Yelena’s life turned upside down when she discovered she wasn’t the biological daughter of the wealthy Roberts family. After they tried to use her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace, Phurg. There, she uncovered shocking truths about her real family—a lineage tied to power, danger, and secrets. With the help of her half-brother Ethan, Yelena began piecing together her past, but it led her straight into a deadly game. When she found a mysterious ledger filled with dangerous secrets, she became the target of powerful enemies who would stop at nothing to silence her.
Now on the run, Yelena must navigate a world of lies, betrayal, and hidden enemies. With the ledger in her hands, she holds the key to uncovering the truth about her parents and the dangerous world they were part of. But as she digs deeper, she realizes the stakes are higher than she ever imagined. Will she survive long enough to uncover the truth, or will the secrets of her past destroy her first? The clock is ticking, and every move could be her last.
Chapter 1: The Expulsion
The Roberts family’s villa in Eighfast was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that feels heavy, like a storm brewing just out of sight. The calm was shattered by the sharp click of heels on the marble floor.
“Yelena, back so soon?” Sonya Roberts leaned casually against the doorframe, a smug grin plastered on her face. “Brett White might be older, but he’s rich, powerful, and stable. You should be thrilled at the chance to be his wife.”
Yelena Roberts stopped in her tracks, her expression hardening like ice. Before Sonya could react, Yelena moved like lightning, her hand striking Sonya’s cheek with a resounding crack. The sound echoed through the room, silencing Sonya’s arrogance in an instant.
“Why don’t you marry him, Sonya?” Yelena’s voice was sharp, her eyes blazing with fury. “You spiked my drink, didn’t you?”
Sonya clutched her reddened cheek, her confidence crumbling as the sting of Yelena’s slap burned into her skin.
“Yelena! Have you lost your mind?” Tatiana Roberts stormed into the room, her face twisted with rage. “How dare you hit Sonya? After everything we’ve done for you!”
But Yelena wasn’t fazed. She stood tall, her gaze steady. “She drugged me, mocked me, and treated me like trash. Tell me, wasn’t that slap deserved?”
The truth was, Yelena wasn’t even a Roberts. Three months ago, a routine blood test during a hospital visit revealed the shocking truth: her blood type didn’t match Jonathan or Tatiana’s. Yelena wasn’t their biological daughter.
The discovery shattered the family. Desperate to fix things, the Roberts launched a search for their real daughter and found Sonya, who seamlessly slipped into the life Yelena had once called her own. Overnight, Yelena became an outsider in her own home, a ghost living in the shadow of Sonya’s newfound privilege.
But the Roberts weren’t done with Yelena yet. Brett White, a wealthy businessman, had taken an interest in her. Seeing an opportunity, Jonathan and Tatiana hatched a plan: drug Yelena, hand her over to Brett, and secure a five-million-dollar payoff.
Yelena, however, had foiled their scheme, escaping their clutches just in time.
Now, standing in the villa, Yelena faced Tatiana and Sonya with unwavering defiance. “If marrying into wealth is such a blessing, why don’t you take the chance, Sonya?”
Tatiana’s face turned crimson with anger. “How dare you compare yourself to Sonya? She’s engaged to Roger Ellis, heir to the Ellis family. A match worthy of her status!”
Sonya stepped forward, her smile sweet but her eyes glinting with malice. “That’s right, Yelena. Roger told me I’m his one true love, the only one he could ever imagine by his side.”
Yelena’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Relax, Sonya. I wouldn’t touch Roger with a ten-foot pole. You two deserve each other.”
Jonathan, sensing the tension, finally intervened. “Yelena, this is for your own good. If you refuse Brett, then perhaps it’s time you sought out your real parents. They’re in Phurg.”
Phurg—a barren, impoverished region known only for its struggles. The mention of it was a slap in itself, a reminder of how far Yelena had fallen from the life she once knew.
Jonathan held out an envelope containing ten thousand dollars. “Take this. It’s the least we can do.”
Tatiana scoffed. “Jonathan, we owe her nothing! She’s an ungrateful little parasite!”
Yelena let out a bitter laugh. Ungrateful? She had kept the Roberts Group afloat for years, managing their finances behind the scenes while Jonathan and Tatiana squandered their wealth.
“Thank you, Mr. Roberts, but that won’t be necessary,” Yelena said calmly. Without another word, she turned and headed upstairs to pack her belongings.
Sonya followed, her face a mask of false concern. When Yelena returned with a worn black bag, Sonya grabbed it, spilling its contents onto the floor. Among the items was a gleaming Chanel bracelet.
Sonya gasped dramatically. “This is the bracelet Dad gave me last week! How did it end up in your bag?”
Tatiana erupted. “You thief! Stealing from the family that raised you? This is the ultimate disgrace!”
Jonathan’s face darkened. “Yelena, explain yourself.”
Yelena’s lips curved into a cold smile. If Sonya wanted a show, she’d give her one.