The Returned Real Heiress Is The Thousand-Faced Queen

Chapter 1 We Will Meet Again

At the end of August, deep in the mountains along the Zirenth-Velmora border, a girl in a dress stood beside a blank gravestone with an elderly woman at her side.

The girl was Hannah Carter, the real heiress of the Scott family in Brynlock had been mistakenly swapped at birth seventeen years ago.

They had found her just a week earlier, and today they were taking her back to the city.

"Let's head down. Members of the Scott family will be here soon. Once you return to the city, you'll be the Scott heiress. Leave everything from before behind," Evelyn Carter said, her gaze shifting from the tombstone to the girl.

"Okay, Grandma. You go first. I just want a moment alone." Hannah's lips moved slightly as she spoke.

Evelyn glanced at the stone again and let out a quiet sigh. "Don't lose track of time."

Then she turned and walked away, leaving Hannah alone to stare silently at the unmarked grave.

Suddenly, Hannah lifted her eyes. From the woods behind her came a faint rustling.

Something was moving through the trees, fast, and heading straight toward her.

She spun around, alert. Her long, curled lashes caught the sunlight, casting thin shadows that veiled her eyes and lent her expression a somber chill.

A tall figure in dark camouflage burst out of the trees. A strong metallic scent clung to him, blood.

His face was smeared with water-based paint, making his features unrecognizable. But Hannah immediately noticed the national flag patch on his right arm. Behind him, the rustling grew louder.

"Danger. Run." The man sounded startled to find anyone in such a remote place.

His voice was low and strained, as if it cost him all he had left. Mid-stride, his legs buckled. He collapsed right in front of Hannah.

He didn't move again. The crushed grass beneath him was already stained red.

Hannah's brows drew together. From the strength of the blood scent, she judged that he had passed out from severe blood loss.

If she didn't stop the bleeding soon, he wouldn't survive.

Just then, two men in light camouflage rushed out of the trees.

"There's actually a woman here," the curly-haired one said in Thalvarin.

"Then we take her too," the buzz-cut man with thick lips replied, eyeing Hannah.

Maybe it had been too long since he'd seen a woman. The moment he spotted someone that pretty, his gaze turned filthy.

Hannah's heart pounded. She had lived on this border for eleven years; she knew the region was unstable, but she had never encountered anything like this.

Even in her fear, she silently thanked the heavens that she had asked her grandmother to go down the mountain first.

Her eyes flicked to the weapons in their hands. She spoke in flawless Thalvarin, deliberately sounding meek. "Please don't hurt me. I'm just an ordinary villager."

The buzz-cut man, Gideon, stepped closer. He hooked the barrel of his gun under her chin. Her small face was lovely and soft, and he could already imagine how she would feel under his hands.

He licked his thick lips and grinned. "Sweetheart, your Thalvarin is impressive. Stick with us, and I'll take you everywhere to live the good life."

When she stared at the dark muzzle so close to her skin, Hannah's long lashes trembled.

She swallowed and whispered timidly, "Okay, as long as you don't kill me. I'll do whatever you want. I can pack right now and go with you."

Her weakness made Gideon's predatory thrill spike. He gave a crude laugh. "Then we start with you."

The curly-haired man snickered, too.

Gideon tossed his weapon aside and grabbed Hannah's right wrist. With a rough yank, he pulled her into his arms.

But the moment her body hit his chest, Hannah's left hand slid swiftly along the side of her dress. Her fingers spun with practiced ease, and a needle appeared between them.

A heartbeat later, she drove the needle straight into one of Gideon's acupoints.

Gideon stiffened. He lowered his head slowly and met a pair of cold, sharp eyes. There was nothing left of the timid girl from moments ago.

Realizing things had gone wrong, the curly-haired man cursed and raised his gun, but he hesitated. Gideon was blocking his shot, and the barrel wavered between them.

Hannah shoved the unconscious Gideon aside, rolled across the ground with speed, reached the tombstone, and plunged her hand into the bamboo basket.

She grabbed a handful of white powder and hurled it at the curly-haired man.

He chambered a round instantly, but it was too late.

The powder burst in the air. When he inhaled it, his vision blurred, his senses dulled, his eyes rolled upward, and then he collapsed.

It was a sedative powder she had made herself to ward off wild animals. Without an antidote, he wouldn't wake for at least an hour.

Hannah pushed herself up. When she glanced down, she saw the fresh dress her grandmother had made for her, now smeared with dirt and torn by rocks.

Her delicate brows pinched together.

She allowed herself one second of heartache, then hurried to check the wounded man from earlier.

He'd been shot in the right scapula, and blood was still seeping steadily.

Hannah unfastened the complicated camouflage gear on his torso. Then she lifted the slit of her dress, revealing a hidden row of needles sewn into the lining.

She selected a few, found the correct acupoints, and inserted them swiftly. The bleeding stopped.

With a quick rip, she tore a strip from the already-damaged dress and wrapped it around his shoulder to bandage the wound.

The environment was too dangerous; she had no way to remove the bullet here.

Barnaby Thole woke with a faint groan. His right shoulder felt numb, the pain nearly gone.

In a haze, he sensed hands moving across his chest. Instinctive danger awareness snapped through him, and he jolted awake.

Hannah had just secured the bandage when a large hand suddenly clamped around her wrist.

"Don't panic. I was only treating your wound," she explained calmly.

Barnaby finally saw her face and froze. "Calista?"

The moment Hannah heard that name, her cold expression broke into genuine shock.

In her clear pupils, his painted face reflected back at her. She immediately pulled free from his grip and stepped away.

'Only the Thole family would know that name,' Hannah thought, her heart pounding. 'Is he from the Thole family?'

Chapter 2 A Foster Daughter

Just as Hannah stood frozen in shock, the distant roar of an aircraft grew louder. Barnaby's backup had arrived.

She glanced up at the helicopter circling overhead.

The cabin door slid open, and a rope ladder dropped down as another man in camouflage descended. Hannah immediately turned and ran.

Barnaby propped himself up, watching her figure grow smaller down the mountain path.

A pleased smile tugged at his lips. "So you were hiding here. I'll come back for you."

*****

At the foot of the mountain, two black BMWs were parked in front of a shabby tile-roofed house, and a crowd had gathered in the yard to watch the commotion.

Inside the living room, Evelyn was hosting the Scott family members from Brynlock—Dorian Scott, Felicity Scott, and the daughter who'd been mistakenly raised in Hannah's place, Susie Scott.

The three were dressed in glittering jewelry and designer clothes, their polished appearance forming a stark contrast with the old room piled with bundles of dried grass.

Susie glanced at the grimy, chipped cup in front of her and felt nothing but disgust.

Her eyes swept across the room again, peeling paint, cluttered piles of dried herbs, and in the middle of sweltering summer, not even a single air conditioner.

A rickety ceiling fan squeaked above them. Her revulsion only deepened.

'No way am I the daughter of some broke family,' Susie scoffed inwardly, her face twisted in contempt. 'I'm the true Scott heiress.'

"Dad, it's so hot. Does Hannah not want to see me? Does she think I stole her parents?" Susie clung to Dorian's arm, sounding aggrieved.

"What nonsense is that? None of this was your fault. How could she blame you?" Dorian snapped.

Before they came, they had already spoken over the phone. They were taking Hannah back to the Scott residence.

And since they had raised Susie for seventeen years and couldn't sever that bond, she would continue living at the residence as well.

Susie looked even more pitiful. "Then why is she making us wait this long?"

She turned to Evelyn. "Well, could you go find Hannah? Urge her to hurry?"

There was no form of address. She used a question, but her tone was the same she used with maids.

Evelyn had noticed every one of Susie's little gestures.

She let out a soft sigh and was just about to stand when Dorian stopped her. "No need. We'll wait five more minutes. If she's still not back, we leave."

Felicity hurriedly set her cup down, feeling anxious. 'We finally found our real daughter; we can't leave without seeing her,' she thought.

She was about to say something when a clear voice rang from outside. "Grandma, I'm back."

Everyone turned. A tall girl stood in the doorway against the light. She carried a naturally cool air that warned others not to approach casually.

As Hannah stepped inside, Evelyn immediately noticed that her dress was missing an entire section.

"Hannah, what happened?" Evelyn asked, moving toward her.

Hannah supported her gently. "Grandma, I'm fine."

Then she lowered her gaze to her dress. "I accidentally tore it."

Only now did everyone realize her dress wasn't just dirty; it was practically shredded.

Susie's aversion intensified. 'This place really is a dump. She doesn't even own a decent outfit. I'm never coming back to this awful place,' she thought.

"It's okay. I'll make you a new one," Evelyn said softly.

Then she turned to introduce the guests. "Come. These are your parents, and the girl who was mistakenly raised in your place."

Hannah lifted her eyes and first looked at Dorian.

Dorian wore an immaculate suit. His hair was neatly styled and glossy, though he had put on a bit of weight. He was nearly fifty but still looked fairly young.

He had waited in this sweltering, run-down house for over half an hour, only for his daughter to return in tattered clothes, and without even greeting him first.

'She doesn't have the slightest manners,' he thought, growing increasingly impatient.

He asked sharply, "Why did you make us wait so long?"

"I slipped on my way down the mountain," Hannah answered, her lashes lowered.

Hannah's thick lashes dipped low, hiding the coolness in her eyes and making her look like a child who had done something wrong.

She resembled Felicity, with delicate features and refined temperament, and since she also admitted fault so quietly, Dorian couldn't keep scolding her.

"Why were you being so careless? Forget it. Get in the car," he said curtly before turning away, eager to leave this place without lingering another second.

"Hannah, I'm your mother. Did you hurt yourself when you fell?" Felicity stepped forward, taking Hannah's hand as she checked for injuries.

Hannah looked at the elegant woman before her, whose eyes were filled with genuine worry. It reminded her of her gentle adoptive mother.

"I'm fine. Thank you," Hannah said.

"Mom, let's go. Don't make Dad wait," Susie interrupted, tugging at Felicity's arm.

"Okay." Felicity nodded quickly. Seeing that Hannah wasn't moving, she hesitated. "Hannah, let's go home. Don't keep your father waiting."

Hannah nodded, turned, and said goodbye to Evelyn.

Watching Felicity's entire attention fall on Hannah, Susie felt a sourness rise in her chest.

She yanked at Felicity again, hard, but didn't manage to pull her. Her irritation flared instantly.

She let go in frustration and was about to run after Dorian when Evelyn called out.

"Susie, are you sure you don't want to stay?" Evelyn asked, her eyes sincere.

Only then did Hannah look at Susie properly.

She had long straight hair and rather average features, but dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, she genuinely looked like a spoiled rich girl.

"No," Susie rejected without a second of hesitation.

Her disdainful scoff was almost fully written across her face.

'Do I look stupid enough to give up a life of wealth just to suffer in this rundown dump?' she sneered inwardly.

Evelyn exhaled softly, "Fine. Go back then. I just hope you'll visit your father when you have the time."

The mention of her biological father instantly darkened Susie's expression.

Before coming here, the Scott family had done their research. Susie's real father was a murderer serving a life sentence in prison.

"Dorian is my only father," Susie snapped, dragging Felicity away with her.

For a moment, Hannah didn't know what to say.

Evelyn watched Susie's resolute figure disappearing down the path and shook her head helplessly before turning back to Hannah. "Go on, honey."

"Okay." Hannah bent down and hugged her grandmother, whispering into her ear, "I'll go see my father. And I'll clear his name. I promise."

Before Evelyn could object, Hannah grabbed her cloth bag and headed out.

Only one car remained outside the yard, the driver standing by the open door waiting for her.

Hannah approached, and as the driver held the door for her, she finally saw that someone was already sitting in the back seat.

Chapter 3 Searching For Hannah

The moment the engine started, Dorian said, "I need to inform you of something.

"Once we return to Brynlock, we'll announce to the public that you were adopted by the Scott family."

Hannah lifted her gaze toward him. They hadn't mentioned this during their earlier phone calls.

Her eyes were deep and distant, carrying a coldness that shut everyone out. She looked nothing like the obedient girl from a few minutes ago.

Under her cool, assessing stare, Dorian felt uneasy.

'We've never spent time together. Clearly, even if she were my daughter, I still wouldn't be able to get close to her,' Dorian thought to himself.

Forcing down the discomfort in his chest, he patiently explained, "The Scott family only achieved what we have today with support from the Baker family.

"Mr. Baker has taken a liking to Susie, and the two have been promised to each other for years. To secure both families' interests, we can't reveal your real identity. I'm sorry."

'He's afraid that once the Baker family learns the truth, that their future Mrs. Baker was raised in the slums, they'll refuse the marriage alliance, right?' Hannah thought.

"I see," Hannah replied lightly, giving a small nod.

She reached into her bag, pulled out her phone, opened a game, and began playing, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

Since she voiced no objection, Dorian quietly exhaled.

'A girl raised in the slums was indeed easy to handle,' he thought.

His wife had pleaded with him repeatedly, and he was also worried someone might uncover Hannah's identity and damage the Scott family's reputation.

That was the only reason he agreed to bring Hannah back to the Scott residence. Otherwise, he would never have accepted a daughter raised in a slum.

Hannah leaned lazily against the seat, her eyes lowered, fully absorbed in her phone.

Her fingers tapped rapidly and with practiced ease. Anyone could tell she played often.

Frowning, Dorian glanced at the screen.

She was playing a basic matching game. Whatever faint goodwill he'd felt toward her evaporated instantly.

He even regretted coming to pick her up. Hannah had no manners, no self-discipline. 'Who knew when she might embarrass the Scott family in public?' he wondered.

But Dorian hadn't looked closely.

In this level, 99 pairs of icons were scrambled, shown for one minute, and then flipped over. Players depended on memory to match and eliminate pairs.

Hannah had only looked at the layout for ten seconds before starting the level. She then cleared the entire board in forty-eight seconds with a one-percent error rate.

But she still seemed dissatisfied. She refreshed the stage and began again.

The car reached the airport. They boarded the plane, and two hours later arrived at Brynlock Airport.

Aside from eating, Hannah spent nearly the entire trip replaying the same level, determined to break the record.

She finally did with three seconds to memorize and twenty-seven seconds to clear everything, with a zero-percent error rate.

Just then, several WhatsApp messages popped up.

Piggy: [Raven, are you really not taking jobs anymore?]

Piggy: [Someone is offering triple the usual price for a task. Are you sure you don't want to consider it?]

Piggy: [Triple, Raven. That's a lot of money.]

Hannah clicked her tongue in annoyance and replied: [No.]

Piggy: [You're turning down a contract worth several million dollars. What are you trying to do?]

Raven: [Just taking a break.]

Piggy: [So how long is this break gonna last? I need to give them an answer.]

Raven: [Depends on how I feel.]

Piggy: [Such a diva.]

In Dorian's eyes, Hannah, who kept her phone in her hands the entire time, was nothing more than a teenage addict glued to mobile games.

Meanwhile, Susie was diligently working through practice exercises during the flight. The contrast between them couldn't have been more dramatic.

'Not announcing that Hannah was the Scott family's biological daughter was absolutely the right decision. Otherwise, she'd tarnish the family name sooner or later,' Dorian thought.

*****

In town, Evelyn was drying medicinal herbs in the yard when two men in camouflage walked up outside the fence.

The man leading them had strikingly handsome features and a tall, commanding build. But the gauze taped across the right side of his chest was soaked through with blood; clearly, he had been wounded.

Behind him stood a younger man with a bright, boyish face.

"Are you here for treatment or for medicine?" Evelyn set down the herbs in her hands and asked.

"I'm looking for someone." Barnaby pulled a bloodstained cloth strip from his pocket.

Evelyn glanced at the fabric, and her expression immediately grew guarded.

The embroidery on the cloth was unmistakably her handiwork.

It reminded her of that morning, when Hannah had returned with a torn dress. Evelyn looked toward the blood on the man's chest and asked, "You are?"

Sensing Evelyn's change in demeanor, Barnaby explained gently, "We're special forces soldiers on a classified mission.

"This young woman helped us capture a criminal, and she saved my life. The unit needs her to come back with us to file a mission statement, and I also wanted to thank her in person."

"I see. But you're too late." Evelyn loosened her stance. "She left two hours ago. She won't be coming back."

Barnaby frowned slightly. "Where did she go?"

Evelyn hesitated, then finally answered, "To the Scott residence in Brynlock."

"Alright. Thank you." Barnaby nodded and turned to leave.

Magnus Croft jogged up beside him, grinning. "Boss, have you been away from the unit too long, or did your memory glitch? Since when did we start filing statements after a mission?"

"One minute ago," Barnaby replied, stone-cold.

Magnus froze.

Barnaby handed him the bloodstained cloth strip and ordered, "Wash it. Tomorrow, bring me the address of its owner."

Chapter 4 Disdain

The Scott family sent three cars to Brynlock Airport to pick them up.

Dorian had something urgent at the company and had to leave early, so the remaining three returned home first.

An hour and a half later, the car rolled into the Scott residence.

"Hannah, we're home." After getting out, Felicity warmly guided Hannah inside. "Your grandmother is here, along with your older brother Arthur and your younger brother Lucian."

Hannah nodded.

"Grandma, we're back," Susie announced as she walked ahead of them.

Handing her bag to a maid, she strolled toward the living room with casual confidence, making sure everyone saw she was the heiress of the house.

"Susie, you're back? Did you bring me a present?" A boy of about six or seven dashed out from the living room.

It was Lucian Scott, the third child of the Scott family.

"That place is a backwater. Don't get your hopes up. What gift could she possibly bring you?" an elderly voice called from the living room.

"True. I got excited for nothing," Lucian muttered, turning away with obvious disdain.

He curled back into the couch and picked up his game console again.

Hannah followed Felicity into the living room. The interior was decorated in a classic, luxurious style.

A lady with a full head of gray hair, dressed in glittering jewelry, sat gracefully on the sofa, sipping her coffee.

Susie sat obediently beside her, refilling her cup. "Grandma, where's Arthur?"

"Arthur flew to Starreach this afternoon to inspect some kind of biological institute," Aurelia Scott said before taking another sip.

Felicity's eyes dimmed.

Before they left earlier that morning, she had told Arthur Scott they were bringing Hannah home.

Tonight was supposed to be a family gathering, and she had hoped everyone could be present.

But Arthur always did as he pleased; he was the pride of the Scott family, and Felicity never dared blame him.

Swallowing her disappointment, she brought Hannah forward.

"Mrs. Scott, we've brought Hannah home," Felicity announced. Then she introduced, "Hannah, this is your grandmother."

"Hello, Grandma," Hannah greeted mildly.

Aurelia didn't respond. She set down her cup and called out to a maid. "Cici, heat up the remaining soup and bring it to Susie."

"Okay," Cici replied. In a moment, she brought over a porcelain bowl of soup.

"Thank you, Grandma," Susie said sweetly. She lifted the bowl, took a showy sip, and smiled. "It's delicious."

"Enjoy it. No one's competing with you. You've been in the car all day, poor thing.

"This soup is great for your skin. Drink more, and Mr. Baker will be completely smitten with you." Aurelia tucked a strand of Susie's hair behind her ear, her affection unmistakable.

"Okay." Susie's smile was sugary as she nodded.

While she smiled, she cast a brief, triumphant glance at Hannah standing off to the side, the corners of her lips curling even higher.

Seeing Aurelia purposely ignore Hannah, Felicity tried again. "Mrs. Scott?"

"Oh, you're back," Aurelia said, pretending she had only just noticed them. She finally turned her eyes toward Hannah and gave her a once-over.

Hannah's features were delicate, her centipede braid neat, and her skin flawless. But her gaze was too cool, her lips thin. Clearly, Aurelia found her appearance unappealing.

Her eyes shifted downward, and there it was. Hannah's dress was dirty and torn. She carried a ragged cloth bag, and her once-white shoes were covered in mud. Aurelia's brows pinched tightly.

'Look at her clothes. She really did come from some remote mountain village, no taste at all. She's of no value to the Scott family, and we still have to waste money raising her,' Aurelia thought with annoyance.

"Cici, get her a different pair of shoes. I don't want dust from whatever rundown place she came from dirtying the wool carpet I had flown in from overseas," Aurelia instructed the maid.

"Sure thing." The maid hurried over with a pair of house slippers and said politely, "Miss, please change your shoes."

Hannah didn't say a word.

Felicity could read the disgust in Aurelia's eyes and in every line she spoke.

Back when she and Dorian were dating, the Scott family had still been farming in the countryside.

Later, a mine was discovered beneath their land, and they became rich overnight.

Once the money came in, Aurelia immediately turned snobbish, looking down on all their former neighbors.

She forced Felicity and Dorian to break up and moved the entire family to Brynlock.

They started companies, bought villas, filled their closets with luxury goods, and did everything they could to claw their way up the social ladder.

It was all an attempt to scrub off the label of new money and squeeze into the world of old-money elites.

Back then, Dorian refused to marry anyone but Felicity, and Felicity had become pregnant with a son.

Without that, she might never have been allowed to marry into the Scott family.

Thinking of her situation, Felicity felt a faint ache in her chest.

'Hannah is a girl, and she just came back from the slums. Of course, Aurelia wouldn't like her,' Felicity thought.

She attempted to smooth things over. "Mom, Hannah grew up in the slums; she's been through a lot."

"Enough. Take her to wash up and change into something presentable," Aurelia snapped, waving her off impatiently.

Felicity sighed and said to Hannah, "Hannah, I'll take you to your room."

Hannah understood Aurelia's disdain perfectly, but she said nothing. She simply nodded.

Seeing Felicity being kind to Hannah instantly made the soup in Susie's hands lose its sweetness.

'That was supposed to be my mother's love. Why did Hannah get to steal it so easily?' Susie fumed inwardly.

Unwilling to accept it, she shifted her gaze toward Lucian, who was still playing his game.

"Lucian, don't you want your study room back?" she reminded him.

Lucian had just been killed in the game and cursed under his breath.

But the moment he heard Susie's hint, he tossed the console aside and bolted up to the third floor.

Chapter 5 You Don't Deserve It

On the third floor, Felicity opened the door and said, "I'm not sure what style you like. Take a look and tell me if you want anything added."

The room was decorated in a trendy pink princess theme, overflowing with girly charm, but it wasn't Hannah's style at all.

Still, when Felicity looked at her expectantly, Hannah just nodded. "It's fine like this."

Before she could say more, someone suddenly shoved her, causing her to stumble.

"Get out. This is my study," Lucian snapped fiercely at Hannah, his glare explosive, like a powder keg ready to blow.

"Hannah, are you okay?" Felicity looked torn. "Lucian, didn't you promise this room to Hannah?"

Felicity felt flustered as Lucian suddenly threw a tantrum.

All the rooms on the villa's second and third floors were taken. Only the maid's quarters and guest rooms on the first floor were left.

Hannah was the Scott family's heiress; there was no way she could stay on the first floor.

That was why Felicity had tried to negotiate with Lucian, asking him to share a study with Arthur so his room could be freed up for Hannah.

"She's not my sister. I don't have a sister from the slums," Lucian shouted, pushing Hannah again.

Hannah nimbly sidestepped.

Lucian didn't expect her to dodge. He missed, then tripped on his own foot. Thud, he slammed into the footboard of the bed.

Immediately, his loud wails shattered the silence.

"What happened?" Aurelia heard the noise and, with Susie's help, came up to the third floor.

"Grandma, save me. She pushed me." Lucian threw himself into Aurelia's arms, crying as he complained.

Hannah rolled her eyes.

"Don't cry. I'll get justice for you." Aurelia patted his back soothingly. "Let me see where you're hurt."

Lucian's tears and snot ran down his face. A large bump had formed on his forehead.

"Oh my, how did you get such a bad bump? Will it leave a scar?" Susie exclaimed dramatically.

Lucian cried even louder.

"Lucian, let me see. Sorry, it's my fault. I wasn't watching you properly." Felicity anxiously tried to hug Lucian but was pushed aside by Aurelia.

"Step back. Go get the doctor," Aurelia snapped, then shot Hannah a cold glare. "I'll deal with you later."

Hannah said nothing.

The villa erupted into chaos as everyone rushed to care for Lucian.

Susie, noticing Hannah was being ignored, felt much better inside. 'A girl doesn't deserve to have Mom wrapped around her finger,' she wondered.

*****

Downstairs in the living room, Lucian huddled in Aurelia's arms, sobbing with red and swollen eyes. Aurelia was heartbroken.

She scolded Felicity to hurry to the family doctor while ordering the maid to bring some bandages.

The maid quickly delivered the supplies.

"Lucian, don't cry. Once we bandage you up, you'll feel better," she said.

Aurelia took the bandages and was about to wrap Lucian's bump when a clear, cold female voice interrupted, "You can't just wrap it like that. You need to ice it first."

Aurelia turned toward the voice and saw Hannah standing at the staircase entrance.

She was still wearing that tattered dress, carrying a cloth bag over one shoulder. But the cool aura she radiated gave no hint she'd come from the slums.

"What do you know? With this much blood, you have to bandage immediately." Aurelia shot Hannah a sharp look.

Then she gently wrapped the bandage around Lucian's swollen forehead.

"Ouch, it hurts," Lucian screamed, flailing in pain.

"Even if it hurts, you have to bear it. You must bandage immediately or it'll get infected." Aurelia called the maid over to hold Lucian down.

Felicity's heart ached, but she dared not defy Aurelia and stood by helplessly.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Aurelia's wrist.

"What are you doing?" Aurelia looked down and saw Hannah, whose dim eyes flashed with anger.

"Applying cold," Hannah said again, her gaze cool and steady.

"Step aside. Don't interfere. I have plenty of life experience. I wouldn't harm my own grandson," Aurelia yanked her wrist free.

Last time, she had watched a friend treat her grandson the same way. It couldn't be wrong.

Hannah couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Lucian wriggled free from Aurelia's arms and dove into Felicity's embrace.

He cried uncontrollably, tears and snot all over him, so pathetic.

Aurelia was furious, about to order the maid to pull Lucian back when the family doctor arrived.

Chapter 6 Wishful Thinking

"No big deal. Just apply some ice. Lucian's already taking medicine for his rhinitis, so I won't prescribe anything else for now," the doctor said after examining him.

He noticed Aurelia holding some gauze and frowned.

"You must never bandage a fresh bruise right away; it actually worsens the swelling by increasing capillary congestion. First, you have to apply cold compresses.

"Only after 24 hours can you wrap it with light pressure to reduce swelling and disperse bruises. Remember, wait a full 24 hours," he warned firmly.

His repeated emphasis on the cold compress made Aurelia look a bit awkward. She shot a sharp glare at Hannah.

'How could a girl from the slums know anything about medical care? She must've just gotten lucky,' Aurelia thought scornfully.

Without a word, Aurelia harshly shoved the egg in her hand toward the maid and said coldly, "Go get some ice."

'As long as I don't feel embarrassed, no one else will,' Aurelia thought.

Lucian, shaken but alive, looked at Hannah with tearful eyes.

His sorrowful gaze seemed to say, "Don't think you helped me; if it weren't for you, would I have gotten hurt?"

Hannah sighed helplessly.

After the family doctor left, Felicity applied ice packs to Lucian's forehead.

She quietly asked Hannah, "How did you know to use cold compresses?"

"The roads in the slums aren't even. I used to get bumped and bruised all the time as a kid. Grandma always treated me that way," Hannah said, lowering her eyes.

Her voice was soft, but everyone present heard it clearly.

'I thought Hannah knew medical skills, but turns out she just grew up poor in the slums, couldn't afford a doctor, and relied on folk remedies,' Aurelia thought disdainfully.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Hannah," Felicity said, taking her hand gently.

Just the thought of her daughter always turning away from doctors and using old home remedies whenever she got hurt broke her heart.

Hannah's thick, long lashes shielded her eyes. She said nothing.

Aurelia sneered, "So you pushed your brother just to show off your little slum remedy?"

"I didn't push him," Hannah replied calmly.

"Didn't you? Do you think I'm stupid or Lucian is? Who just bumps into things like that on purpose?" Aurelia challenged.

Hannah opened her mouth but ended up saying nothing.

Felicity timidly defended, "Mrs. Scott, Hannah really didn't push Lucian. He accidentally fell and hit the bed's footboard."

Aurelia shot a glance at her. "You always side with Hannah. She's your biological granddaughter, but isn't Lucian your grandson too?"

Felicity frowned. "No, Mrs. Scott, let's stick to the facts."

"What's not true? The fact is that Lucian got hurt while she walked away fine.

"If Lucian's head was seriously injured, would she take responsibility?" Aurelia cut her off sharply. "Also, that room was meant to be Lucian's study.

"You turned it into a bedroom without asking. Where's he supposed to do his homework now?"

"Switch it back immediately. Lucian's starting first grade soon. Like Arthur, he's a genius and will rank in the top ten of his class.

"He needs a study room," Aurelia said proudly.

Arthur, the Scott family heir, had been a prodigy since childhood, finishing his university courses by age twenty and starting a business overseas on his own.

Aurelia's greatest pride was her eldest grandson. But Susie was also doing well.

Though Susie wasn't her biological granddaughter, Aurelia had watched her grow up since childhood.

Susie was well-behaved, academically excellent, and most importantly, engaged to Jasper.

Even though Hannah was her real granddaughter, Aurelia didn't care.

Any one of Susie's advantages could easily outshine that girl from the slums.

"Where is Hannah supposed to live, then?" Felicity asked awkwardly. "We haven't revealed her true identity. We owe her that much. We can't let her suffer materially, too."

"Why would she suffer?" Aurelia asked, amused. "There are two guest rooms on the first floor. Aren't they both better than her rundown slum house? She should be grateful just to have a place."

Felicity opened her mouth but hesitated.

Aurelia had always been so domineering. Felicity had borne two sons for the Scott family, and the eldest was a brilliant prodigy. Otherwise, Aurelia would have forced them to divorce long ago.

Felicity couldn't argue with her but felt guilty knowing her daughter had suffered for seventeen years, only to be unwelcome when she returned.

As Felicity struggled, Hannah tugged her arm.

"Top ten in the grade to get a good room? And a private study?" Hannah looked at Aurelia.

Chapter 7 Choosing A School

Her gaze was cold and indifferent, as if she were staring at an object, not a person.

Aurelia found it utterly repulsive.

"That's right," she replied. "If you can rank in the top ten of your grade and bring honor to the Scott family, then you'll earn yourself a good room."

"I understand," Hannah said, then turned to Felicity. "Let's go."

Felicity hesitated for a moment before realizing that Hannah wanted her to lead the way to the guest room. The pang of guilt inside her deepened.

Watching them walk away, Aurelia sneered disdainfully.

'A girl from the slums who probably didn't even finish middle school, and she dreams of making the top ten? That's just foolish fantasy,' Aurelia thought.

*****

That evening, the dinner was supposed to welcome Hannah home and celebrate the family reunion, but two seats at the long table remained empty.

Lucian refused to eat, nursing the swelling on his head, while Arthur was away on a business trip and hadn't returned yet.

To ease the awkwardness, Felicity pulled out a list of schools and handed it to Hannah after most had finished eating.

"Hannah, school starts soon. I looked into a few options for your transfer. Take a look and see if there's any you want to attend," she said.

Hannah picked up a small lamb chop and glanced at the list, mostly mid-to-high-level schools in Brynlock.

"Dad, I heard Hannah did pretty well at her school in the slums. Why not just enroll her at Cavalor International School?

"I could keep an eye on her there," Susie said, putting down her utensils and looking up.

She sounded sincere, genuinely concerned for Hannah.

But everyone knew the truth; the slum school's teaching standards couldn't compare to those of an international school.

"Cavalor International School teaches entirely in Thalvarin. Can she even follow the lessons?" Dorian glanced at Hannah.

She'd changed into a black dress adorned with rose patterns, her skin looking especially smooth and delicate. Her manners at the table were graceful, giving no hint of her humble origins.

Hannah's good looks softened Dorian's previous disdain toward her.

'Hannah is prettier than Susie. When she grows up, she might even help the Scott family arrange a strategic marriage with that appearance,' Dorian thought.

"I'll go to Cavalor International School," Hannah said after finishing a lamb chop.

Everyone stared in surprise.

She calmly picked up another piece and started eating as if her choice of school was no big deal, like commenting on how tasty the lamb was.

"What are you trying to prove? Your slum school didn't even have a proper Thalvarin teacher. How do you expect to keep up with classes at Cavalor?

"Remember when you scored zero on the SAT? You'd disgrace the Scott family." Dorian slammed the table angrily.

Before deciding on a school, they had reviewed Hannah's past grades.

Though she'd ranked first in her entire school, that school was built by charity efforts in the slums.

Every year, only one or two teachers were sent, each juggling multiple roles, and they rarely stayed more than six months.

In that environment, even ranking first didn't mean much in terms of real academic strength.

"Don't embarrass yourself with those scores at Cavalor. If you're capable, go to Rinrolad School.

"Score in the top ten of your grade there, and Lucian's study will be yours," Aurelia declared disdainfully from her seat of authority, deciding for Hannah.

Rinrolad School was a public school in Brynlock.

While it sent a decent number of graduates to prestigious universities each year, its teaching credentials lagged behind Cavalor International School.

Cavalor was a century-old academy founded by the Croft family, one of the Four Great Families, and it catered to students aiming for international elite universities.

Even students who failed to get into top international schools could transfer directly into Cavalor's university division, which guaranteed excellent job prospects upon graduation.

"Hannah, what do you think?" Felicity asked.

Chapter 8 The Invitation

Hannah said nothing, leisurely enjoying her meal.

Aurelia had little appetite and put down her utensils after a few bites.

Hannah ate with gusto, finishing every last bit of the vegetables. Aurelia scornfully remarked, "Careful, you don't overeat."

"Grandma, Hannah never gets to eat dishes this good back in the slums. It's her first time having so much delicious food; she's bound to lose control and eat too much.

"She can just take a walk later to burn it off," Susie said.

She appeared to be defending Hannah, but in reality, she was pointing out that Hannah came from the slums and didn't belong here.

Dorian's slight goodwill toward Hannah's looks quickly faded, replaced by undisguised disdain as he looked at her.

"That's settled about the school," he said, then stood up to head to the study.

Hannah finished the last bite, set down her utensils, and elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

"I don't have the habit of wasting food," she said.

Dorian paused mid-step.

The Scott Group was a nouveau riche business that had never operated very smoothly.

The company had been losing money for years, and even after finally turning a profit, competition had grown fierce, squeezing margins.

In recent years, without the Baker family's cooperation and business support, they wouldn't have been able to maintain their comfortable lifestyle.

Making money wasn't easy. Though Dorian never demanded frugality from the family, he had often spoken against wastefulness.

Now, it seemed they were being wasteful.

"That's a good habit to have," Susie said sweetly.

But in her heart, she thought, 'Keep pretending. I'm curious how long you can keep this up.'

Hannah ignored the taunt and stood.

"I'm going to Cavalor. If you can't arrange it, then don't bother," she said, then turned and walked back to the guest room.

"Don't you understand?" Dorian shouted at her retreating back.

"Dad, don't be angry. Maybe Hannah just wants to go to the same school as me," Susie hurried to soothe him.

"What kind of ability does she think she has? She wants to go to Cavalor? With her slum school grades?

"Does she really think she can pass their entrance exam? Isn't she just trying to embarrass the Scott family?" Dorian said angrily.

"But if she doesn't try, how will we know if she can't really do it?" Susie said softly, sounding genuinely supportive.

"Susie's right," Aurelia nodded in agreement. "If we don't let her try, she'll never know just how useless she is.

"If she wants to go to Cavalor, send her there. Outwardly, we can say that even though she's adopted, we're fair and gave her everything she asked for. Whether she gets in depends on her ability."

Dorian suddenly saw the sense in that.

'When Hannah fails to get into Cavalor and the truth comes out, the Scott family can still spin it positively,' he wondered.

They didn't discriminate against her slum background and gave her the best choice, but her own ability wasn't enough, so she ended up at Rinrolad School.

"Susie, you're really sensible and thoughtful," Dorian said, patting her shoulder with satisfaction. "Keep good relations with the Baker family.

"When you marry, I'll give you a generous dowry so you can have a grand wedding."

"Thank you, Dad," Susie said sweetly.

She glanced toward the door of the guest room where Hannah stayed, a cold sneer curling in her heart. 'What use is it that she's biological? I'm the true heiress of the Scott family.'

*****

Hannah returned to her guest room and opened WhatsApp. She searched for Buzzing Wolfram.

Wolfram Croft was the dean of Cavalor International School. Hannah had him saved under that nickname.

She tapped into the chat; next to Buzzing Wolfram was a Do Not Disturb icon.

Their last message exchange dated back two years.

Buzzing Wolfram: [Hannah, the educational resources in the slums are limited. Have you thought about switching schools and coming to Cavalor International School?]

Hannah: [Nope.]

Buzzing Wolfram: [Mind telling me why? Do you think Cavalor International School's resources aren't good? Or is there another reason?]

Hannah: [Don't have a reason. Too lazy to make one up.]

Buzzing Wolfram: [Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?]

Three months later, Buzzing Wolfram: [Hannah, the new school year is almost here. Have you thought about Cavalor International School?]

Buzzing Wolfram: [If you're still not interested, don't worry. I'll bug you again tomorrow.]

The next day, Buzzing Wolfram: [Hannah, the new school year is coming. Please think about Cavalor International School.]

Buzzing Wolfram: [If you're still not interested, don't worry, I'll bug you again in a couple of days.]

Messages like these had been flooding the chat for two years.

Finally, Hannah moved her fingers and replied: [Okay.]

No sooner had she sent the message than Wolfram responded immediately.

Buzzing Wolfram: [Fantastic. I've been waiting two years for you to say yes. On the first day of school, I'll send a car to pick you up.]

Buzzing Wolfram: [No, I'll come pick you up myself.]