Janice Edwards was once the forgotten daughter of a wealthy family, cast aside and forced to give up everything—her identity, her dreams, and even her designs—to her adopted sister, Delilah. After years of neglect and betrayal, Janice walked away, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. She transformed herself into a master designer, a martial artist, and a multilingual expert, vowing never to let anyone hurt her again. But just as she began to rise, her past came knocking. Delilah returned, seeking forgiveness, and Janice had to decide: could she trust the sister who had taken so much from her?
Now, Janice is a global icon, using her success to empower others through her fashion brand, Resilience, and a mentorship program for aspiring designers. But as she prepares to speak at the United Nations Global Empowerment Summit, a new challenge emerges. A young woman named Amina, inspired by Janice’s story, seeks her help to change her own life. Will Janice’s past with Delilah haunt her, or will she rise once more to inspire a new generation? The world watches as Janice Edwards proves that no matter how broken you are, you can always rise stronger.
Chapter 1: The Whipping
The sound of a whip cracking echoed through the grand mansion, sending chills down the spines of everyone present. The servants stood frozen, not daring to make a sound, as Laurie Edwards, the matriarch of the family, unleashed her fury on her own daughter, Janice.
“How dare you, Janice! Do you even realize what you’ve done to your sister? You’re going to learn your lesson today!” Laurie’s voice was filled with rage as she brought the whip down on Janice’s back, leaving deep, red marks.
Janice, however, remained silent. Her small frame trembled under the pain, but she clenched her teeth, refusing to cry out. Her eyes, though filled with pain, also held a spark of defiance. She had endured so much since returning to her family, and this was just another cruel moment in a long line of injustices.
“I brought you back into this family, gave you everything you needed, and this is how you repay me?” Laurie’s voice was sharp, each word cutting deeper than the whip.
Janice’s back was now covered in crimson streaks, her face pale from the pain. Yet, she stood her ground, her gaze steady. She had grown numb to the constant punishment and neglect.
“Now, apologize to Delilah!” Laurie demanded, panting from the exertion. Her eyes burned with anger as she glared at Janice.
“Why should I apologize when I’ve done nothing wrong?” Janice’s voice was firm, each word a challenge to her mother’s authority.
Laurie’s fury only grew at Janice’s defiance. She gripped the whip tighter, ready to strike again. “Then I won’t stop until you apologize!”
At that moment, Delilah, Laurie’s adopted daughter, stepped forward, her eyes filled with tears. “Mom, please stop! It’s not Janice’s fault. I never told her about my allergy to mango. It’s my mistake.”
“Delilah, you’re too kind. She almost killed you, and yet you defend her?” Laurie’s voice softened as she turned to Delilah, her anger replaced with warmth. “She’s just jealous of you. She gave you mango pudding knowing about your allergy. How cruel can she be?”
“But I didn’t know!” Janice protested, tears welling up in her eyes. “I swear, I didn’t know about her allergy!”
“Still making excuses?” Laurie snapped, landing another strike on Janice. The pain shot through her body, but she refused to cry out.
Ever since Janice had returned to the family, she had been blamed for everything that went wrong. No matter what she said or did, it was always her fault. When Delilah had fallen down the stairs, she had accused Janice of pushing her, and their parents had believed her without question.
Even though Janice was their biological daughter, she was treated as an outsider, while Delilah was cherished. In their eyes, Janice was nothing more than a troublemaker, always trying to hurt Delilah to gain attention.
Delilah cast a sympathetic glance at Janice. “Mom, I understand how Janice feels. I’ve taken her place as your daughter for over a decade. If I were in her shoes, I’d probably feel bitter too. Maybe if I leave, she’ll finally feel at peace, and the family can heal.”
Her words, though seemingly kind, were a clever ploy to further isolate Janice. Laurie fell for it completely.
Janice’s heart sank deeper into despair. She had tried so hard to win her family’s love, but it seemed like nothing she did would ever be enough.
The whip cracked again, bringing her back to the harsh reality. She looked into Laurie’s cold, contemptuous eyes.
“Just look at Delilah, always so thoughtful and kind! If you were even half as considerate, I’d be proud of you. But instead, you deny your mistakes, as if you want to make me angry,” Laurie said, her voice icy.
Janice stood her ground. “I’ll say it again, the pudding I gave her didn’t have any mango in it. If you don’t believe me, check the grocery list!”
“Why should I check? Delilah wouldn’t lie about something like that,” Laurie replied, her faith in Delilah unshakable.
“Mom…” Delilah’s voice trembled, her act perfectly crafted. “If it makes Janice feel better, maybe I did wrong her.”
“Delilah, don’t cry. You don’t deserve this. I’ll make sure that ungrateful girl pays for what she’s done,” Laurie said, her grip on the whip tightening.
“If you don’t want to apologize, that’s fine. But in three days, Efrery is hosting its first fashion design contest. If you give your design draft to Delilah, I’ll let this go,” Laurie declared.
Again? Janice’s heart sank. She had already given up so much to win her family’s approval. Her bedroom, her identity, and now her design draft? Her future was at stake.
“Say something,” Laurie demanded as Janice remained silent. “Have you lost your voice?”
“Mom, please,” Delilah interjected, gripping Laurie’s arm. “Janice is competing too. What will she do if she gives me her draft? I feel confident about winning, but…” She paused, coughing weakly, as if she might faint. “I don’t think my health will allow it.”
“She hurt you, so she should make it right,” Laurie said, her gaze piercing Janice. “I’ll ask you one last time—are you giving up the draft or not?”
Janice’s chest tightened as she took a deep breath. “Mom, aren’t I your daughter too?” she asked, her voice breaking.
“You claim to be my daughter, but you ignore my wishes?” Laurie’s words were like a knife to Janice’s heart.
Janice closed her eyes, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll let her have the draft.”
A sly smile flickered across Delilah’s face. Janice’s design skills were unmatched, and with her draft, winning the competition would be easy.
“You do have a conscience after all,” Laurie said, tossing the whip aside. She turned to Delilah with a warm smile. “With Janice’s design draft, you can stop worrying about the competition. Just relax and enjoy the award when it comes.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Delilah said, her face lighting up with joy. But then she glanced at Janice, her expression timid. “But won’t Janice resent me for using her draft?”
“Would she dare?” Laurie’s voice turned cold as she glared at Janice. “If she resents you, she’ll find herself out on the streets. The Edwards family doesn’t keep ungrateful people around, family or not.”
“What if Janice accuses me of stealing her design?” Delilah asked, her voice filled with worry.
“Then I’ll make sure every trace of her involvement is erased, and you’ll be credited alone,” Laurie said, her words final.
Janice’s heart sank. Had her year of endurance and compromise been for nothing?
She let out a bitter laugh, the last remnants of her hope crumbling away. She was done with this family. From this day forward, she vowed, no one in the Edwards family would ever cross her again.