Chapter 1

Everyone said I hit the jackpot.

I was an orphan, yet the Vance family picked me out at a glance and took me in as their foster daughter.

From then on, I was treated like royalty, just like Brittany Vance, the Vance family's true eldest daughter. We had the same lavish lifestyle, the same upbringing, the same everything.

After a big family dinner on a holiday evening, my adoptive mother, Eleanor Vance, smiled and presented a box, asking us to draw slips.

“There are two slips here. One says ‘Study Abroad.’ If you draw it, you'll go overseas for further education and eventually take over the family business.”

“The other says ‘Stay Home.’ If you draw that, you'll stay here with me.”

Brittany was absolutely confident. As a Vance by blood, it was only natural for her to study abroad and inherit the family.

And I, the foster daughter, was meant to be a convenient pawn, staying by her mother's side, serving tea and water, keeping her amused.

I thought so too.

But to my surprise, I drew the "Study Abroad" slip.

Brittany's face instantly contorted, and she shrieked, insulting me.

“Did you cheat?! Everything in the Vance family is mine! You illegitimate mongrel, who knows where you came from, how dare you even think of inheriting the family business?!”

“Mom, are you really going to let an outsider steal my life?!”

Normally, whenever Brittany threw a fit, Eleanor would compromise, giving her whatever she wanted, even my parents' keepsakes.

This time, however, Eleanor's face was devoid of expression as she slapped the screaming Brittany hard across the face.

“Rules are rules. Whoever draws it, gets it.”

“From now on, the Vance family business will be inherited by Alice.”