Chapter 1 Nina Swanson

In an old neighborhood of Riverdale, a luxury car was parked in front of a yard.

Martin Swanson sat inside, wearing a custom-made suit, his face showing impatience. He glanced at the expensive watch on his wrist, frowned, and got out, walking into the yard.

Inside, Nina Swanson wore cheap clothes and dug through a patch of soil with a hoe, tending to some strange plants.

Martin looked annoyed. He strode over and asked in a deep voice, "What are you doing?"

Nina looked up at him. "Planting. Got a problem?"

"I've been waiting for you outside for two hours, and you're messing with this crap?" Martin frowned, his already grim expression darkened further. "You should know that you're part of the Swanson family."

Nina didn't stop working. She asked carelessly, "So?"

"So?" Martin almost laughed in anger. "So stop doing things that don't fit your status. And I gave up a project that pays tens of millions of dollars an hour to come pick you up. You'd better not waste my time."

Nina finally stopped. She stared at Martin without saying a word.

Martin continued, "Nina, remember, our house isn't the nightclub you used to stay in. Drop all the low-class stuff you learned from Scarlet. And don't get smug just because you're my sister. We're related by blood, but I don't consider you family."

His tone was stern, like he was giving orders to a subordinate. There wasn't a trace of joy at finding his long-lost sister, only a sense that this reunion was ridiculous.

Lily, who he'd lived with for years, wasn't his real sister. The girl in front of him, raised by a nightclub hostess since childhood, was.

When the Swanson family learned this, they were stunned. No one could accept that Nina had been raised by a woman working at a nightclub.

Even worse, the records they'd found showed Nina hadn't finished high school and had been expelled. The reason was unclear, but Martin was sure she had done something bad.

And the small yard, thanks to Scarlet Mayfield, the woman who had raised Nina, had a lot of men coming and going. Martin didn't know if any of those men had tried to make a move on Nina.

The thought made him increasingly agitated. He didn't want to give up a multi-million-dollar project to bring home a sister full of scandals.

"Ten minutes," he commanded. "Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Nina dropped the hoe and kicked Martin out of the gate.

"Get out!" she shouted.

Martin never imagined he'd be kicked out by the sister he despised from the bottom of his heart.

He kept a straight face and ordered the bodyguards, "Smash the door!"

The guards rushed forward, banging the iron gate loudly.

Nina frowned, a bit impatient. She flexed her hands and feet, ready to deal with them, when a voice came from behind. "Just open it. Don't disturb the girls."

Nina turned and saw Scarlet sitting on the steps in a red dress. She held a cigarette, smoke curling slowly from her lips and dispersing into the air.

Nina gave her a sideways glance but said nothing. She turned and opened the gate.

Martin stormed in. "Aren't you so tough? Kicking me out like that? I thought you were brave enough not to come back with me."

Nina looked at Martin coolly, the clothes on him making him look fancy, but his tantrum made him look childish. "I don't have to go back, but would you dare not take me?"

"You..." Martin choked on his words.

He'd come to this rundown place because his grandmother, Sarah, had forced him, literally threatening him with death, to pick up Nina. He didn't dare refuse.

Nina gave him a nonchalant glance. "Since you're here to bring me back, watch your attitude. I'm sure you already checked me out before coming. I have a bad temper, so you'd better stop lecturing me..."

She stepped forward to face him, her gaze sharp. "Cross my line, and I'll beat you up, no matter who you are. Got it?"

She sounded like a street punk, defiant and aggressive, which made Martin look even more irritated. He had only met Nina for a few minutes, yet almost everything she'd said was a threat.

Martin was about to lose his temper, but before he could speak, Nina turned and went back to fiddling with the soil.

His anger stayed trapped, neither vented nor gone, and it made him tense.

Two hours later, with Martin's patience almost gone, Nina finally stopped what she was doing. She walked slowly toward the house.

Soon, she came out carrying a suitcase. She had changed into a tight black leather outfit, her long hair flowing down her back. Her curves were perfectly outlined, beautiful and fierce at the same time.

Martin stared at her, stunned.

He remembered clearly that the outfit was the latest design by Lanelle, of which only two copies existed: one for sale, one a gift.

Lily had wanted it and asked him to grab it, but he had failed. He never expected Nina to be wearing it.

For a moment, he actually doubted it was real. But he had seen Lanelle's designs up close, and the neckline bore Lanelle's tiny signature 'L'.

The mark was small and easy to miss, but his eyes were so sharp that he spotted it immediately.

The outfit wasn't fake. But Martin couldn't understand how a girl raised by a nightclub hostess could afford Lanelle's design. Each piece sold for over three hundred thousand dollars.

Nina lifted her eyes and met Martin's shocked gaze. She withdrew her glance casually and walked slowly outside.

When she passed Scarlet, she paused. She glanced at the cigarette butts scattered on the ground, frowned, took the cigarette from Scarlet's hand, tossed it down, and crushed it with her foot. "Smoke less. It's bad for you."

Scarlet's hand froze in the air. She didn't say a word.

"Keep an eye on my herbs," Nina added. "They're pretty valuable."

Scarlet snorted. "Who cares about that junk? Go live your fancy life. Don't come back."

Nina didn't respond, only reminded her, "Don't forget to take your medicine."

Then she walked away without looking back.

Martin opened the car door, but before he could say anything, Nina pushed the suitcase forward. "It's taking your car."

Then she walked straight to a top-tier motorcycle parked across the street and put on her helmet.

Martin blew up. "Nina, what the hell are you doing? Get down! Do you even know how much that bike costs? Can you even pay for it if you break it?"

He'd seen the bike when he arrived and assumed some big shot had come to this shabby place. He never expected Nina to dare touch it.

Nina gave him a sideways glance, started the motorcycle, and sped off, leaving Martin in shock.

Martin froze. He was usually calm and unreadable, but now he was roaring inwardly. That bike was a world-class machine, the only one of its kind in the country, worth 2 million dollars.

The car he drove was only 600 thousand, yet Nina had a 2-million-dollar bike. He couldn't help but wonder, 'Wasn't she raised by a nightclub hostess? Could a hostess really be that rich?'

He stood there stunned for a long time, only driving off after Nina completely disappeared from sight.

It wasn't until both Nina's bike and Martin's car were gone that Scarlet stood up. She dusted off the dirt on her clothes, dialed a number, and said, "We leave tomorrow morning."

Chapter 2 Who Do You Think You Are?

By the time Nina and Martin reached the Swanson residence, the sky was already growing dark.

Martin glanced at Nina, who casually hung her helmet on the front of the motorcycle and shook out her long hair. He had no idea what to say.

He was driving a car and Nina was on a motorcycle, yet they arrived at the same time. He couldn't help thinking that top-tier bikes really were something else.

What he didn't know was that performance wasn't the only reason. The rider mattered just as much. Someone with poor skills could drive the most expensive car in the world and still move like a regular commuter.

The entire Swanson family was waiting for Nina in the living room.

She had barely stepped inside when an unfriendly voice rang out. "So you're Nina?"

Nina looked up and saw a woman in her early forties. She wore an elegant, clearly expensive dress, every gesture dripping with wealth and confidence.

This woman was her mother, Vivian Swanson, an intelligence researcher and the person who had abandoned her.

Everyone in the Swanson family believed Nina had been switched at birth and lost by mistake. No one knew Vivian had personally taken her to a mountain rumored to be deadly and left her there.

It had all started because Nina failed her childhood IQ test. As a scholar dedicated to studying human intelligence, Vivian couldn't accept having a "stupid" daughter.

So when she found a girl who scored 155 and looked remarkably like Nina, she took Nina into the mountains and abandoned her.

From that day on, the girl named Lily replaced Nina and grew up with the Swanson family.

Nina pulled her thoughts back and simply looked at Vivian, calm and steady.

In truth, her original IQ test had failed because of a machine malfunction. Later, Scarlet tested her again and the result was 228. Nina wondered whether Vivian would regret anything after learning what had happened.

The thought made her strangely curious.

"What, not going to say something? Are you mute?" Vivian frowned, her disgust nearly overflowing.

She was the only one who knew exactly how Nina and Lily had been switched. She was shocked Nina was even alive.

She had personally taken Nina to that dangerous mountain and left her there. She'd been absolutely certain the child wouldn't survive, which was why she felt safe bringing Lily home.

She took Lily overseas for four years. Children's faces changed as they grew, so no one in the family noticed Lily wasn't Nina.

When Lily's identity eventually fell apart, Vivian made up a story about a mix-up at the hospital when Nina was born to pacify everyone.

But she never expected her mother-in-law to insist on finding Nina.

Vivian felt no guilt toward Nina. If she could go back, she would make the same choice. She didn't want a retarded child.

Of course, she didn't think Nina would remember any of it. After all, Nina had only been six back then.

"Mute, huh? What a shame. Every kid in our family is a genius, and we end up with a mute. I bet her IQ isn't high either."

"So what if she's smart? I heard she grew up with some nightclub hostess. All she'd learn from that woman is how to charm men. Even if she's clever, she'd never use it the right way."

"I don't know why Mom insists on bringing Nina back. Lily may not be her real granddaughter, but she's outstanding. Prom queen, got into Betrico University with excellent grades, shining in multiple fields. What can Nina do? Bringing her back will just embarrass us."

The whispers kept going. Nina scanned the Swansons one by one. Her memory was so sharp that she could match all these people to the relatives she remembered.

When Vivian heard the gossip, her face dropped. Her children had always been the best of the Swanson family. Her nieces and nephews had done well under her guidance. And yet, here was Nina, the useless daughter she had to bring back.

The thought alone made Vivian feel sick.

She said coldly, "Nina, since you're a Swanson, we have to bring you back. But the Swanson residence is not a nightclub. You must stop all the bad habits you picked up from Scarlet. Every single one.

"As long as you behave, we will treat you fairly. But if you cause trouble, don't blame me for kicking you out."

Vivian glared at Nina, her eyes full of disdain and contempt.

Nina looked up, about to speak, when she suddenly felt someone take her hand. A gentle voice spoke, "Nina, as soon as I heard you were found, I picked out a gift for you."

It was Lily. She took out a necklace and continued, "This diamond necklace was designed by a famous designer. I wanted to ask for your forgiveness. After all, it's because we were switched at birth that you've suffered so much."

Nina glanced at the necklace. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"I just hope you won't kick me out. I've lived here for so many years, and I love Mom, Dad, and our brothers. I can't bear to be apart from them," Lily went on. "If you let me stay, I'll give you anything."

Nina sneered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "A necklace sold for 3 bucks at a flea market? Which famous designer would make something this cheap?"

When she said that, the whole room froze. Everyone finally realized that Nina could speak.

Lily was taken aback. The necklace had indeed come from a flea market. She had assumed a girl raised in a nightclub, who never even finished high school, wouldn't notice it was fake.

She had only given the necklace to Nina as a warning. She believed she was the Swanson family's rightful heiress, and she didn't want to share anything with a loser like Nina.

Seeing that Nina had immediately recognized it as a street bargain, Lily just sneered, unconcerned. She knew no one would believe Nina anyway.

Vivian snapped coldly, "What nonsense are you talking about? This necklace was specially designed by the famous designer Lanelle for Lily. It cost 300 thousand dollars, it's one of a kind, and it even has your name on it.

"How could it possibly come from a flea market? Apologize to Lily immediately."

Hearing that, Nina lifted her eyes slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

"Mom, it's fine. Nina never really dealt with jewelry as a kid, so it's normal she doesn't recognize it. Give it time, she'll get it eventually," Lily said, putting on an air of forgiveness, but the smugness in her eyes didn't escape Nina.

Martin couldn't stand it. Seeing Lily act like she'd been wronged, he snapped, "Nina, didn't I warn you not to cause trouble for Lily? What are you doing now? Are you blaming her for taking your place?"

Before Nina could answer, he continued in a cold voice, "You two were switched at birth. That's just bad luck. Why blame Lily?

"When she found out she was switched and caused you so much suffering, she felt guilty for a long time. She even personally picked out a gift so you'd accept her. And this is how you repay her?"

No sooner had Martin finished speaking than Nina kicked him hard, sending him flying.

Nina stared at him without expression. "Who do you think you are? Or did I somehow make you think you can lecture me?"

The scene shocked everyone. No one had expected that Nina, who had just returned, to actually attack her own brother, and she didn't hold back at all. That kick had sent Martin spitting blood.

"Martin, are you okay?" Lily rushed over, helping him to his feet, then scolded, "Nina, it wasn't Martin's fault that we were switched. If anyone's to blame, it's me. How could you kick Martin?"

"You dare kick your brother?" Vivian fumed. "Today, I'm going to teach you some manners."

Vivian raised her hand to strike, but before it could touch Nina, Nina grabbed it. "The Nina from before age six is dead, Mom," she said.

She deliberately stretched the word "Mom," her voice cold and sharp, laced with biting sarcasm.

Chapter 3 Are You Trying To Scam Nina?

Vivian's eyes went wide. She stumbled back a step, then another, nearly losing her balance.

Her eyes were full of shock and fear. Mostly, though, it was disbelief. She hadn't expected Nina to remember anything from before she was six.

Nina's IQ was under eighty. People with that level of intelligence usually had poor memory; by all logic, she shouldn't remember anything from before age six.

Nina was pleased with Vivian's reaction. A sly smile curved her lips. "Looks like you haven't forgotten either. How interesting."

"I..." Vivian tried to say something.

But Nina ignored her and turned to Lily. "Why don't you just shut up? Why do you have to shove your face in front of me?"

Tears welled up in Lily's eyes. She looked wronged. "Nina, I know you're mad at me, but..."

Nina cut her off impatiently. "If you really want to know whether this necklace is Lanelle, just get it appraised somewhere. That'll tell you."

Then she cast a quiet glance over everyone present. "Though I suppose you idiots wouldn't bother with an appraisal anyway."

Her words insulted everyone in the room at once. Faces darkened immediately.

Before anyone could snap, Nina smirked. "But since I'm in a good mood today, I'll do it for you, free of charge."

She pulled out her phone, opened a social app, and made a video call to someone saved under 'L.'

The moment the call connected, a surprised voice came through. "Nina, I've missed you so much! I heard you went to Riverdale? Once I finish up here, I'll come see you."

The Swansons froze, eyes wide, even forgetting to breathe. On the screen was Lanelle, the designer no one ever got to see in person.

Lanelle was brilliant. She was the only designer in the country to top the charts at just twenty. Her clothes and jewelry were nearly impossible to buy, even for the wealthy.

She had a strange personality. To buy her designs, you had to meet her standards. People she didn't like couldn't buy her work, no matter how much money they offered.

Most importantly, Lanelle had extremely powerful backing. Wearing her designs signified high status. In high-society circles, anyone wearing Lanelle's creations to a party instantly earned respect.

The Swanson family was one of the wealthiest in Riverdale, yet even they couldn't buy Lanelle's designs, except for the necklace Lily had given Nina. Lily had begged for it for a long time, and Lanelle had finally made an exception.

No one could have imagined that someone as extraordinary as Lanelle would know Nina. And judging by their interaction, they seemed quite close.

Nina glanced at the Swansons and gave a faint smile. "Someone gave me a necklace and said it was designed by you."

"What?" Lanelle blinked in surprise, then pouted slightly. "Nina, I'm mad at you! Every single thing you wear is custom-made by me. And you needed someone else to give you a necklace?"

At that, all eyes turned to Nina.

The Swansons hadn't looked closely before. Now they noticed that her clothes, shoes, backpack, watch, and everything else bore Lanelle's unique mark.

The total value of her outfit could buy a villa.

They were stunned. 'Nina, a girl raised by a hostess, how could she be so lucky to know Lanelle? And Lanelle is so kind to her, customizing everything she wears.'

The Swansons were envious, regretting that they hadn't been that fortunate themselves.

"Don't be mad. Listen to me," Nina said cheerfully, trying to calm Lanelle. "This necklace was given to me by the Swanson family's adopted daughter. It's actually a three-dollar flea market piece, but she insisted it was yours. So I called you to verify it."

"What?" Lanelle shot up, her voice rising. "She actually called a cheap piece of trash my design? Has she lost her mind? Point the camera at her. I want to see who's got the nerve."

Nina decisively turned the camera toward Lily.

Lily's face went pale. She clutched the hem of her dress with both hands, too scared to breathe.

She had only wanted to give Nina a little warning, but she hadn't expected Nina to know Lanelle. Now she was about to be exposed in front of everyone.

As Lily feared, Lanelle's expression darkened as she stared at the necklace in Lily's hand. "How can you say this junk is my design? Are you trying to scam Nina?"

"I...I didn't..." Lily's eyes welled with tears, looking fragile and helpless. If it were a man on the other end, he might have felt sorry for her.

But Lanelle was not only a master designer but also skilled at seeing through pretenders. She didn't fall for it. "Tell me, why did you lie?"

Lily's legs wobbled, and she cried while explaining, "I didn't know the necklace was fake. I asked my friend to buy it for me."

She then stepped toward Nina, trying to grab her hand, but Nina sidestepped immediately. "Don't touch me."

Nina's tone and attitude now were completely different from how she acted with Lanelle.

Lily panicked. "Nina, I'm sorry. I should've had it appraised first. I didn't expect such a big misunderstanding. I can get you a new necklace."

Before Nina could respond, Lily continued, "Since you know Lanelle, why don't you have her design one for you? I'll pay for it."

"Don't overestimate yourself," Lanelle said disdainfully. "Nina doesn't need you to buy her anything. If she wants, I could give her trucks full of necklaces."

Lily and the rest of the Swansons were stunned.

For anyone else, getting a piece designed by Lanelle was nearly impossible. But Nina could have as many as she wanted. They almost thought Lanelle had lost her mind.

"Nina, turn the camera back. That girl keeps crying like she's at her mother's funeral. I don't want to see her anymore," Lanelle said, full of disgust.

Nina immediately turned the camera toward herself again.

Lanelle looked at Nina's stunning face and finally smiled. 'A beauty like Nina is really pleasing to the eye,' she thought.

"Oh, by the way, tell that girl with her makeup all caked on that my lawyer's letter will reach her in two hours," she said. "She owes me 2 million dollars. You can keep the money. Think of it as pocket money from me."

Lanelle was clearly furious. Normally, she would never hang up on Nina before chatting for at least an hour, but this time she ended the call right away, unwilling to waste even another minute.

Lily's face turned even paler. She knew offending Lanelle would be a disaster, but she hadn't expected the consequences to come this fast.

She didn't have 2 million dollars. Her monthly allowance was only 30 thousand, and she liked buying luxury goods, so she had no savings at all.

Nina put her phone away, glanced at Lily, then met Vivian's eyes. "I thought you brought in a genius to replace me. Turns out she's just an idiot."

Vivian's face was ashen. "So what if the necklace is fake? Someone like you doesn't deserve to wear anything real.

"Nina, I'm warning you. Lily's going to Betrico University soon. She can't have any stains on her record before school starts. You'd better make Lanelle drop the lawsuit, or I'll throw you out right now."

Chapter 4 A Lawyer's Letter

"Who would dare throw Nina out?" an elderly voice boomed.

The Swansons scrambled to their feet. Several of them murmured respectfully, "Mom."

Sarah Swanson walked in, steady on her feet with Ethan Swanson supporting her, a perfectly tailored dress draped elegantly over her.

She cast a cool glance around the room, then let her gaze settle on Nina. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached out. "Nina."

"Grandma." Nina took Sarah's hand, her tone respectful and calm, completely different from the way she'd spoken to the Swansons moments earlier.

Nina had always known exactly who treated her well. Sarah was one of the only two people in the Swanson family who cared about her. Sarah had raised her since she was little, and Nina was closest to her.

The other person who cared about Nina was Ethan, one of her older brothers. Nina looked at Ethan. He had indeed treated her well when they were kids, but she wasn't sure if he still felt the same now.

"Hey, kiddo, remember me?" Ethan stepped forward, smiling as he greeted her.

Nina smiled too. "Hello, Ethan."

"Well, not bad. You really are my real sister," Ethan said with a roguish grin. "No wonder I spoiled you so much."

He pulled out a jewelry box and handed it to Nina. "This is for you. I hope you won't mind such a cheap gift.

"I only have 30 thousand dollars. I kept three thousand for living expenses and used the rest to buy this necklace. Once I start making real money, I'll get you something better."

When he finished, Ethan glanced at the necklace in Lily's hand. "Oh, right. Lily got you one too. Heard it was designed by Lanelle? Guess mine won't stand a chance next to that."

Lily's face had completely drained of color. She bit her lip, looking like she was about to cry. "Ethan, m-my friend got scammed. The necklace wasn't designed by Lanelle."

"It wasn't?" Ethan exaggerated a look of surprise, then gasped. "Oh no, don't tell me you bought it for 3 bucks at some flea market?"

"Lily, how could you do that? You took my sister's place all these years, and the necklace you give her is something from a flea market? Don't you think that's going too far?"

"It wasn't 3 bucks!" Lily stomped her foot in anger. In fact, she'd paid 5 bucks.

"No?" Ethan pulled out his phone and tapped a photo open. "Then this girl in the picture isn't you?"

Lily looked at the screen, and blood rushed straight to her head. She almost passed out. It was a photo of her picking out necklaces at a flea market.

She thought, 'What on earth is wrong with Ethan? Why is he always staring at everything I do? And when did he even take this photo? How did I not notice at all?'

Lily looked completely mortified. She wanted to explain, but she had no idea how, so she could only turn teary-eyed toward Vivian. "Mom, the necklace I gave Nina really wasn't 3 bucks.

"I did go to that flea market. When I walked by, a little girl asked me to help pick a design for her. I was choosing one for her, not for Nina."

Vivian patted her hand and said gently, "I know, sweetheart."

Then Vivian turned to Ethan and snapped, "Ethan, what's wrong with you? It was just a misunderstanding. Besides, Nina has lived in that small town all those years. Even if you gave her a real luxury necklace, it wouldn't look good on her."

Ethan shot her a sideways look, then turned to Nina. "Come here. Let me put the necklace on you. Let our dear mother see what a real heiress looks like."

Before Nina could answer, Ethan had already fastened the necklace around her neck.

The tight leather outfit Nina was wearing didn't really match the necklace, but she was so beautiful that anything she wore looked elegant once she put jewelry on.

What Ethan did made Vivian and Lily burn with humiliation.

Martin's face fell. "Ethan, that's enough. Lily did mess up, but she grew up with us. She's our sister too. Aren't you being too harsh, embarrassing her like this?"

"I only have one sister, and that's Nina. Lily has never been my family." Ethan looked utterly dismissive. "And Mom, you said they were switched at birth. Then how come Nina remembers everything from when we were kids together, but Lily doesn't remember a thing?"

Vivian went pale and couldn't get a word out.

"Only you know what really happened back then," Ethan said. "If you want to treat an imposter like treasure, that's your business. But if you think you can kick out my real sister because of her, then don't blame me for losing it."

Vivian was furious. She had three sons and one daughter. The first two boys always listened to her. Ethan was the only rebellious one, always going against her wishes.

If Ethan's IQ hadn't been high enough, she would've thrown him away back then just like she'd thrown away Nina.

Sometimes she even thought that because she didn't get rid of Ethan, the family ended up with another useless burden besides Nina. Not only did Ethan mess around with rich kids all day, he was now even fighting her over Nina.

Sarah gave Vivian a cold, expressionless look. She didn't want to say much to her. Instead, she said frostily, "I went through hell and back to find Nina. Anyone who dares try to throw her out can get out of this house immediately."

Vivian still refused to back down. "Sarah, Nina is just a..."

Sarah cut her off sharply and turned to Lily. "I don't want to spell everything out. If you want to stay in the Swanson residence, stop causing trouble. No one replaces Nina."

"Grandma, I never wanted to replace Nina," Lily said, eyes red as she explained. "The necklace really was a misunderstanding. I'll get her a proper one. I really just wanted to get along with her."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a housekeeper hurried over and said to Sarah, "Mrs. Swanson, someone claiming to be Ms. Lanelle's attorney just delivered a lawyer's letter. He's demanding that Ms. Swanson..."

The housekeeper looked up and met Sarah's icy stare, and quickly corrected herself, "He's demanding that Lily pay Lanelle 2 million dollars in damages within an hour, and hand the money over to Nina for safekeeping. Otherwise, he'll file a lawsuit."

Lily's face twisted into panic. 'Isn't it supposed to be two hours? How did the letter arrive so fast? It hasn't even been half an hour. Where am I supposed to get 2 million dollars now?'

She shot Vivian a desperate look. "Mom..."

Vivian looked troubled as well. She spoke to Nina in a commanding tone. "How can you come home and immediately cause trouble with Lily? Hurry up and tell Lanelle it was all a misunderstanding. Ask her to let it go."

Nina scoffed. "And why should I listen to you?"

Vivian snapped, "I'm your mother! I'm telling you to clear this up with Lanelle right now."

Nina kicked over the marble coffee table next to Vivian, the crash echoing through the room. Her voice was ice-cold. "Do you still think you can order me around?"

Nina's sudden outburst startled everyone so badly they all trembled.

Vivian was livid. She shouted, "Nina, what is wrong with you now? How many times do I have to tell you that this isn't the filthy nightclub you used to stay in? This is the Swanson residence, and you can't just do whatever you want."

Nina walked toward her step by step, then reached out and yanked Lily's hair hard. "Still think so?"

Nina's grip was so strong that Lily let out a sharp scream.

Chapter 5 A Smart Move

Vivian was so angry her chest hurt.

She pointed at Nina, unable to get a single word out for a long moment, before finally turning to Sarah. "Sarah, this is the wonderful granddaughter you insisted on bringing home.

"Look at her. She's been back for not even an hour and the whole house is in chaos, and now she's bold enough to lay hands on her sister. Do you really want to keep such a troublemaker here?"

Sarah gave Nina a glance. "Nina doesn't have a sister. Aren't you a professor? Aren't you the one who always says people should be punished when they make mistakes?

"When Nina does something wrong, you would punish her. But when Lily does it, you think she shouldn't be punished?"

"That's different!" Vivian roared. "Lily is the daughter I raised with care. She excels in every subject and is about to attend Betrico University. How can Nina compare to her?

"And besides, Lily didn't intentionally give Nina a fake necklace. It was just a tiny mistake. Why punish her for that?"

Sarah let out a laugh from sheer fury. "People who mess up should face the consequences. Lily made a mistake, and as her mother, you're partly to blame.

"Haven't you always covered for her? Well, if she can't afford the compensation, you can pay it for her."

"Sarah, how can you say that?" Vivian couldn't understand why Sarah had never liked Lily. "Lily is your granddaughter too. She loves you so much. Do you really have to break her heart like this"

Sarah's expression didn't change. "Since you refuse to discipline Lily, the Riverdale Correctional Facility's staff will do it for you."

Lily, terrified, clutched Vivian's hand. "Mom, I don't want to go to jail."

Vivian nearly fainted from rage. She felt she had never been this furious in her life.

But seeing how unmoved Sarah was, she could only give in. "Fine. I'll pay the money for Lily."

Vivian reluctantly transferred 2 million dollars to Nina. "This money is for Lanelle. You're not allowed to spend it. Do you hear me?"

Nina stuffed her phone into her pocket without even looking at her.

Vivian felt her blood pressure spike, but there was nowhere for her anger to go.

Sarah rubbed her temples. "I'm tired. Nina, help me upstairs to rest."

Nina nodded and helped Sarah up the stairs. Ethan shot a cold look at the rest of the Swansons before following them.

The remaining family members let out a few awkward laughs and hurried off, leaving only Vivian, Lily, and Martin behind.

Lily stared in the direction of the staircase, a flash of hatred crossing her eyes.

She thought, 'Nina, I worked so hard to get everything I have. Why should I give it up just because you came back? Everything in the Swanson family is mine. Don't think you can take even a fraction of it.'

*****

The next day, when Nina came downstairs, the first person she saw was James Swanson, her father, sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper.

Nina scoffed and kept walking.

Sarah was already waiting for her at the dining table. When she saw Nina coming down, she waved with a smile. "Nina, come here, sweetheart."

"Grandma." Nina greeted her and sat down beside her.

Ethan came down after Nina. He immediately took the seat right next to her.

Sarah held Nina's hand, her eyes filled with affection that was almost overflowing. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah." Nina was sweet and well-behaved in front of Sarah.

Martin happened to catch this scene. He couldn't help letting out a cold laugh.

Girls raised in nightclubs really are different,' he thought. 'Nina is clearly great at using pretty words to charm people, reading faces, and knowing exactly who runs this house.'

The Swansons arrived one after another. Only then did James fold up his newspaper. When he saw Nina, he froze for a second before giving a cool nod. "You're back?"

He was on terrible terms with Vivian, so he didn't care much about any of their children.

All he knew was that Lily had recently been found not to be his and Vivian's real daughter. Sarah had spent a lot of effort finding his real daughter and was determined to bring her home.

But to James, bringing Nina back or not didn't make much difference. He had never liked any of the kids. Nina coming home just meant one more person at the table. So he simply let Sarah handle it.

He had returned very late the night before and gone straight to the study to sleep, so he didn't even know Nina was already home.

Seeing her now surprised him a bit. But Nina's strong presence did make him take another look.

He remembered Nina had been raised by a woman who worked in a nightclub. He couldn't help wondering how someone like that managed to raise a child with such a commanding aura.

"Hello, Dad," Nina said flatly.

She didn't love James, but she didn't hate him the way she hated Vivian. To her, he was merely a stranger living under the same roof.

James gave a small nod and didn't bother talking further. The atmosphere at the table went quiet for a moment.

"Since everyone is here today, there's something I need to say," Sarah said, setting down her fork, her expression turning serious.

Everyone fell silent, waiting for her.

"The marriage alliance between the Foster family and ours was meant for Nina. But because Nina was abandon..." Sarah paused for a beat, then continued, "because Nina and Lily were switched at birth, the engagement fell to Lily.

"Now that Nina has been found, the engagement should be returned to her."

Lily's hands tightened into fists immediately. "Grandma, Mrs. Foster said she wanted me to marry her grandson. Besides, Mr. Foster and I are in love..."

She cursed inwardly. 'Damn it! It's bad enough Nina came back to steal what's mine, and now she wants to take my marriage too?'

She had admired Ryan Foster since she was a kid and had worked so hard just to get the chance to be engaged to him. There was no way she was going to let Nina have him.

"Besides, Nina never learned any proper etiquette. Families like the Fosters probably wouldn't want her anyway, right?" Lily knew Sarah didn't like her, but she had to fight for this engagement.

"Etiquette can be learned," Sarah said. "But no one can take what belongs to Nina."

Vivian immediately bristled. "Sarah, even if you favor her, there has to be a limit, right? Lily may not be your biological granddaughter, but she's been raised in our home since she was little. She loves us.

"We all know she's had a crush on Ryan, and now you want her to hand over her fiancé to someone else? Have you considered her feelings?"

Then Vivian turned to glare at Nina. "And even if you favor Nina, you should at least think about whether she's qualified to marry him. She was raised by a nightclub hostess. If you let her marry Ryan, wouldn't that ruin the Foster family's reputation?"

Nina was texting. When she heard Vivian mention her name, she finally looked up at her.

Seeing Nina's careless expression only made Vivian angrier. "What are you looking at? Do you really think just because you're back in the Swanson family, you're some highborn heiress? You think you deserve Ryan Foster? You better drop these ridiculous thoughts."

Nina felt like she recognized the name, but she wasn't entirely sure.

"Who are you talking about?" she asked.

Vivian's face turned red with fury. That was when she realized, after going on and on, Nina hadn't been listening at all.

"Nina, we're talking about your engagement to Ryan Foster," Sarah said. "This engagement was meant for you from the start. It only fell to Lily because you weren't home.

"Now that you're back, it's only fair that the engagement returns to you. What do you think?"

Hearing Ryan's name, Nina paused for a moment.

She looked down at her phone silently. She had just blocked Ryan and saved him as "ex-boyfriend."

Nina quietly put her phone in her pocket. "Engagement tomorrow."

"What?" Vivian was furious, thinking Nina actually wanted to marry Ryan. "Nina, you..."

"Tomorrow is a good day for an engagement. Lily and Ryan's wedding should happen sooner rather than later." Nina stood up, cutting Vivian off. "It's decided. Make sure you tell me the time for the engagement party."

She wanted to use this opportunity to push Ryan and Lily together so he wouldn't keep bothering her. She figured it was a smart move.

Chapter 6 Why Did You Break Up With Me?

Nina left, leaving the Swansons staring after her in confusion.

Neither Vivian nor Lily had expected that the girl who had been acting like a ticking time bomb since coming home would actually give up such a good marriage opportunity.

Sarah was surprised too. She had assumed that Nina would want to marry Ryan.

There weren't many girls who wouldn't like someone like Ryan. Despite his young age, he already controlled the vast Foster family business. And on top of that, he was breathtakingly handsome, one in a million.

The only downside was that he was a bit cold and distant.

Many families had tried to arrange a marriage with the Fosters, but Ryan's grandmother, Maria, had refused every time, because the Foster family and the Swanson family had already agreed on an engagement years ago.

When the Fosters came to discuss the marriage, Sarah wasn't home; it was Vivian who received them. Since everyone at the time thought Lily was the Swanson family's real daughter, the engagement went through without any problem.

But originally, it should have been Nina going for the engagement. If she had married Ryan, not to mention anything else, Maria would have treated her extremely well.

Sarah hadn't expected Nina to not want to marry Ryan, and she seemed to resist the engagement altogether. She couldn't understand why Nina felt that way.

"Since Nina said she doesn't want the engagement, I'll talk to the Fosters and finalize the marriage between Ryan and Lily as soon as possible," Vivian said, worried about any changes, making the decision before Sarah could respond.

Though Sarah was reluctant to let Lily replace Nina and marry Ryan, she couldn't argue with Vivian's decision at the moment. After all, the Swanson family and the Foster family were not only future in-laws but also business partners.

Sarah muttered unhappily, "Do as you see fit."

The thought of Lily taking what rightfully belonged to Nina left her in a bad mood. She didn't even want to eat and turned to leave.

*****

The next day, the Swanson family and the Foster family held the engagement party.

Vivian was incredibly efficient. Almost immediately after Sarah gave the word, she went straight to Maria's residence in Riverdale and locked in the engagement date as fast as possible.

The Fosters agreed without hesitation, setting the engagement for noon the very next day.

Since the party was organized in such a rush, only the direct relatives from both families attended.

More people came from the Swanson side. Sarah had three sons and two daughters, and James alone had five children. Add the others' kids, and there were about a dozen in total. They took up three tables.

The Foster family had far fewer attendees: just Maria and her husband Zachary, Ryan's parents, and Ryan himself.

The rest of the Foster family was in Betrico. Their empire was too big to leave all their affairs behind for an engagement party.

The party hadn't started, and the Fosters hadn't arrived yet. Martin glanced at Nina, who was sitting beside Ethan, chatting, then walked over with a stern face.

"Nina, I need to remind you, this engagement was your choice to give up. When the Fosters arrive, you'd better sit there quietly and not cause any trouble," Martin said, his expression serious. "Got it?"

Nina leaned lazily in her chair, staring at Martin, then let out a cold smirk. "Martin, want me to kick you again?"

"You!" Martin scowled. "Anyway, I warned you in advance. If you cause trouble later, don't blame me for not holding back."

Nina sat up and reached for the coffee cup on the table.

Ethan quickly held her back. "Calm down. I know that poker-faced jerk deserves a beating. You can take him down all you want after today, but don't embarrass grandma."

Sarah and Maria were close friends. Today was an important day for both families, and if Nina beat up Martin here, it would certainly make Sarah look bad.

Nina was silent for a moment, then slowly set the cup down. "Get lost before I get mad," she said to Martin.

She was actually in a great mood today. Her ex, who had been bothering her for two months, was about to get engaged. The thought of finally getting rid of Ryan made her genuinely happy.

And yet Martin, clueless as ever, still came over looking for trouble. She shook her head, deciding not to argue with him, not wanting to ruin her mood.

"You're really rude," Martin muttered. He knew Nina had a temper and wouldn't hesitate to throw a punch.

He had already been kicked twice by Nina. If it weren't for Lily, he wouldn't even be talking to Nina. So, leaving it at that, he returned to his seat.

Before long, the Foster family arrived.

Maria and Sarah chatted for a while, then sat hand in hand as if they were two young girls who had just become friends.

Nina glanced toward the door and froze.

She wondered, 'Where's that troublesome ex of mine? Isn't he supposed to be engaged today? Is that idiot trying to skip it?'

The thought made her anxious. If Ryan ran away from the engagement, he'd just keep bothering her later.

She had to make sure he showed up for this.

Nina picked up her phone, about to make a call, when she heard Sarah ask, "Why isn't Ryan here?"

Vivian and Lily both tensed, eyes flicking to Maria. Lily especially fidgeted, her hands twisting in her lap.

She was terrified Ryan might back out of the engagement. After all, this marriage had never been hers to begin with.

"Don't even mention it. I have no idea where he's hiding; we just can't find him," Maria said, rubbing her temples with a helpless look. "But it doesn't matter. The engagement party will go on as planned.

"You have my word. The only woman Ryan's gonna marry is Lily."

Nina silently slipped her phone back into her pocket, thinking it was fine as long as Lily and Ryan got engaged.

Lily let out a sigh of relief. She and Nina were on the same page.

Once the engagement was official, even if Ryan was unwilling, he would still be her fiancé. Just thinking about finally being engaged to the boy she'd secretly loved for years made her heart race.

Although the engagement party was simple, all the proper rituals were observed. The Foster family, following tradition, gave the Swanson family the agreed-upon engagement gift: 300 thousand dollars.

Normally, a family like the Fosters would give a gift worth at least ten million. But because Sarah and Maria were friends, the gift was purely symbolic.

This engagement gift was actually Sarah's decision. No one else in the Swanson family had a say. But in truth, Vivian was dissatisfied. She thought the amount was far too small.

James didn't care about this at all, and he had no intention of using the engagement for profit.

The Swanson family, though not as wealthy as the Fosters, was still a prominent family in Riverdale. Even if James didn't like Lily, he didn't want anyone thinking he was trading his daughter for money.

Therefore, on the engagement gift, the two families reached an agreement happily.

Next came discussions about the jewelry Ryan and Lily would wear at the wedding, the wedding date, and other details. These decisions were left to the elders of both families.

Once all that was settled, it was time for the official engagement ceremony. Since Ryan hadn't arrived, Maria stood in for him.

Just as the engagement ceremony was about to begin, the hotel doors were suddenly kicked open.

Everyone's faces darkened. They immediately wondered which idiot had the nerve to cause trouble at the Swanson-Foster engagement party.

But when they saw who had come in, they were all stunned.

Why is Ryan here? Didn't he hide to avoid getting engaged to Lily? How was he here now? Could it be that he had finally accepted Lily?' they wondered.

"You little punk, where have you been? Come on up. The engagement ceremony is about to start," Maria said, visibly relieved to see Ryan.

She felt at ease. At least his arrival meant he was accepting the marriage.

But what surprised Maria even more was that Ryan didn't glance at her. Instead, his eyes swept across the hall, and finally landed on Nina. He walked straight toward her, face cold.

He stopped in front of Nina, his expression icy, and his voice tinged with anger. "Why did you break up with me?"