Chapter 1 Adoption

"Where are we going, Marian?" Three-and-a-half-year-old Yvonne asked, her little legs struggling to keep up with Marian's long strides.

It was six in the morning, and the orphanage was quiet, like everyone was still asleep.

But not these two—already dressed and heading straight for the farthest corner of the orphanage.

A few minutes later, Yvonne came to a stop, glancing back at the orphanage with uncertainty written all over her face. "Marian, I wanna go back. Mrs. Harrison said Mr. Yates is coming today to take me home."

Marian, who'd been walking ahead, slowed and turned to look at Yvonne. She gently grabbed the little girl's hand, her eyes soft as she gazed at Yvonne's innocent, worried expression.

But there was something darker in her gaze—something far beyond her years. "Didn't you say you lost your necklace? It's in that little shed up ahead. I'll help you find it."

Yvonne hesitated, but Marian wasn't having it. Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Yvonne's hand and tugged her forward.

She urged, "Come on, that necklace... it was from your real parents, right? And Mr. Yates loves you. He'll wait. He's not going anywhere."

Before Yvonne could protest, she was being practically dragged toward the shed.

The shed was pitch black. When the door creaked open, a cloud of dust exploded into the air, making it almost impossible to see.

Yvonne wrinkled her nose at the musty smell, clearly uncomfortable. She looked over her shoulder, still unsure. "Marian, are you sure my necklace is in here?"

Marian didn't answer. Instead, she shoved Yvonne into the shed without warning, making her stumble forward.

"Marian!" Yvonne hit the ground hard, her big eyes wide with disbelief as she watched the door slam shut in front of her.

Scrambling to her feet, Yvonne pounded on the door and screamed, "Marian, please, let me out! Mr. Yates is coming to take me home today!"

Outside, Marian expressionlessly locked the door, ignoring the frantic cries, and walked away without a second thought.

A little while later, Marian checked her pocket. She felt something hard in there.

When she pulled it out, it was a purple necklace. The gems were perfectly cut, sparkling like stars in the night sky.

Even Marian, who wasn't the sentimental type, could tell this thing was way more than just a random piece of jewelry.

She shoved it back into her pocket and, by the time she made it to the playground, the sky was fully lit up.

A couple of volunteers were hanging out in the corner, gossiping and whispering.

"Yvonne's so damn lucky, huh? The Yates family isn't just rich—they actually seem like decent people."

"Yeah, she's gonna be a Yates princess now."

"Hey, go grab Yvonne. She needs to get ready."

Marian clenched her teeth as she listened to their chatter.

Her gaze locked onto the man standing next to the headmistress, all polished and sharp in his suit. That was Robert Yates, the richest guy in Blorence City.

'This time? It's my turn to be the Yates family's princess,' Marian thought bitterly.

*****

Meanwhile, locked in the shed, Yvonne cried for what felt like hours, shouting for help, but the place was too isolated, no one could hear her.

Eventually, she noticed a small window—old and cracked, covered in cobwebs, and way too high up.

Yvonne climbed up a pile of firewood, slipping and falling so many times it was like the universe was messing with her. But after what felt like forever, she finally made it to the window.

The spiders in the shed were hanging out like they owned the place—big, bulky, green things, surrounded by the remains of bugs they'd caught.

Yvonne's eyes were puffy from crying, her little hand covered in dust as she clung to the window frame. Her other hand kept wiping at her face, making it worse as the dirt smeared everywhere.

One of the spiders, as if it actually had a soul, moved aside, giving her a clear path.

Through her sniffles, Yvonne hiccupped and whispered to the spider, "You're a good bug... thanks..."

She finally made it to the window, but when she looked down at the dizzying drop below, her heart stopped. The ground seemed so far away.

Then, her cry broke out even louder. 'Waaaaah! It's so high! Am I gonna die if I climb back down?!'

Yvonne had a messy spiderweb in her hair, her face streaked with a mix of black and white marks.

Her big eyes were bloodshot, making her look extra pitiful. She stared at the orphanage building from a distance, her lips pressed tightly together.

Today, Robert Yates was supposed to come and take her home, just like the headmistress Dani Harrison had told her yesterday.

Thinking about it, the little one wiped her tears away roughly, covered her face, and bravely jumped down.

Sure enough, a sharp pain shot through her hands and knees as soon as she hit the ground. Once she was able to move again, Yvonne gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand.

'The sun's already high in the sky. Mr. Yeats's gotta be here by now. I can't waste any more time. I need to get back,' she silently told herself, pumping herself up.

The cuts on her soft, pale palms were glaringly obvious, and blood ran down her legs, dripping onto the ground.

Yvonne, focused on walking, didn't notice the grass turning greener beneath her. The blades that touched her blood seemed to grow faster, almost like they were on fast-forward.

After a long walk, one of the volunteers finally spotted her.

The volunteer dropped what she was holding, eyes wide, and rushed over. "Oh my god! Yvonne, what happened to you?!"

Yvonne looked up, her swollen eyes looking scary. When she saw the familiar volunteer, her nose tingled, and she almost cried but held it back.

She whispered, "Miss, where's Mr. Yeats? Is he waiting for me?"

The volunteer froze for a second, staring at Yvonne's red eyes in disbelief. "Yvonne, didn't you say you didn't wanna go to the Yates family?"

At those words, Yvonne burst into tears, wiping her face with her little hand, only to smear blood all over it, making her look even more pitiful. "I didn't! I never said that!"

"But Marian said you didn't wanna go to the new family, so you hid, hoping your real parents would come get you."

Hearing that, Yvonne stopped crying suddenly. She looked up, her big red eyes filled with confusion and hurt, shaking her head wildly. "I didn't! I didn't..."

She was actually pretty willing to go to the Yates family.

Yvonne stepped around the volunteer and headed toward the director's office. "I need to talk to Mr. Yeats and tell him I'm ready to go..."

She barely took two steps before a pair of strong arms scooped her up off the ground.

The volunteer hesitated for a moment, clearly struggling, before she finally sighed and said, "Yvonne, don't go. Mr. Yates already adopted Marian. They left a while ago."

Yvonne froze, slowly turning her head. Her lips trembled, but the tears stopped falling.

After that, everything went blank. The only thing she remembered was hearing the volunteer's panicked voice right before everything went dark. "Oh no! Yvonne!"

Later, in the evening, Yvonne slowly blinked her eyes open, rubbing them out of instinct.

A weird sensation spread through her, and when she looked down, she saw her hands wrapped up like a little burrito. She froze, totally confused.

Just then, the door opened, and a bunch of kids burst in, all chattering at once.

"Okay, okay, go play outside. Don't bother Yvonne while she's resting." The director's voice cut through the noise, and the kids reluctantly filed out.

The room went quiet again as Dani shut the door and sat down beside the bed.

Her face was full of worry. "Yvonne, what happened this morning? Where did you go? You promised me last night you were going to the Yates family. What happened? Why'd you change your mind?"

At those words, Yvonne's eyes welled up again. Her voice was shaky and hoarse, "I didn't... I didn't not want to go!"

She felt completely crushed. As she spoke, she threw herself into Dani's arms, crying. "It was Marian! Marian locked me up! Mrs. Harrison, it was Marian!"

She was so upset she soaked Dani's shirt with her tears.

"She's so mean!" The poor little thing was desperate to spill everything she knew, but at only three years old, her words were jumbled and unclear.

Dani could barely make out a few words: morning, woodshed, locked door, big spider...

Gently patting Yvonne's back, she felt a surge of conflicting emotions.

But Marian was just three too. Dani couldn't believe that she really had done something like that. The whole thing seemed way too complicated for a little kid.

Earlier this morning, Marian had said it was Yvonne who secretly told her she didn't want to be adopted by the Yates family, so Marian had hidden away to keep her from going.

They were just three-year-olds. Dani was completely torn, not knowing who to believe.

She quietly listened to Yvonne's sobs, wiped her tears with a tissue, and whispered, "Sweetie, don't talk about this for now. Let me figure things out, okay?"

Yvonne looked up, her face flushed from crying, shocked and hurt. "You... you don't believe me?!"

"I do believe you," Dani said softly. "I know you're a good girl, Yvonne. You don't lie."

Dani tried to wipe her tears, but Yvonne stubbornly turned away. Tears fell like a broken string of pearls, and her voice cracked with emotion. "You're lying! You don't believe me!"

Dani shook her head. "Marian's strong-willed, sure, but I don't think she would hurt anyone. You two have both been with me since you were babies. I need to figure this out before I make a decision."

At those words, Yvonne snapped. She suddenly pulled away from the director, wrapped herself in a blanket, and curled up on the bed, leaving only an angry little back facing her.

"You're so biased! You always pick Marian!" she shouted.

"Hey, be careful with your injury," Dani warned, her voice laced with concern.

Yvonne, still fuming, clenched her hurt hand into a fist. It hurt so much her face turned pale, but she stubbornly snapped, "I don't care! You just care about Marian!"

"No, I just—"

Just then, there was a knock at the door. A volunteer came in, looking anxious. "Mrs. Harrison, there's a call for you. Someone wants to discuss adopting a child."

Chapter 2 Strange Boy

Yvonne lay in bed, sulking, barely touching her dinner. By morning, hunger was what finally dragged her out of bed.

It was 5:30 AM, and while the other kids her age were still deep in dreamland, Yvonne, clutching her growling stomach, struggled to sit up.

Hunger hit her like a wave, and she felt dizzy as she tried to get up. The world around her seemed to blur, like everything was covered in a fog.

She stumbled her way to the kitchen, leaning on the walls for support. The cook, seeing her struggle, handed her a boiled egg with a sympathetic smile.

Yvonne sat down on the doorstep, carefully cradling the egg, taking slow, cautious bites of her simple breakfast.

When the egg settled in her stomach, the emptiness finally started to fade, and she stood up, ready to head back to her room.

But as she passed the backyard, she noticed a strange boy swinging a stick at the big yellow dog, Bucky, who was tied to a tree.

Yvonne's face instantly turned pale. Without thinking, she rushed over, her voice filled with panic. "Hey! Don't hit Bucky!"

Jeremy Adler, hearing the shout, turned around, confused. He saw Yvonne protecting the dog, looking at him like he was the bad guy, her face full of fear.

"I'm hitting it?" Jeremy's voice was rough, still cracking from his voice change, but an irritated smile tugged at his lips.

"That dog started it! It's been barking at me non-stop." He let out a half-laugh, clearly amused by her sudden accusation.

Yvonne didn't respond, just pressed her lips together tightly and stared at the stick in his hand, clearly not buying his explanation.

Jeremy, sensing her suspicion, casually tossed the stick aside with a scoff. "I wasn't hitting it, okay? I was just trying to scare it, get it to shut up."

Yvonne blinked at him for a second, then just muttered, "Fine."

That single "fine" left Jeremy feeling weirdly deflated, like someone had just knocked the wind out of him with a pillow.

He sighed, frustrated. 'What's the point of explaining to a kid? She's not going to get it anyway.'

Meanwhile, Bucky, sensing Yvonne's affection, eagerly wriggled into her arms, wagging his tail like it might take off.

It was a complete 180 from how he'd acted toward Jeremy, who had been met with a growl when he tried to pet him earlier.

But Jeremy wasn't about to admit he felt weird about the whole dog situation. He just crossed his arms and leaned back, acting like he couldn't care less.

Yvonne leaned in close to Bucky's ear, muttering something softly to him. The dog, now calm, tilted his head as if he actually understood her.

Jeremy was about to turn and walk away, not caring about their little interaction, when a sharp voice cut through the air. "Hey."

He turned around and saw Yvonne looking up at him with her soft, fair face, her big, sparkling eyes locked on his, unblinking.

She innocently asked, "You wanna pet the dog again?"

Jeremy froze for a second, caught off guard. He didn't respond right away, and then she went on, "Bucky had puppies, and he's a little scared of you. You still wanna pet him? I can hold him for you."

To him, Bucky was just a plain-looking mutt. Jeremy had seen more purebred dogs than he could count, so he really didn't care.

But for some weird reason, his feet wouldn't move. Before he knew it, his body had already crouched down next to the dog without even thinking.

He put his hand on the dog's head and scratched it gently. Honestly, it didn't feel like much—nothing compared to the soft, fluffy fur of a Samoyed.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yvonne holding the dog, and when he noticed the faint red in her eyes, he absentmindedly asked, "What's wrong with you?"

She looked up at him, and he shrugged, pretending he didn't care. "If you don't wanna talk about it, whatever. I was just wondering why you're crying so early."

Yvonne pouted, looking like she was about to break down. Thinking about what happened yesterday made her heart ache.

"No-nobody wants me..." she whispered, her voice cracking as she choked out the words.

Her small body trembled slightly, and all he could see was the top of her messy head, making her look even more lost and lonely.

Her soft, broken voice made his chest tighten.

He mumbled, "How could no one want you? You're... well..." He almost said "pretty," but the words stuck in his throat.

Jeremy wasn't exactly the best at giving compliments, and that word just didn't feel right coming out of his mouth.

After a long pause, he finally spit out, "Average."

Yvonne wiped her tears away, her eyes still full of confusion. "Are you complimenting me?"

Jeremy shot her a cold look and nodded stiffly, "Yeah, I'm complimenting you."

Her face lit up, and she, following the rule of "you scratch my back, I scratch yours," threw the same words right back at him. "Thanks! You're average too!"

Looking at her innocent, happy face, Jeremy finally understood what it felt like to put your foot in your mouth.

His handsome face darkened instantly, and he fell silent, fuming inside.

Yvonne, thinking he'd had enough of the dog, let go of Bucky and stood up. "I'm gonna go back to sleep. Bucky knows you now. You can pet him by yourself. Bye."

Jeremy snapped out of his thoughts and watched her run off. For some reason, he found himself calling out, "Wait a second."

He bit his lip and hesitated for a moment, looking at her red-rimmed eyes and pale face. Then, he asked, "What's your name?"

*****

In Dani's office, a man in a suit was flipping through papers on the desk. The photos passed by quickly, but none seemed to stir any reaction from him.

A few minutes later, he stood up, his voice low and smooth. "Sorry to keep you waiting, but there's no kid here I'm looking for."

Dani also stood, smiling politely. "It's fine, sir. Safe travels."

She watched his figure disappear into the distance, and then sighed, finally able to breathe again.

This guy? No idea where he was from, but he had an aura that screamed power. Sitting next to him had felt like being suffocated. She couldn't even speak normally, afraid he'd cut her off.

She'd met a lot of rich people, but this one? He was the first to make her feel like she couldn't breathe.

She turned and went back to her office, locking the kids' files away. As soon as she closed the drawer, there was a knock on the door.

Thinking it was someone calling her to lunch, she called out, "One sec, I'll be right there—"

But when she opened the door, it was the same guy, standing there again.

Chapter 3 Adler Family

Aside from the intimidating guy from earlier, there was also a teenage boy, probably around 15, in the room.

He had striking features—tall, slim, dressed in clean, neat clothes—but his face was full of awkwardness, like he didn't quite fit in.

Kelvin Adler glanced down, his eyes flicking over the boy with little interest. His voice was cool, almost detached. "You tell this lady yourself. What's the name of the kid you're looking for?"

Jeremy Adler bit his lip, his eyes darting around, clearly nervous. He mumbled under his breath, 'It's not like I'm the one looking for her... I just feel sorry for the kid.'

Dani, looking confused, blinked at him. "Hi there, which kid are you talking about?"

Jeremy cleared his throat, his face flushing slightly as he mumbled, barely above a whisper, "Yvonne."

Dani almost didn't catch that. "Did you say Yvonne?" she asked, staring at him, not quite believing it. "You've met this child before?"

Jeremy nodded a bit, then tried to downplay it, "I just think she seems... okay."

Kelvin's gaze flickered over his son's awkward face, his expression unreadable. He was clearly frustrated. Jeremy's pride was a problem.

Kelvin finally looked away, his tone as cold as ever, "Can I see the child now?"

Dani snapped out of her thoughts and quickly nodded, "She should be awake now. I'll get someone to bring her in."

A few minutes later, a volunteer entered, holding a groggy Yvonne. As soon as she was placed on the floor, her eyes locked onto Dani, who looked like she was about to lose it.

Yvoone didn't seem to care at all about the tension; whatever had happened last night was a distant memory.

"Mrs. Harrison!" Yvonne tottered over to her, bouncing like a little snowball and crashing into her legs.

Once she was in Dani's arms, she noticed the two men in the room.

Dani paused before saying, "Yvonne, this is Mr. Kelvin Adler and his son, Mr. Jeremy Adler."

Yvonne gripped Dani's clothes tightly, her big, innocent eyes darting from one man to the other. When she saw Jeremy, her eyes lit up, and she immediately called out, "Hi, Mr. Adler."

Kelvin's eyes lingered on her for a moment, but his face remained unreadable, as always.

Dani, feeling the tension in the air, didn't dare to speak, but Yvonne, totally unaware of the situation, flashed a sweet smile at Jeremy.

After a brief moment, Kelvin gave Dani a nod, his tone steady and flat. "That's the one. Get the paperwork done."

Dani's heart skipped a beat. While Kelvin's background was unclear, the way he spoke and carried himself made it clear he was no ordinary person—definitely not someone like the Yates family from yesterday.

Still, he didn't seem like the easiest person to deal with, and the director worried Yvonne might get the short end of the stick. But then, she decided to let Yvonne herself to make this decision.

Softly, she asked, "Yvonne, Mr. Adler wants to adopt you. Would you like to go home with him?"

Yvonne's eyes widened in surprise. Her eyes sparkled, and she sneaked a look at Kelvin.

He was sitting on a simple wooden chair, looking like some untouchable figure—sharp features, almost too perfect. Yvonne quickly shifted her gaze and saw Jeremy sitting next to him.

Jeremy seemed a little nervous, his eyes darting away from hers, his face stiff, the usual guard up.

Yvonne suddenly grinned, her whole face lighting up with joy. "Yeah, sure! I wanna go home with them!"

Jeremy's tense expression softened for a second, his brows relaxing. He curled his fingers slightly, fighting back a smile. If he had a tail, it'd probably be wagging right now.

Kelvin stayed behind in the office to handle the paperwork while Jeremy waited outside.

Yvonne, totally excited, skipped over to Jeremy, naturally grabbing his hand and beaming up at him with a big smile. "Hi!"

Jeremy muttered a cold response, his lips pressed tight, but didn't look at her.

Yvonne wasn't at all scared by Jeremy's cold, distant stare. Instead, she tilted her tiny head and, with a sweet, babyish voice, said, "Mrs. Harrison told me you're the one looking for me. Thanks for taking me home! I really like you."

Her innocent words could melt anyone's heart, but Jeremy Adler kept up his cool act. "I don't like you, so don't go getting any ideas."

But his pale cheeks betrayed him, flushing bright red.

Yvonne stared at him for a couple of seconds before sighing and dropping her hand. "Okay." She was clearly disappointed and went quiet after that.

Jeremy, trying to look indifferent, kept sneaking glances at her. The little one sat next to him, bored, doodling aimlessly in the dirt with a twig.

When he saw the red, swollen spots on her palm, his heart tightened. He suddenly asked, "How'd you hurt your hand?"

Yvonne bit her lip, her long lashes fluttering like little brushes. She had wrapped it up yesterday, but it got itchy at night, and she scratched it open by accident.

"I hurt it when I fell, but I already treated it..." Her voice was barely audible, and Jeremy didn't think much of it.

He assumed it was just from her being a bit reckless.

He bent down and gave her a soft tap on the head with his fingers. "You're such an idiot. I've never seen anyone mess up their hand like that."

Yvonne covered her head, sniffing, and muttered softly, "Got it..."

Seeing her like that, Jeremy couldn't help but smile. She was so cute—soft and sweet, the kind of kid he just couldn't resist.

At that moment, Kelvin Adler came out, done with the paperwork. He noticed the big and little ones walking hand in hand, already getting along pretty well.

He gave them a quick glance, said nothing, and simply led them out of the orphanage.

Yvonne took a few steps before looking back at Dani, who was smiling and waving at her. After a brief moment of hesitation, she let go of Jeremy's hand and ran back.

Dani crouched down with a warm smile. "Yvonne, remember to listen to Mr. Adler, okay? Don't piss him off. And if he's cool with it, I'll come see you."

She gently wiped away the tears on Yvonne's face, pulling a tissue from her pocket and handing it to her. "Stop crying, go on now. Don't keep Mr. Adler waiting too long."

Yvonne, her eyes brimming with tears, sobbed and choked out, "I... I'm sorry, last night I..."

Dani interrupted her, wiping her face. "It's fine, sweetie. I'll bring your necklace as soon as I find it. Don't worry about Bucky either; I'll take care of him.

"And if Mr. Adler wants a dog, once his pups are old enough, I'll pick out the cutest one and bring it to you."

With a soft nudge on her back, Dani urged her to keep going.

Jeremy walked over and wordlessly scooped the child up, carrying her in his arms.

He gave Dani a brief nod, then got into the car with the crying little one.

Only after the Adler family's car had disappeared from view did Dani turn to leave.

She grabbed a couple of bread rolls from the cafeteria, then went into the monitoring room to pull up the footage from the previous day.

She cared for each and every child in the orphanage like they were her own. She'd always believed Marian, despite her competitive nature, would never hurt anyone.

But she'd started noticing some odd behavior in Marian lately. In the past, whenever new clothes were donated, she'd rush to grab the best ones.

But three days ago, during the clothes distribution, Marian had been strangely quiet, not fighting for anything.

Chapter 4 Go Home

Yvonne was doing her best to be good. She knew better than to cause a scene, so she quietly wiped away the tear stains on her face.

But the sadness inside her? That was something she couldn't get rid of so easily.

Jeremy, sitting beside her, was all kinds of conflicted. He should have found Yvonne's current state endearing, right? After all, he couldn't stand whiny, crying brats.

He'd even daydreamed about making all those spoiled kids just disappear.

But seeing Yvonne like this? It stirred something deep inside him, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

He awkwardly grabbed a few tissues and held her small face in his hands, his movements a little stiff. "In a couple of weeks, I'll bring you back for a visit."

His voice was a little rough, and his actions weren't exactly gentle, but at least it was a damn sight cleaner than when she tried to do it herself.

Yvonne stayed quiet, her voice soft and uncertain as she spoke. "Th-thank you, Jeremy..."

"Mm." For once, Jeremy didn't act all cocky and untouchable. He gently ruffled her hair, his fingers brushing through it with a kind of tenderness he didn't show often.

The car pulled up to the Adler family's place—a massive, standalone villa in Riverdale Bay.

It was worth an insane 25 million, and while they'd bought it years ago, today was the first time they were actually staying here.

Yvonne felt small and out of place in front of the giant mansion.

She followed Jeremy, her nerves getting the best of her. She reached out to grab his hand, but then she remembered how he'd once said he didn't like that. She hesitated, pulling her hand back like she'd done something wrong.

This place was massive and so unfamiliar. Just stepping through the door, she already feared she'd mess something up or dirty the floor.

"Jeremy..." A soft, hesitant voice broke the silence. Jeremy looked down, and saw Yvonne's eyes brimming with tears again, like she was about to start bawling.

"C-Can I hold your hand?" she asked, her voice shaking like she wasn't sure if she was allowed.

Jeremy froze for a second, caught off guard by the sudden request. That brief hesitation made her think he wasn't okay with it. Her voice wobbled again, "J-Just for a bit... I'm scared..."

His heart tugged. After a brief pause, Yvonne pulled her hand back like she'd done something wrong, her head drooping as she murmured, "Sorry."

Before she could feel too embarrassed, a cool, fresh scent surrounded her, and suddenly she was lifted off the ground, her feet dangling as she was taken to a whole new height.

A stiff, slightly awkward voice spoke near her ear, "I can't stand hearing people apologize. Don't say it again, alright?"

"Okay." Yvonne nodded, taking his words to heart. She carefully tugged at the collar of Jeremy's shirt, watching him for any signs of rejection.

When he didn't push her away, she slowly relaxed and leaned against him. "Jeremy, you're the best," she murmured, her voice soft and trusting.

Jeremy just pressed his lips together and held her tighter as he walked inside.

*****

Meanwhile, at the Yates mansion, Marian had a totally different reaction to the luxurious space.

She was calm and collected, following Robert silently. On the outside, she looked cool and composed, but her eyes were darting around, taking everything in.

Her excitement was barely contained, though her eyes were alight with that burning desire.

This was the Yates family—the richest in Blorence City. And it was even more breathtaking than she'd ever imagined.

From now on, she would be the one taking Yvonne's place and ruling this house.

Marian rushed to keep up with Robert, taking quick, deliberate little steps, trying to maintain a bit of composure.

As they walked, she couldn't help but notice there wasn't a single Yates family member in sight—not even a servant. It made her feel more and more uneasy.

The second they stepped through the door, there was a loud bang, as something exploded right above her head.

Marian shrieked, instinctively ducking down and covering her head. Colorful ribbons rained down like confetti.

"Welcome to our family, Yvonne!" Nina Yates, along with her two kids, was already waiting, each holding a party popper—except only Oliver Yates, the second youngest, had his actually pop with a loud bang.

Nina casually tossed her unlit party popper onto the couch and, without missing a beat, a servant rushed in to hang up a banner.

Marian looked up and froze when she saw it: [A warm welcome to Yvonne joining the Yates family!]

Her face immediately went blank, and she turned to Robert, wide-eyed with confusion. Meanwhile, Nina and the kids saw her expression, and their smiles disappeared as fast as if someone had slapped them in the face.

Robert let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his forehead, clearly uncomfortable. It turned out Nina and the kids had thought he was bringing Yvonne back today, and they'd gone all out with this surprise.

He'd forgotten to mention that Marian was the one he was bringing.

"This is Marian... she's, uh, part of the family now," Robert muttered awkwardly, his words trailing off. The air was thick with tension, and all he could do was let the awkwardness linger.

Nina, ever the quick thinker, immediately directed the servant to take the banner down as if nothing had happened.

She then marched over to Marian, looking genuinely sorry. "Oh god, Marian, I'm so sorry. We totally screwed up. We'll throw you a much bigger welcome party next time, I swear."

Marian blinked back tears, her lip quivering slightly. She bit it back and gave a tiny nod, clearly trying not to let it show that she was hurt.

The effort made Nina feel like crap, like she'd just kicked the girl in the stomach.

"Alright, let's get all this cleaned up," Nina ordered the staff, trying to move past the awkwardness.

The living room was filled with gifts—expensive teddy bears, fancy dresses, diamond-studded hairpins—all meant for Yvonne, now completely out of place thanks to this mix-up.

What was supposed to be a smooth, well-planned welcome party had turned into an epic disaster.

After everything was cleared away, Nina quickly pulled Robert off to another room to talk, leaving the three kids sitting awkwardly with Marian.

The Yates kids, always polite, didn't treat Marian any differently, even though everything had gone totally wrong. If anything, they went out of their way to be nice to her.

But Marian couldn't care less about their kindness. She was still fixated on those damn gifts—the teddy bears, the dresses, the sparkly hairpins...

'If they got the wrong person, why not just give me all that stuff?' she thought to herself, annoyed. 'That woman? She can't even handle a simple mix-up like this.'

Chapter 5 Third Brother

When they got back to the Adler family home, the day was still young. It was a weekday, so Kelvin was getting ready to head out for work.

The maid quickly ran after him, handing him a cup of coffee. After that, she swiftly cleared the breakfast table and, with the help of another servant, brought out the breakfast that had been prepared.

Maybe because she'd been told in advance, the maid took Yvonne's presence in the house like it was no big deal—just the way it should be.

Yvonne sat quietly at the table, chewing on her bread without saying a word.

When she was done eating, she quietly leaned over to Jeremy and softly asked, "Brother, is it just us here?"

Jeremy shook his head. "No, you've got three other brothers, too. But right now, it's just me and the third brother at home. The others aren't here."

The family setup was simple and easy to remember—no confusion there.

After hearing that, Yvonne raised her soft, pale face and asked in her sweet, innocent voice, "What about the third brother? Can I meet him?"

Jeremy paused for a second, his hand hanging by his side. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes darkened. "He isn't feeling well. He's resting."

Yvonne nodded, understanding. But when she saw him preparing to leave, she stood up, eyes filled with reluctance as she looked at him.

At the right moment, the maid brought over his school jacket, which Jeremy grabbed and held in his hands.

He looked down at her and said patiently, "I'm heading to school now. I won't be back until tonight. Don't go running around the house, okay?

"Lillian will take you to your room once she's done. Be good and wait for me."

Yvonne, still new to the house, clung to her brother, but she understood that she couldn't hold him up. She quickly stepped aside, making room for him. "Got it, Jeremy. I'll wait for you."

Seeing how obedient she was, Jeremy's fingers twitched for a second, and after a brief hesitation, he awkwardly reached out and ruffled her hair. "Be good, alright? I'll bring you something nice when I get back."

Yvonne's face lit up instantly. "OKay!"

She wasn't excited about the treats—no, it was because Jeremy had patted her on the head. That little gesture made her heart soar.

After Jeremy left, Yvonne sat quietly on the couch for a while.

Once Lillian Bennett finished cleaning up, she led Yvonne to her room. The room was spotless, clearly never used before, with brand-new furniture and unopened packages scattered around.

"Ay, how could I forget?" Lillian said, slapping her head in frustration. "The blankets haven't been aired out, the new sheets aren't washed, the mattress still hasn't been unwrapped... So much to do. Getting old is no joke!"

She was talking fast, and though Yvonne didn't understand all of it, she caught the last part. "Lillian, you're not old!" Yvonne said seriously, her baby voice making Lillian's heart melt.

"Aww, Miss, you're too sweet..."

No matter how old a woman gets, she still cares about her age—even Lillian, who'd been working at the supermarket for years, wasn't immune to it.

Lillian started fixing up Yvonne's room, but since she was worried the little one might hurt herself in there, she decided to take her out to the garden.

"Sweetie, how about you play here for a while? I'll finish up soon and come get you to head back inside, okay?" Lillian spoke softly, like Yvonne was her own granddaughter.

After making sure everything was in place, she turned and went back to finish her work.

Yvonne sat quietly on the delicate wooden bench, soaking up the rare moment of peace.

But when she spotted the gardener slip and fall from a distance, she jumped up without thinking and rushed over to help, even though she knew she didn't have much to offer.

Meanwhile, from a room above the garden, a gray curtain was pulled back just enough to reveal a sliver of the world outside.

A figure glanced out casually, but his attention was immediately grabbed by the sight of the little girl darting around. Charles Adler couldn't seem to look away.

He was pale, almost unnaturally so, his thin frame more fragile than anyone could ignore. His skin was a sickly, cold white, but despite his frailty, he was still striking.

His sharp eyes had a clarity to them that drew you in, but his overall appearance screamed someone who'd been sick for too long.

The corners of his eyes were faintly bloodshot, giving him a brooding, almost haunted vibe. His lips were pale, barely tinted with pink, and aside from that, there was no color in his face at all.

His frail body made it obvious that he didn't have much time left.

He kept watching Yvonne, noticing that while her clothes weren't anything extravagant, they were spotless.

As she ran, it was clear her legs gave her trouble—probably from some old injury—but it didn't dampen the energy radiating from her.

She was like a bird—free and unburdened—completely different from him.

Charles continued to stare at her, his pale fingers pressing against the cold glass unconsciously.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Mr. Adler , your medicine's here."

He took a step back, his expression neutral, and slowly let his hand drop from the glass.

The gray curtains slid shut, blocking off the outside world. The servant entered, carrying the bowl of medicine, and the bitter, nauseating smell hit the air even before he got close.

The liquid was thick and dark, looking every bit as gross as it smelled. Yet, Charles didn't flinch or show any sign of resistance, as if he'd completely numbed himself to it by now.

But when some of the unstrained herbs hit the back of his throat, he choked, turning red and coughing violently.

It took a while before the coughing subsided, leaving his face even paler than before.

Once the servant left with the empty bowl, Charles spoke, his voice flat. "Take that pot of flowers outside."

The servant hesitated for a moment but then carefully gathered the wilting jasmine from the desk and quietly walked out.

That jasmine had once been a thing of beauty, one of the Charle's favorites.

But despite the constant care—sunlight, water, and attention for months—it had never bloomed. In the end, it had just withered away, like everything else in Charles's life.

*****

Meanwhile, in the garden, Yvonne was having the time of her life watering the flowers with the gardener.

But after standing for so long, her legs started to ache. Just then, Lillian appeared, ready to take her back inside.

Yvonne followed her without a word, but as they walked through the door, her eyes landed on the pot of flowers the servant was holding.

Her gaze stopped, focused on the drooping leaves, and she suddenly froze.

"Miss." She spoke up carefully, pointing at the pot in the servant's hands, her eyes wide with hope. "Can I have this one?"

The servant paused, unsure. "This jasmine?"

Yvonne nodded eagerly, her eyes not leaving the plant.

The servant hesitated. "This is what Mr. Charles Adler told me to throw out. I can give it to you, but it's already dead. There's no point in keeping it."

Yvonne's face dropped for a second, but she quickly recovered, her voice urgent. "Please don't throw it away. Can you give it to me?"

When she heard the mention of "Mr. Charles Adler," Jeremy's words from that morning popped into her mind.

'His health isn't great. Maybe if this flower came back to life, it might make him a little happier.' The thought made her even more desperate to have the flower.

Chapter 6 Dead Jasmine

Lillian stood off to the side for a moment, listening in. She couldn't quite get why Yvonne was so attached to that withered plant, but seeing how much it mattered, she decided to step in and help.

"Well, if you like it that much, let's keep it," she said, taking the dead jasmine from the servant's hands and turning to Yvonne. "Where do you want it, Miss?"

"Can I put it in my room?" Yvonne asked, batting her big, innocent eyes.

"Of course, sweetheart," Lillian smiled.

Gently cradling the plant, Lillian led Yvonne to her room. Once inside, she placed the jasmine on the balcony where it could catch the first rays of the morning sun.

After that, she patiently showed Yvonne how to use some of the things in the room, making sure she understood everything.

But, with other things to take care of, Lillian couldn't stay for too long.

After Lillian left, Yvonne checked to make sure the door was locked, then quickly ran over to the dead jasmine.

The balcony was a little too high up for her, so she had to drag a chair over. After climbing onto it, she could finally reach the plant.

She kicked off her shoes, stood up on the chair, and carefully touched the plant's leaves with her little, scarred hand.

She poked at one of the leaves and, with a soft voice full of pity, murmured, "Poor little flower..."

Suddenly, the leaf she touched twitched just a little, as if the plant was responding to her, using its last bit of energy to reply.

Yvonne carefully extended her other hand, gently cupping the drooping leaves. Slowly, a soft green glow started to shine from her hands.

Tiny glowing specks, like fireflies, darted into the jasmine's branches and leaves, blending in and disappearing without a trace.

A couple of minutes later, Yvonne pulled her hands back, a little wobbly on her feet, almost losing her balance.

She slid down from the chair, her face pale as a ghost, sweat dripping from her forehead, and clearly too weak to stand. But her eyes—those eyes were shining like two polished black jewels, glowing with an unnatural brilliance.

On the balcony, the jasmine plant had noticeably changed. It no longer looked dull and lifeless.

Completely drained, Yvonne climbed into the bed Lillian had made for her and collapsed into a deep sleep.

She didn't wake up until lunchtime. The table was still set with breakfast dishes, but her brother was already gone. She was alone.

Maybe it was the magical energy she'd transferred to the jasmine. Either way, she ate like she hadn't seen food in days.

Once she'd stuffed herself, she dashed back to her room, locked the door behind her, kicked off her shoes, and climbed back onto the chair like a tiny grown-up.

She got back to her "work," this time sticking with it for about five minutes.

Afterward, the jasmine had clearly changed again. Yvonne bent down, gently kissing one of the buds.

Her pale face, although still weak, seemed to glow. "My little flower, hurry up and bloom, okay? Don't let me down!"

Saying goodbye to the flower, Yvonne crawled back into bed, completely exhausted. She was a little hungry, but after the huge lunch she'd just had, she didn't want to bother Lillian again.

The next time she opened her eyes, a knock at the door woke her. A young, somewhat shy voice called from outside, "Yvonne, can I come in?"

Yvonne rubbed her sleepy eyes, her vision still blurry when that familiar voice rang out. The moment she heard it, a lock of hair on her head shot straight up. It was Jeremy.

She quickly slipped on her shoes and bolted to the door, swinging it open in a flash.

Jeremy was standing there, holding a small cake with a pink bow, looking a little awkward as he handed it over. "Here. Lillian said you did a great job today. This is your reward, like I promised."

Yvonne's eyes practically sparkled when she saw the cake. She tilted her soft, pale face up and flashed a sweet, grateful smile. "Thanks, Jeremy!"

She cradled the little cake in her hands like it was a rare treasure, carefully placing it on the table. It was the prettiest cake she'd ever seen—way more gorgeous than anything she'd seen on TV.

Jeremy followed her into the room. When he looked around, his brow furrowed. The place was bare and dull—basically a guest room with zero personality.

His eyes shifted to Yvonne's happy, innocent expression, and his frown deepened. He hadn't really noticed it before, but this was definitely not a room for a little girl.

He promised himself he'd talk to Lillian later and figure out a way to redo the whole place.

Jeremy's eyes drifted around the room before landing on a wilted jasmine plant on the balcony. It stuck out like a sore thumb—impossible to miss.

He walked over, stared at it for a beat, then turned to Yvonne. "Isn't this the one Charles had? What is it doing here?"

Yvonne bit her lip nervously, her big eyes blinking up at him. "A lady said she was gonna throw it out, so I just took it."

Jeremy blinked, a little confused. "But... it's dead."

Yvonne quickly ran over, looking up at him with a hopeful expression. "It's fine, Jeremy. Please let me keep it. I really like it."

She'd already pleaded so sweetly, there was no way he could say no. He sighed, giving in. "Alright, you can keep it."

Seeing her grin made his heart feel lighter, like a kitten had playfully scratched at it. She was so easy to make happy.

Before he even realized it, a small smile tugged at the corners of Jeremy's mouth.

When Yvonne saw that smile, she beamed and grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the table to eat cake together.

But as they walked, Jeremy suddenly noticed something odd. Her stride was a bit off. She was limping.

His brow instantly furrowed, concern flooding his chest. "What's wrong with your foot?"