violent landslide in the pouring rain.

Because of his rare blood type, she donated eight hundred milliliters of her own blood to save him.

Right after that night, she collapsed with a raging fever and stayed in a coma for three days.

When she finally woke up, the Sterlings' thank-you letter was gone. The jade heirloom they left for her was gone.

Even the identity of his savior had been stolen—claimed by her closest hometown friend, Brenda Yates.

Brenda rode that stolen sacrifice straight into high society, marrying into the Sterling family and becoming the revered Mrs. Sterling.

My mother, on the other hand, was branded a shameless gold-digger. She was fired from the hospital and spent the rest of her life harassed and called a fraud by everyone around her.

On her deathbed, she gripped my hand with the last of her strength. "Vivian... Mom never lied."

Thirty-two years later, I became the wife of the chairman of the Foster Corporation.

When my daughter brought her boyfriend home for the first time, he carried himself with polished, old-money elegance. The gift he proudly presented was the Sterlings' ancestral jade pendant.

Looking at the jade that rightfully belonged to my mother, I smiled coldly.

"You want to marry my daughter?"

"Tell your grandmother to give back the stolen life first."

"Mom, this is Julian Sterling."

When Pearl Foster walked through the door holding his arm, her cheeks flushed with a shy glow I hadn't seen in a long time.

I sat on the main sofa in the living room and looked up at him.

Julian wore a tailored light-gray suit. He was handsome, polite, and refined.

If his last name hadn't been Sterling, and if he hadn't been holding that velvet box, I would have gently asked Pearl how long they had been dating and if they truly loved each other.

But the moment the velvet box snapped open, my fingers curled tight against my palm.

Inside lay an intricately carved jade fish pendant.

White jade, with a tiny, faint hairline fracture near the tail.

I had seen it before.

More times than I could count.

My mother had sketched it secretly in her notebook over and over when she was young.

She told me it was the gift Old Mrs. Sterling personally gave her.

"She told me it was the Sterling family heirloom, a token of protection. She said I saved their boy, so I deserved to have it."

"But when I woke up, it was gone."

"Everyone said I hallucinated the whole thing."

Julian pushed the box slightly toward me, his voice smooth and cultured.

"Mrs. Foster, this is a gift my grandmother insisted I bring. She said since Pearl will eventually join the Sterling family, she should first receive our family's blessing and recognition."

Pearl's expression faltered. She tugged at Julian's sleeve.

"Julian, what are you talking about? Today is just a casual introduction. We're nowhere near that stage yet."

Julian chuckled softly. He didn't look at her; his eyes stayed locked on me.

"Pearl is pure-hearted. She doesn't understand how the real world works. But marriage isn't just between two people. It's an alliance between two powerful families."

"The Sterlings might not have expanded as aggressively as the Foster Group in recent years, but our roots in this city run deep. Our social circle, heritage, and prestige are unmatched."

He paused. His tone remained impeccably polite, but the condescension oozing from his words was unmistakable.

"Mrs. Foster, I'm sure you understand."

I picked up my tea and took a slow, deliberate sip.

"Understand what?"

Julian's smile widened.

"You understand that the Foster family needs the Sterling name."

"The Foster Group has grown too fast lately. Too many predators are watching. And while you've been married to Mr. Foster for years, you weren't born into high society yourself. If Pearl marries into our family, it will solidify your own standing within the Foster empire."

Pearl's face went completely pale.

"Julian Sterling!"

Julian finally glanced at her, offering a patronizing look as if appeasing a throwing-a-tantrum child.

"I'm only stating facts."

The room fell dead silent. You could hear a pin drop.

I set the teacup down on the saucer with a quiet click.

"Mr. Sterling."

"First, Pearl's last name is Foster. She doesn't need to marry into any family to validate her worth."

"Second, my standing in my own household isn't yours to protect or question."

"Third."

I looked straight at the pendant in front of him and gave a flat smile.

"Take this garbage back."

The smile froze on Julian's face.

"Do you not like it, Mrs. Foster?"

"It's not about liking it."

I met his gaze, cold and unflinching. "It's just too dirty."