Genevieve Chaney was suddenly told that she wasn't her parents' biological child.

"You should leave. We've found our real daughter now."

A bitter sigh escaped Genevieve's lips. Since her childhood, her parents, who now turned out to be her foster parents, had been abusive, her foster mother in particular.

Had she not been raised in this place since infancy, she might have questioned her parentage sooner.

It all started when Alora Chaney appeared at their doorstep a few days ago.

The girl burst into tears, insisting she was the Chaneys' true daughter.

The Chaneys didn't believe her, so Alora dragged her father Samuel Chaney to the hospital for a paternity test.

The results confirmed her claim: Alora was indeed his daughter, while Genevieve wasn't.

Strangely, this brought relief. Finally, Genevieve could escape their torment.

"I'm leaving now. Save your breath," Genevieve said coldly, catching the Chaneys off guard.

"Genevieve, you can leave, but don't take anything valuable from the house," Samuel immediately warned, suspicious of her sudden compliance.

"I won't take a single thing." She didn't even pack her belongings.

"Wait!" Alora approached Genevieve and handed her a black trash bag. "Here. Take this 'gift' to the Trevinos. Maybe they'll need it."

Genevieve looked at the black bag, from which the stench of rotting food seeped through.

"You've gone too far!" Genevieve clenched her fists in anger, throwing the trash at Alora's face. "I think you need it more!"

Alora's dramatic wails echoed behind her.

Genevieve left without looking back. Just then, a black Mercedes-Benz pulled up in front of her.

"Ms. Chaney, get in," said the Chaney family's chauffeur Gerardo.

"Gerardo? I don't remember the Chaneys sent you."

"It's my own decision. It's a long way to the city. You'll be worn out if you walk all the way there."

Gerardo was one of the few people in the Chaney's house who had been kind to her.

Even he had spent more time with her than Samuel ever had.

After a moment of hesitation, Genevieve opened the car door and got in.

The car drove out of the villa area and stopped at a bus station.

"This is as far as I can take you, Ms. Chaney," Gerardo said, his tone a bit sad.

He then pulled an envelope from his bag, adding, "Ms. Chaney, here's 8,000 dollars. It's not much, but we hope this will help somehow..."

That "we" probably referred to Gerardo himself, along with Felipe the butler, and Emma the maid.

Although they worked for the Chaney family, Samuel was quite stingy and didn't pay the servants much.

This sum of money must have taken them a while to save up.

Genevieve gazed at the envelope, feeling touched.

A while later, she pushed it back to him. "No, Gerardo, you keep it. Thanks for the ride."

She stepped out, watching the Mercedes disappear before making a phone call.

"Pick me up at Cedar Avenue bus stop."

After a short while, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up to the bus stop.

A man in a grey suit got out of the car and greeted her, "Genny."

Ignoring the shocked stares around them, Genevieve expressionlessly nodded and entered the vehicle.

"Genny, did the Chaneys actually kick you out?" asked Raymond Caldwell, her right-hand man.

Raymond knew about the baby mix-up between the Chaneys and Trevinos.

But he never expected the Chaneys to actually kick Genevieve out.

Genevieve didn't respond. Instead, she picked up a tablet and began scrolling.

"If I recall correctly, Zenith Group has been secretly supporting the Chaney family, hasn't it?"

"Yes. Around a dozen projects of varying scales over five years."

"From today onward, cut them off. Blacklist the Chaney family and notify all our partners that anyone who dares to work with them from now on will be opposing Zenith Group."

Raymond stiffened.

"Genny, are you planning to ... destroy the Chaneys?"

"I was the one who lifted them up. Of course, I'd tear them down myself."

Genevieve closed the tablet and handed it to Raymond.

"But Zenith Group currently has one ongoing collaboration with the Chaneys. Should we terminate that as well?"

"How big is the scale?"

"Not huge. Just a small one worth over three million dollars."

"We can afford the loss. Just terminate it."

Raymond nodded and immediately began executing the orders on the tablet.

"Genny, there's one more thing."

He pulled out his phone and sent a few screenshots to Genevieve.

She studied the images, her fingers tapping lightly against the desk.

"Tell the Compton Group I'll take this deal, but the price needs to go up by 30%."

Raymond nodded, preparing to respond to the Compton Group.

Genevieve looked out the window, her thoughts in disarray. "Let's go to Serein Estates. I want to visit the Trevino family."

Serein Estates was a low-end, run-down neighborhood in Isondale.

According to Alora, all five members of the Trevino family lived in an apartment of less than ninety square meters.

Built ten years ago, the complex had no property management.

The peeling walls, weed-choked greenbelts, and uneven concrete paths put Raymond off somehow.

"Genny, are you sure the Trevino family actually lives here?"

With her status, Genevieve shouldn't live in such a shabby neighborhood.

"If Alora wasn't lying, this should be the place."

"Genny, now that you're reconnecting with the Trevinos, why not just buy them a proper house? This place is..."

"I've never actually met the Trevinos. I don't know their temperaments or personalities..."

Raymond understood. She feared the Trevinos might be money-grubbing social climbers like Alora.

"Alright, you can head back now. I'll go in alone. I'll contact you if I need anything."

Genevieve opened the car door and walked toward Serein Estates.

Meanwhile, inside the Trevino's place, her parents were sitting nervously in their tiny living room.

"Dylan, are we really doing this? What if Genny isn't like Alora?"

Priscilla Beasley, Genevieve's mother, sat nervously on the couch, her eyes darting toward the door every now and then.

"After what happened with Alora, I have to be cautious. But don't worry. If Genny truly isn't like Alora, we'll tell her the truth immediately," responded Dylan Trevino, Genevieve's father.

He patted Priscilla's hand reassuringly, though he wasn't entirely certain himself.

After dealing with someone as opportunistic as Alora, he figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

"I know. I'm just afraid Genny will be furious when she finds out," Priscilla muttered.

"She won't be. I'm sure she'll understand." Though Dylan tried to comfort Priscilla, he couldn't shake his own unease.

"By the way, aren't our sons coming back today?" Priscilla frowned. It was Genny's homecoming, yet her three brothers were nowhere to be seen.

"Malik and Liam had urgent business at the company and hospital. As for Marcus..." Dylan coughed awkwardly, hesitating.

"Don't tell me he's at some film set again! He's always hanging around there. It's just inappropriate for his status!"

Just the mention of Marcus set Priscilla off.

He refused to take his duties at the company seriously, spending all his time on movie sets and barely coming home.

"If it makes him happy, let him be. I already talked to him. He'll come back."

Dylan's words soothed Priscilla slightly.

The numbering on Serein Estates' buildings had long since faded.

Genevieve had to ask several people before finally locating Unit 3 of Building 17 at the complex's far end.

The aging neighborhood had no elevators, and the Trevino family lived on the top floor.

Genevieve walked up the stairs in one go, arriving at unit 701.

Though the door to 701 appeared worn, it was remarkably clean.

A pristine doormat lay at the entrance, starkly contrasting with the dirty, disorganized floor outside unit 702 across the hall.

"It seems the Trevino family values cleanliness." This was Genevieve's first impression of them.

With no doorbell, Genevieve hesitated briefly before raising her hand to knock.

"Is that Genny?" Priscilla stiffened, her previous irritation suddenly replaced with nervousness.

"Relax. I'll get it." Dylan gave Priscilla's shoulder a reassuring pat and went to answer.

"You are..." The woman at the door bore such a striking resemblance to Priscilla that Dylan instantly knew who she was.

"Hello, I'm Genevieve, y-your daughter."

Meeting Dylan for the first time, Genevieve couldn't hide her awkwardness.

She considered offering a handshake but thought better of it.

Meeting Dylan for the first time, Genevieve fidgeted with her empty hands.

"I should've had Raymond prepare gifts," she thought ruefully.

"Genny!" Dylan's face lit up. "Come in!" He chuckled at her awkwardness, stepping aside.

Genevieve nodded and stepped inside.

Out of habit, she gave the space a quick scan.

The room was indeed small, but meticulously organized, crowded yet far from cluttered.

Many items showed wear, but everything was spotless.

Just as expected, the Trevino family really did prioritize cleanliness."

"Genny..." a trembling voice sounded.

Genevieve turned toward the voice.

Genevieve looked over and saw a middle-aged woman in a white knit sweater and yellow long skirt standing clutching her hemline, looking at her with nervous eyes.

This must be her biological mother.

Genevieve's heartbeat quickened. She gave a small smile and called out, "Mom."

"Yes!" Priscilla rushed forward and wrapped Genevieve in a tight embrace.

"My Genny, my dear Genny... I've finally met you."

Never having experienced familial affection, Genevieve was overwhelmed by Priscilla's warmth.

Her eyes widened slightly. She raised her hands uncertainly before letting them drop.

Hearing Priscilla's choked sobs, Genevieve sighed softly.

She returned the embrace, gently rubbing Priscilla's back.

"Mom, don't cry. I'm home now."

"Alright, she just got back. Don't scare her," Dylan said, patting Priscilla's shoulder. Reluctantly, Priscilla released Genevieve.

"Genny, I was just so excited... Did I frighten you?"

Genevieve shook her head, letting Priscilla lead her to sit down while holding her hand.

"Genny, how have you been all these years? Did the Chaney family treat you well?"

"It was fine. The Chaneys treated me ... quite well."

Seeing the Trevino family's modest circumstances, she decided against telling them the truth.

The conflict with the Chaneys was her own burden to bear, no need to drag the Trevinos into it.

Genevieve smiled faintly, offering nothing more.

But Priscilla and Dylan noticed her faded denim skirt and canvas shoes, which spoke volumes.

While not the wealthiest in Isondale, the Chaneys were still elite. They could certainly afford proper clothing.

And Genny had arrived without even a single bag.

The Chaneys, seeing she wasn't their blood, must have denied her even necessities.

Their daughter had clearly suffered greatly under that family's roof.

"Hmph! How dare the Chaneys mistreat our girl!" Dylan muttered to himself.

He decided Malik should teach them a proper lesson.

Genevieve, unaware of what Dylan and Priscilla were thinking, glanced around the living room.

"Oh, where are my brothers?" She recalled that the Trevino family had three sons, none of whom seemed to be home at the moment.

"Oh, your oldest brother Malik is busy socializing. Your second brother Liam is on a night shift at the hospital. And your third brother Marcus, that brat is always messing around on set, playing a corpse or something. Don't bother with him," Priscilla replied, rolling her eyes.

Genevieve quickly figured out the occupations of the three brothers: company employee, doctor, and movie extra.

The Trevino family wasn't seemingly doing too well financially, but so far, Dylan and Priscilla seemed like decent people.

She wondered what the other three brothers were like.

If the Trevino family were all good people, Genevieve wouldn't mind helping them out.

After all, she was now their daughter, and it was normal to help her own family.

"Genny, are you hungry? I'll cook for you," Priscilla asked, worried that Genevieve might be famished as it was getting late.

"Sure, Mom, I'll help you," Genevieve replied, following Priscilla into the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Dylan sent a message in the family group chat.

Dylan: "Genny's back. Get home now!"

Malik Trevino: "Okay."

Liam Trevino: "I'll be home as soon as my surgery is over."

Marcus Trevino: "Got it! On my way!"

Dylan: "Don't forget to bring gifts for Genny. I'll kick out whoever comes back empty-handed!"

Satisfied, Dylan put away his phone, grabbed an apron to tie on, and went into the kitchen to help.

There came a knock on the door.

"I'll get the door." Genevieve put down the potato in her hands, randomly wiping her wet hands on the apron.

"You are?" She opened the door.

The man outside the door wore a relatively cheap suit, holding a somewhat damaged briefcase and a gift bag.

Seeing his resemblance to Dylan, Genevieve guessed that he was one of her three brothers, though she wasn't sure which one.

The man looked at her coldly and handed her the gift.

"I'm your oldest brother, Malik, and you're Genevieve, right?" Malik asked, his tone quite cold.

Genevieve took the gift, smiling as she replied, "Hi, Malik."

Malik's attitude was really cold, but Genevieve didn't take it to heart.

The sister who had grown up in the family for 22 years was a snob, while this biological sister was someone he wasn't familiar with.

It was only natural that he felt indifferent toward her.

"Malik, have some rest. I'll go help Mom with dinner first."

While Genevieve assisted in the kitchen, Liam and Marcus arrived home.

"Dinner's ready!" Genevieve placed the final dish on the table, beaming at the Trevino family.

Never before had she shared meals like this with the Chaneys.

The cozy atmosphere of family dining felt wonderful.

"Genny, I didn't know your preferences, so I just made some simple dishes. Hope you like them." Priscilla served Genevieve some fish.

Genevieve stared at the fish but hesitated to eat.

Watching this, Malik felt scorn rising, thinking that she was a spoiled rich girl turning up her nose at home cooking.

Just as Malik was about to speak, Genevieve gently pushed the fish aside. "Mom, I'm sorry... I'm allergic to fish."

Everyone froze at this unexpected revelation.

Priscilla's face flashed with embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry, Genny! I didn't know about your allergy."

"It's okay, Mom. I'll eat the other dishes." Genevieve served Priscilla some food, then herself.

After the brief awkwardness, the atmosphere at the table actually improved slightly.

After dinner, the Trevino men handled the cleanup while Priscilla took Genevieve's hand for a chat in the living room.

"Dad, what do you think of Genevieve?" Malik asked, washing dishes.

"Genny's a good kid, much better than Alora," Dylan was leaning against the kitchen doorway as he watched Priscilla and Genevieve with a contented smile.

"Malik, you dislike Genevieve, right?" Liam had noticed Malik's odd demeanor during dinner.

"Come on, Malik! Genny's not only pretty but she's also got a great personality. What's not to like?" Marcus nudged Malik while drying a plate.

"I wouldn't say dislike. I just worry she might be like Alora."

The Trevinos were self-made, raising their children with strict traditional values.

None knew the family's true status before graduating college.

They'd thought Alora would pass the test too until she started complaining about their modest lifestyle.

Recently, after a head injury, she'd woken up insisting she wasn't a Trevino by blood.

She'd even sneaked off to the Chaneys for a DNA test.

Within an hour of the results, she'd discarded the Trevino name.

"Genny's different from Alora," Liam said firmly, watching Genevieve through the doorway.

His gut told him she wouldn't be like Alora.

"We'll see." Malik rinsed a glass. "Her 22nd birthday's next month. If she proves trustworthy, we'll throw her a grand homecoming party."

Unaware of the kitchen discussion, Priscilla chatted animatedly with Genevieve.

"Genny, are you still in school?"

"I graduated last year. I was working at Chaney Group, but now..."

Back when working at the Chaney Group, Samuel said he didn't want Genevieve to receive preferential treatment through connections.

Thus, Genevieve remained at the Chaney Group as an intern.

But rather than proper work, it was more like being an errand-running cleaner.

"Don't worry." Priscilla patted her hand. "We'll have Malik get you a position at Trevino Group."

"The Trevino Group? The company of the wealthiest family in Isondale?" Genevieve's eyes widened. She was surprised. Was Malik so capable?

Perhaps realizing she'd spoken carelessly, Priscilla quickly backtracked, afraid Genevieve might notice something amiss.

"Malik is at least a team leader at the Trevino Group. Getting you a position shouldn't be too difficult for him."

She thought, "So Mom thinks a team leader has that much influence."

"It's alright, Mom. A friend of mine happens to be hiring right now. I've already arranged an interview for tomorrow."

"I see. Is the company far from home? How's the pay?"

From Serein Estates to Zenith Group was about an hour's drive. It wasn't too far in her eyes.

As for the salary...

"Don't worry about the distance, Mom. As for the pay, I'll find out tomorrow at the interview."

"Oh, alright. If you've got it handled, then I won't worry.

"By the way, I've already prepared your room. Get some rest early so you're ready for tomorrow's interview."

Though the small house wasn't spacious, with only three bedrooms, the Trevinos had originally set aside a room for Alora.

But Priscilla worried Genevieve might feel uncomfortable staying in Alora's old room, so she had redecorated and furnished another one instead.

After her shower, Genevieve lay in the modest bedroom.

The room was small, but it had everything she needed.

"So this is how having a family feels. I like it."

Wrapped in lemon-scented blankets, Genevieve slept soundly through the night.

The next morning after breakfast, Genevieve left the house with her three brothers.

However, since she was heading in the opposite direction, the four parted ways at the neighborhood entrance.

After walking about a kilometer from Serein Estates, Genevieve stopped before a Bentley.

"Genny."

"Let's head to Zenith Group."

The Bentley made a U-turn and drove toward Zenith Group.

Meanwhile, Malik had turned into an alley after leaving Serein Estates, where a Maybach was parked.

"Mr. Trevino, shall we return to the company?"

After changing clothes, Malik checked his watch.

"To Zenith Group."

The Maybach started smoothly and headed in the same direction.

At a traffic light, the Bentley and Maybach came to a stop side by side.

The Bentley's window rolled halfway down, revealing a striking profile.

Malik glanced over casually, then froze.

That person ... looked just like Genevieve...

As he reached to lower his own window for a better look, the light turned green.

The Bentley sped off, leaving exhaust fumes and its rear end in view.

Malik thought, "Was I imagining things? But that really looked like her."

And Genevieve had gone this same direction that morning. Was it a coincidence?

As they neared Zenith Group, Malik spotted the familiar Bentley again.

This time, the figure's silhouette seemed even more like Genevieve's, except the outfit was Idyll Chic's latest release, not the cheap office wear she'd worn earlier.

The cheapest Idyll Chic piece cost over 130 thousand dollars. No way Genevieve could afford that.

Shaking his head, Malik dismissed the absurd thought.

"Raymond, go over today's schedule?" Genevieve sat in her chair, head bowed as she processed documents.

"Nine AM, negotiate cooperation with the Trevino Group. Eleven AM, hold the routine meeting. Two PM..."

"Wait, the Trevino Group? Which one?" Genevieve interrupted.

"The one owned by the richest Trevino family in Isondale, of course."

Raymond didn't understand why Genevieve suddenly asked this.

The Trevino Group wasn't where Malik worked, was it?

"Ms. Chaney, Mr. Trevino is here."

Genevieve's phone suddenly rang. "Hello, what's it?"

Genevieve's brows furrowed as she listened to what the other end said.

"I'm on my way."

Hanging up, she pinched the bridge of her nose, voice weary. "Raymond, I need to go out. Handle the Trevino Group negotiations."

Without waiting for Raymond's response, Genevieve grabbed her coat and left the office, heading down the corridor.

Meanwhile, Malik had just been led by staff to the office doorway.

Seeing that retreating figure in the distance, he felt an inexplicable sense of having missed something.

"Mr. Trevino, this way, please."

Malik collected himself and entered.

Having left Zenith Group, Genevieve drove herself to a private hospital with pleasant surroundings.

The entire 18th floor comprised a single ward.

Upon exiting the elevator, Genevieve saw a woman in a pink dress pacing anxiously by the door.

"Sherlyn, how's Darrell?"

"Genny! You're finally here!"

Sherlyn Hayden looked ready to cry, pulling Genevieve toward the ward.

"Darrell had been fine these past days, but today he suddenly went berserk and hurt the doctors and himself."

"Calm down. I'll check on him first and see what to do."

Genevieve patted Sherlyn's hand, comforting the tearful woman.

Genevieve felt frustrated at the sight of Darrell Howard, who had just collapsed on the bed after exhausting himself during the outburst.

Darrell, like Raymond, had once been her most capable and trusted aide.

Three years ago, during an ambush, Darrell had stepped in at the critical moment to ensure Genevieve's escape, only to fall into enemy hands himself.

By the time she found him, he wasn't dead, but he'd been injected with an experimental drug.

Non-lethal, but designed to ravage the nervous system, turning its victims into frenzied beasts.

Genevieve had poured vast resources into developing an antidote, only to hit a roadblock: it required ice lotus, a rare herb.

She'd only seen it in her mentor's ancient texts.

Years of searching had yielded nothing.

"He should be fine after waking." Genevieve packed her treatment tools, wiping Sherlyn's tears.

"Genny, still no leads on ice lotus? Darrell's violent episodes are becoming more frequent. I'm worried..."

"Don't worry. I'll double our efforts to track both the herb and those bastards. Darrell will survive."

Though she'd rescued Darrell, the masterminds remained at large.

Finding them might mean securing the cure.

Genevieve clenched her fists, her knuckles whitening, a vein throbbing at her temple.

After calming Sherlyn, Genevieve left the hospital.

Raymond called to update her that the Trevino Group deal was progressing smoothly.

Slumping into the car seat, she exhaled.

She glanced at her phone and realized that Priscilla's birthday was coming up soon. She decided to go and pick out a birthday gift for Priscilla.

Priscilla usually dressed modestly and didn't like wearing jewelry.

Thinking of Priscilla's gentle and graceful demeanor, Genevieve thought a bracelet would be perfect.

"Can I take a look at this one?" Genevieve asked a sales clerk.

"Excellent choice! This bracelet showcases excellent design and superb craftsmanship. The rich color palette is particularly striking!"

Genevieve observed the bracelet. While not top-quality, it was decent enough.

As for the price, something too expensive would raise suspicions, but this moderately priced piece could pass as savings.

"Alright, please wrap this up for me."

"Right away, miss!"

Just as the sales clerk prepared to package the bracelet, a sweet yet grating voice interrupted, "Genevieve, it really is you."

"So, it's you, the fair-weather woman," Genevieve retorted, crossing her arms as she faced Alora and Paulina Gibson.

Originally, the Chaney family and the Gibson family had a marriage agreement. Genevieve was to marry into the Gibson family, but Paulina found Genevieve disagreeable in every way.

Now that Alora had returned to the Chaneys, she'd replace Genevieve in marrying into the Gibson family. Now, Alora and Paulina seemed to get well along.

"Genevieve! Who are you calling a fair-weather woman?" Paulina jabbed an accusing finger when Alora took offense.

"Whoever answers to the name." Genevieve shrugged, utterly unbothered.

"You..."

"Paula, don't be upset. Genevieve didn't mean it like that." Alora restrained Paulina, her choked voice oozing false magnanimity.

Genevieve's eyebrow arched as she assessed Alora's new Chanel dress and diamond necklace, likely Idyll Chic's latest 300-thousand-dollar piece.

The Chaneys clearly spoiled their returned princess rotten.

Noticing Genevieve's gaze on her necklace, Alora caressed the pendant on it.

"Genevieve, are you looking at my necklace? Father gifted me this Idyll Chic limited edition. Isn't it exquisite?

"If you like it, maybe your dad can buy you one too."

Alora suddenly gasped, covering her mouth in fake remorse.

"Oh wait, my bad! This necklace costs over 300 thousand dollars. Even if the Trevinos worked themselves to the bone, they still couldn't save enough to afford it in thirty years."

The sales clerk side-eyed Genevieve. If her family was that poor, how was she buying a bracelet worth over 100 thousand?

"Thirty years?" Paulina sneered. "Those paupers wouldn't scrape together enough in fifty!"

The Trevinos had doted on Alora, but they'd made her suffer financially.

Only Paulina's brother's warning about "ungrateful" rumors stopped her from exiling them from Isondale.

"Paulina, don't say that," Alora chided. "Her brothers are capable. They might get promotions and become rich!"

"Promotions?" Paulina scoffed. "They'll still be employees. How much can they even earn? They'll still be poor."

"No way, Paula. Look at what she's wearing today. It's Idyll Chic's new collection. I remember this outfit costs over 130 thousand dollars."

Paulina doubted that. Those penniless Trevino family wretches could afford to buy Genevieve such clothes?

She wore a mocking expression and let out a cold laugh.

"Over 130 thousand dollars? More like a 13-dollar knockoff. A fraud like her only deserves to wear fakes."

Alora uttered, "But her clothes don't look counterfeit to me."

"Alora, you're so naive. Someone like her could never afford Idyll Chic's new releases."

Having said this, Paulina called out to the clerk again, "Hey, she's just some pauper who can't afford this bracelet. Don't let her fool you."

The clerk glanced at Genevieve, then at Alora and Paulina. She didn't recognize Alora, but Paulina was the Gibson Group's heiress, someone she often saw at the Dior boutique next door.

She returned the jade bracelet to the counter and said to Genevieve, "Miss, I'm sorry. We can't sell this bracelet to you. Please leave."

"Leave?" Genevieve arched a brow, casually taking a seat. She propped her chin on one hand while the other tapped the counter with a single finger.

"Hey, Genevieve, are you deaf? She told you to get out!" Paulina yelled.

Ignoring her, Genevieve pulled out a sleek black card with gold trim and slid it toward the clerk.

"Now, can you wrap it up for me?"

"It's the Supreme Black Card, limited to just three in the entire mall!" The clerk's eyes lit up as she took the card, immediately bowing apologetically. "My sincerest apologies, miss! I'll package the bracelet for you right away!"

She hurriedly retrieved the bracelet from the display and began carefully wrapping it.

"No way! How could you have a Black Card?!" Paulina cried out.

Alora might not have known what it meant, but Paulina did.

This wasn't just any card, but one of only three ever issued by Spotlight Mall.

The holder could spend without limits, and more importantly, obtaining one required not just wealth, but power.

Even the prestigious Gibson family of Isondale only had a card with an 800-thousand-dollar limit. So how the hell did Genevieve, of all people, get her hands on a Black Card?!

"Why wouldn't I have one?" Genevieve smirked. "I could pull out ten of these if I wanted."

After all, she owned Spotlight Mall. She could get as many similar cards as she wanted.

"You're just a fraud! That card has to be fake!" Paulina couldn't believe it. She turned to the staff. "Don't fall for her scam!"

The clerk paid Paulina no mind, swiftly completing the transaction before handing the card and bracelet to Genevieve.

"Here you are, miss. Your card and bracelet."

"No... No way! How did it actually go through?!"

Paulina snatched the card from the clerk's hands, flipping it over repeatedly as if searching for flaws.

"Done staring?" Genevieve reclaimed it with ease.

Paulina still refused to believe it. "I get it now. This belongs to your sugar daddy, doesn't it?"

Genevieve was amused that Paulina had quite the imagination.

"Paulina, how could you say that? Genevieve would never stoop to finding a sugar daddy!" Alora's eyes gleamed at the accusation, though she pretended to defend Genevieve by tugging Paulina's sleeve.

"Alora, how else would she get a Black Card?" Paulina sneered. "Tsk tsk. I never thought you'd whore yourself out for money, Genevieve. Disgusting.

"But I guess it makes sense. After living in luxury with the Chaneys, slumming it with the Trevinos must be rough.

"I'm curious. Is your sugar daddy older than your father?"

A sharp slap landed on Paulina's cheek when she was laughing heartily.

"Genevieve! How dare you..."

Then came another slap.

"Genevieve! You can't hit Paulina! She's a Gibson!"

Alora shielded Paulina, though her lips twitched upward.

She thought, "This idiot actually struck a Gibson? She's done for.

"I haven't even decided how to handle her yet, and she already dug her own grave. Total dumbass."

"I almost forgot you." Genevieve cracked her knuckles before delivering two stinging slaps to Alora's face.

"These are for your ingratitude. The Trevinos raised you. They never let you go hungry or cold, yet you let trash insult them? Even a pet knows loyalty."

She turned back to Paulina. "Ms. Gibson, you speak of sugar daddies so freely. You must be quite familiar with such arrangements. Does the Gibson fortune not satisfy you, or is this some twisted fetish?"

"Genevieve! How dare you!" Paulina lunged to hit her, fury overriding the sting on her face.

Genevieve wouldn't back off.

She caught Paulina's raised hand mid-air and smacked another stinging slap across her face.

This time, Paulina's cheek swelled even more, her lip splitting at the corner with a faint trickle of blood.

The force of the blow sent her crashing to the floor, dazed and disoriented.

"Paula! Paula, are you okay?!" Alora rushed to her side, panic rising.

If the Gibsons blamed her for Paulina's injury, she was screwed.

"Guess I'm a little out of practice," Genevieve mused, flexing her wrist.

As she walked past the two, she paused. "Wearing Idyll Chic only drags its name through the mud when it's on trash like you."

Alora clenched her fists, watching Genevieve leave, exclaiming inwardly, "You stole my life for years, Genevieve. I will make you pay!"

After exiting the store, Genevieve made a call and headed toward the mall exit until a commotion erupted near a crowded shop.

Normally, she'd ignore it, but this was her property. If something went wrong, the liability fell on Spotlight Mall.

"Honey, how are you feeling? Don't scare me!"

Pushing through the crowd, she found an elderly man collapsed on the floor, face twisted in agony as he clutched his chest. A woman knelt beside him, frantic.

"Honey, hold on! The ambulance is coming!"

"Ma'am, let me check him." Genevieve crouched down, assessing his blue-tinged lips, labored breathing, and ashen skin. It should be acute myocardial infarction.

"Does he have a history of heart disease?"

"No! He's always been healthy!"

Could it be spontaneous cardiac arrest? Genevieve frowned as she unzipped her bag and pulled out a slim tool case.

"Young lady... y-you're a doctor?"

"I am."

"Thank God! Please help my husband!"

Genevieve nodded, retrieving a special tool when a sharp voice cut in, "Hold it! You don't look like any doctor I've ever seen!"

Darren Griffith, a bespectacled man in his forties, pushed forward.

"And you are?"

"A surgeon at Monsoon Hospital."

Monsoon Hospital was Isondale's top medical institution, where even junior doctors held dual master's degrees.

"Young lady, an ambulance is coming. Don't play hero with this man's life."

"By then, he'll be dead."

The patient's lips darkened to violet, his breaths shallowing. He wouldn't make it that long.

"Nonsense! This gentleman's condition is completely stable enough to last until the ambulance arrives. Don't risk his life just to show off!"

"Show off?" Genevieve almost laughed.

"Let me guess. You're about to try some special treatment on him. He's having an acute myocardial infarction right now. Don't tell me you plan to rely on traditional medicine to save him."

"Where's your medical license? How dare you use that so-called skills..."

"No time for this."

Though the man's condescension rankled, lives came first. Ignoring his rant, Genevieve started her treatment.

"Hey! Why wouldn't you listen to me? I trained under Kareem Dunlap! You really think..."

Darren's words died as the impossible happened before his eyes.

The elderly patient's breathing gradually steadied, his oxygen-starved lips regaining their natural color.

Genevieve took his wrist, checking his pulse.

Nearby, Alora, who had been about to take Paulina to the hospital, spotted Genevieve through the crowd and frowned.

"Huh? Is that Genevieve? What's she doing?"

Paulina followed her gaze and stiffened. "Genevieve is ... treating someone? Since when did that bitch know medicine?"

In her memories, Genevieve had been too busy groveling to the Chaneys and Gibsons to even focus on school and she'd nearly failed to graduate. How could she have possibly studied medicine?

Paulina's eyes gleamed, her stinging cheek momentarily forgotten. "Come on. Let's check it out."

Dragging Alora with her, she pushed through the crowd just as Genevieve finished withdrawing her tools.

Noticing the well-dressed elderly couple, Paulina came up with an idea.

"Oh? Genevieve, what's this? Playing doctor now? You've never studied medicine. Can you face the consequences if something goes wrong?"

Genevieve ignored her, calmly packing her special tools before offering the old man a small pill.

"He'll be fine, ma'am. Just get some rest for a few days."

"Thank you, young lady! Thank you!" The woman's eyes welled up as she clutched Genevieve's hands.

My pleasure. But I'd still recommend a full check-up at the hospital."

"Yes, yes, we'll go right away!"

Genevieve smiled and turned to leave. She'd already wasted too much time, and Priscilla would worry if she stayed out much longer.

But Paulina stepped in front of her, arms crossed. "Stop right there! Who said you could leave?"

"Move." Genevieve's voice was cold.

"Make me." Paulina jutted her chin out defiantly, her hands on her hips.

"Seems you still haven't learned your lesson, Ms. Gibson." Genevieve flexed her wrist, smiling at Paulina's swollen cheek.

"W-what are you doing? Genevieve, there are witnesses here! I'm not afraid of you!"

Paulina stumbled backward, hiding behind Alora as the memory of those stinging slaps resurfaced. "Alora, help me!"

"What an idiot!" Alora suppressed a scowl, cursing inwardly. "Pick fights she can't win and then drag me into it?"

But when she considered that after marrying into the Gibson family, Paulina would become her sister-in-law, she couldn't actually just stand by. Otherwise, the Gibson family would surely blame her.

She stepped forward with a plastic smile.

"Genevieve, Paulina just ... misspoke. Don't hold it against her."

Her words dripped poison, subtly telling the crowd: This fraud has no medical training.

Murmurs erupted in the crowd. "She claimed to be a doctor, right?"

"Is she a fraud?"

"But the man recovered after her treatment."

"Exactly! Genevieve, you've never studied medicine, but you're here deceiving people and 'treating' a patient!" Paulina stepped out from behind Alora, pointing at Genevieve and shouting.

"Everyone, I've known this woman for over twenty years. I swear, she's never had any medical training!

"Not only that, she's a thief who replaced my friend's place to live a privileged life! Her birth family are all penniless nobodies!

"She probably can't get used to living in poverty after reuniting with her real parents. She's some rich man's mistress, and now trying to scam these well-dressed elderly folks!" Paulina declared loudly.

"Genevieve, if anything happens to this elderly man, you'll be held accountable for murder!"

Paulina's words caused the crowd to murmur.

"So, she's a homewrecker!"

"This woman looks decent. How could she do such shameless things!"

"And she actually dares to play doctor. How reckless! She doesn't seem to mind whatever the consequences at all."

Listening to the murmurs around her, Genevieve arched an eyebrow with a cold smile. "It seems I've been too lenient with you two."

"What, Genevieve? Are you embarrassed because you got exposed?" Paulina taunted. "There are witnesses here. If you dare hit me, I'll call the police!"

Paulina felt emboldened as public opinion was on her side now.

"Call the police? Excellent. You'll get into trouble for slander and defamation."

Paulina faltered. Though she'd repeatedly called Genevieve a mistress and a fraud, she had no actual proof.

Seeing Paulina choke, Alora cursed her inwardly for a fool.

"Genevieve, Paula only worried you'd gone astray. Don't blame her."

Genevieve knew that Alora always incited hotheaded Paulina to confront her, while Alora herself stayed back and watched.

Genevieve snorted and pointed at the middle-aged man who had claimed to be a doctor earlier.

"Isn't there a doctor here? Whether I cured the patient or not, let him take a look."

Every gaze turned to the man who'd mocked Genevieve moments ago.

Darren man cleared his throat and examined the patient's condition.

"Ahem... the patient is indeed stable now."

Alora and Paulina froze. Could Genevieve actually know medicine?

No way! She'd spent years groveling before the Chaneys and Gibsons. When would she have had time to study?

"But..." Darren added.

"But what?! Spit it out!" Paulina snapped, impatient.

"But we'd need professional equipment to confirm his true condition. This could just be a superficial improvement.

"I've heard traditional medicine can briefly stimulate meridians to revive patients without actually curing them."

"Ha! I knew it! Genevieve's a fraud!" Paulina crowed.

Darren sneered at Genevieve. "Young lady, even if you bought him some time, delaying proper treatment could cost his life. That's on you."

Already biased against traditional medicine, and with Paulina and Alora insisting Genevieve was untrained, he dismissed her outright.

He assumed she had just used some method to keep the patient alive for now.

After all, he was a disciple of Kareem Dunlap - the renowned medical authority whom countless people begged to study under.

He himself had only become Kareem's nominal student after persistent pleading and generous gifts.

There was no way someone as young as Genevieve could surpass even him, let alone Kareem Dunlap.

Seeing Darren and Paulina echoing each other, Genevieve smiled with mockery.

Just as she was about to respond, a group of doctors and nurses rushed over.

"Make way, please!"

A doctor crouched beside the patient and checked his condition.

"Brad, is my husband going to be okay?" The elderly woman seemed to know him.

Bradford Castillo listened to the patient's heartbeat, examined his eyelids, and then exhaled in relief.

"Don't worry, ma'am. He's stable for now, but we'll need to run tests at the hospital to be sure."

The woman nodded and stepped back as the nurses prepared to lift his husband onto a stretcher.

"Wait."

Genevieve called out to Bradford.

"Miss, what's wrong?" Bradford frowned. Matthew Compton was stable for now, but anything could change. They needed to get him to the hospital as soon as possible to avoid delaying treatment.

Genevieve said, "I want to tell you. When you check his heart, check his lungs too."

She found a lung issue when she took Matthew's pulse earlier.

She hadn't said much then to avoid worrying his wife. She just suggested a full check-up for Matthew.

Now that a doctor was here and seemed familiar with them, she figured it was fine to add a reminder.

"Lungs?" Bradford was skeptical, thinking, "I've been handling his check-ups, and the last report didn't mention any lung issues. Is she trying to trick me?"

Paulina said, "Genevieve, he's a professional doctor. You're a scammer. You'd better keep quiet."

"Scammer?" Bradford's eyes darkened as he sized up Genevieve.

Paulina nodded. "Yeah. Didn't you know? Genevieve is a scammer. She learned some shady tricks and pretends to be a doctor."

"Shady tricks? Pretending to be a doctor?" Seeing how calm Genevieve was, Bradford couldn't picture her as a scammer.

"If you don't believe me, ask this guy. He's a doctor too!" Paulina pointed at Darren.

Darren cleared his throat and straightened up. "Yeah, this girl learned some weird stuff. She stimulated some parts of his body to keep Matthew hanging on. Don't be fooled. He seems fine, but it's all an illusion from that weird stuff."

"Weird stuff?" Bradford found it amusing.

He just examined Matthew. It was an acute heart attack, but the critical period had passed.

"You're saying she just saved Matthew?" asked Bradford.

Hearing Bradford's doubt, Paulina and Darren were even more convinced Genevieve had harmed Matthew.

Paulina hurriedly said, "Yeah, that's right! Matthew was harmed by Genevieve!"

"I told her not to move him. Just wait for the ambulance. But she wouldn't listen. What a pity. She's so pretty. How could she be a scammer?" said Darren.

Though Darren seemed regretful, he was secretly delighted inside.

"You two idiots. You don't know anything. Cut your nonsense." Bradford rolled his eyes. He couldn't stand their stupidity.

"How dare you curse at us!" Paulina's face turned red. With her puffy cheeks, she looked kind of ridiculous.

"Because I'm a doctor and you're an idiot. If she hadn't stepped in, Matthew wouldn't have made it till the ambulance came," said Bradford.

"H-how is that even possible?" Paulina and Alora exchanged glances, their eyes wide with disbelief.

They wondered, "Could Genevieve really know anything about medicine?"

"Impossible!" Darren shook his head. He looked at Genevieve and then at Bradford. "You're in cahoots, right? You're just putting on a show!

"A young girl saving someone with something as useless as traditional medicine? No way!"

"Useless?" Genevieve's eyes darkened, a hint of killing intent showing. "How dare you call traditional medicine useless?"

As Genevieve approached, Darren felt a chill. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "W-what do you want to do?"

Genevieve didn't say a word. She just kicked him in the stomach.

"As a doctor, you should know Gatriula is famous for traditional medicine. It's been around for thousands of years and has saved countless lives. How can you call it useless?" snapped Genevieve.

Darren was kicked back a meter. He sat on the ground, clutching his aching stomach. His face was twisted in pain.

He insisted, "Traditional medicine is useless! It can't compare to modern medicine!"

Darren had studied abroad since he was a kid and received the best education. He looked down on everything in Gatriula.

If his mom hadn't forced him to come back, he would have stayed abroad, living a high-paying, carefree life.

"When traditional medicine was saving lives, your so-called modern medicine was nothing! The people who invented modern medicine haven't even been born yet!" Genevieve clenched her fists, holding back the urge to kick Darren to death.

This was in a shopping mall, and more people were gathering. It wasn't the place for a big scene.

If it were in the wilderness, she would tear Darren apart.

Darren shouted, "Nonsense! Modern medicine is the real deal. Traditional medicine is nothing. You're in cahoots with this guy, trying to use Matthew's life to show off. You're playing with people's lives!"

Paulina and Alora, stunned by Genevieve, snapped back to reality when Darren shouted.

Paulina said, "That's right. You're definitely putting on a show. You're not taking Matthew away."

Alora persuaded, "Genevieve, don't be so stubborn. If you delay his treatment, you'll really be a murderer."

Paulina and Alora blocked the way, acting like they were heroes.

"A show? I, Bradford, wouldn't stoop to acting with anyone. Move out of the way." Bradford's patience was wearing thin. If he didn't have a rule against hitting women, he would have kicked Paulina and Alora out of the way ages ago.

"Bradford?" Darren was a bit stunned. "Y-you're saying you're Bradford?"

Bradford was one of the most outstanding and relatively young genius doctors in Gatriula.

He was relatively young because there was another genius, no, a prodigy doctor, even younger than him.

"N-no, it can't be. How could you be Bradford?" Darren had thought Bradford looked familiar but couldn't remember. It was only when Bradford introduced himself that it finally hit him.

At an academic conference before, Bradford gave a speech on stage, but Darren was too far away to see clearly.

Now, looking closely, this young man in front of him did look a bit like Bradford.

"If I'm not Bradford, are you?" Bradford retorted.

Both Paulina and Alora wondered, "Who is Bradford?"

They usually didn't pay attention to such things, so naturally, they didn't know who Bradford was.

"Bradford, could he be that genius doctor from Monsoon Hospital?"

"No way. Isn't this guy also from Monsoon Hospital? Hasn't he met Mr. Castillo?"

The whispers reached Paulina and Alora's ears clearly.

They thought, "If this guy is really a genius doctor, then what he said about Genevieve saving Matthew is true!"

"Oh? You're from Monsoon Hospital?" Bradford raised an eyebrow and sneered. "If Monsoon Hospital has trash like you, it really stains the place."

Genevieve was also a bit surprised. She hadn't expected that the person in front of her was Bradford, who was known as one of the two great talents of Monsoon Hospital along with Valentina.

Darren was completely stunned. He sat on the ground, his eyes blank, mumbling, "It's impossible. It's impossible."

Bradford didn't feel like arguing with Darren anymore. He looked at Paulina and Alora, who were still blocking the way, and his expression turned sour. "Excuse me, please move."

Paulina and Alora looked at each other and were about to move when they heard Genevieve's voice. "No need to trouble them. Mr. Castillo, I'll clear the way for you right away."