The first thing Sylvie Vance realized when she returned to the Lawson family was that she had a shadow. It started with a sensation—a cold, heavy gaze that clung to her skin like a shroud. Someone was watching. Someone was lurking in the dark, weaving a web around her every move. When the man who dared to harass her turned up dead in an alley, the whispers in her head grew louder. The voyeuristic obsession wasn't just a threat anymore; it was a promise. It was sick, twisted, and utterly suffocating. And to Sylvie’s own surprise… it was exhilarating. Caspian Graves is the city’s living nightmare—a man of absolute power, chillingly detached and dangerously silent. He looks down on the world from a throne of ice, and no one dares to meet his eyes. Until the day a witness stumbles upon a scene that defies logic: The untouchable tyrant is pinned against a cold brick wall, cornered by the Lawson family’s supposedly "fragile" and "helpless" little girl. With trembling lashes and a voice cracked with desperation, the man who bows to no one slowly drops to his knees. He wraps his arms around her waist, clinging to her like a man drowning, begging for a single touch from the only person who can ruin him. She pulled the strings, and the monster fell.

Chapter 1That feeling was back.Someone was watching her.Ever since her very first day returning to the Lawson estate from the countryside, the sensation had shadowed her.It felt like a cold draft sweeping over the nape of her neck, raising goosebumps along her spine and sending a faint shiver through her body.The night was moonless, the streetlights dim, and the tree branches cast sprawling, web-like shadows across the pavement.She felt a flicker of genuine excitement.Just as she tried to savor the thrill, a balding, heavy-set man suddenly blocked her path."Hey there, beautiful. All alone?"The man flashed a sleazy grin, stepping closer and giving her a little wave.Sylvie Vance stopped in her tracks, blinking with wide, innocent eyes.As he got a better look at the young girl's face, his smile grew even more predatory, the heavy flesh of his cheeks trembling with anticipation."You are absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart. Are you lonely? Want to come have some fun with me?"He closed the distance and suddenly ripped his trench coat wide open!Revealing nothing but his bare, greasy flesh underneath.He stared intently at the girl's face, eagerly anticipating a look of sheer terror and a high-pitched scream.Sylvie didn't flinch. Her dark eyes casually scanned him from top to bottom before her lips curved into a sweet, flawless smile. Her voice was soft and light."You must be Stumpy."Her completely unexpected reaction, paired with the gloomy shadows, made her delicate face look faintly sinister.The man froze in place.But soon, anger overtook his fear. Humiliated and furious, he barked,"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"He lunged forward in a fit of rage, but a fraction of a second later, a blade flashed in the dark.The girl's slender fingers danced, the metal catching the dim light as she stared him down with a smirk.His expression faltered. Ultimately, he pulled his coat tight, spun around, and bolted.He didn't forget to toss a parting threat over his shoulder. "Are you crazy?! You just wait!"The girl clicked her tongue in disappointment.That was it?She turned around and continued her walk home.The middle-aged man ran a safe distance away, already hunting for his next target.He was experienced at this and decided to try his luck in a nearby alleyway that didn't have security cameras.Muttering curses under his breath about the psycho girl he had just encountered, he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks."Who the hell are you? Get out of my way! Wait, what are you doing?!""Help! Somebody help—ugh!"A twisted mask of agony froze permanently on his heavy face.The metallic tang of blood drifted out of the alley, carried by the cool night breeze.A man in a black raincoat brought his hand down. Again, and again.Blood splattered across his pale cheek as a low, hoarse whisper melted into the darkness."How dare you..."...Sylvie pushed open the heavy front doors, and the bustling noise inside the house silenced for a split second.Every eye turned toward the young girl who looked entirely out of place.The stares held a mix of surprise, disdain, amusement, and pity.Over a decade ago, on the day Lawrence Lawson, the Chairman of Vance Group, married his new bride, he had shipped off his late ex-wife's three-year-old daughter to foster care in the countryside.The girl had taken her deceased mother's maiden name.Although Lawrence claimed it was for the sake of the child's fragile health, the reality was that he wanted to please his new wife and erase the humiliating past of having joined a wealthier family.Recently, the Lawson family had finally brought her back.As for her status in the household... rumor had it that even the live-in maids could boss her around.The elegant socialite standing in the center of the living room lowered her champagne glass. She shot the girl a surprised look, her eyes flashing with a split-second of raw disgust."What are you doing here?"The young girl timidly shrank back, flashing a soft, harmless smile."Good evening. It's Lucas's birthday party today, and I wanted to celebrate too."Helena Ward-Lawson scanned her from head to toe, looking at her as if she were an offensive piece of trash."This is a Lawson family gala, not some backwoods playground," she said, her smile utterly flawless. "Sylvie, you need to present yourself properly, understand?"Sylvie glanced down at her outfit—a simple white t-shirt, a plain black skirt, sneakers, and a canvas backpack. Was it really that inappropriate?With the crowd watching, Helena stepped closer, wearing a picture-perfect, magnanimous smile."You lack a sense of time and clearly haven't been taught proper etiquette. I don't blame you.""Go on. Head up to your room, clean yourself up, and find something pretty to wear, alright?"Then, lowering her voice so no one else could hear, she leaned in close. She rested a hand gently on Sylvie's shoulder, portraying the perfect image of a caring mother."What I really mean is, lock yourself in your room and don't come out. You're an absolute embarrassment. Look at yourself—you don't belong here."Sylvie kept her head bowed in silence, her body trembling slightly as if utterly humiliated by the words.Helena watched her reaction with deep satisfaction and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.She played the role of the strict yet loving stepmother to absolute perfection.Right at that moment, Sylvie tilted her head up to meet Helena's eyes.Her large, luminous eyes were slightly glassy, blinking with the innocence of a cornered deer. She kept her voice at an equally discreet whisper."Helena, don't get so close to me with that ugly face. Do you have any idea how bad your breath reeks? You can play the aristocrat all you want, but at the end of the day, you're just a stray dog marking territory in my family's house."Helena's face instantly drained of color!Her eyes bulged as if she had just swallowed a fly, her cheeks flushing a violent shade of red as she refused to believe her own ears."What did you just say?!"Her shrill, piercing shriek made everyone in the room jump, exchanging bewildered glances.Sylvie stared innocently at her twisted expression, took a frightened step back, and let her eyes well up with tears."I'm so sorry, Helena. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."With that, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and jogged up the stairs.As she ran, a colorless powder drifted silently onto the hem of Helena's gown, entirely unnoticed.Helena stood frozen, her face twitching and her chest heaving.Since marrying Lawrence, no one had ever dared speak to her like that!Lawrence walked over, a frown creasing his forehead. "What's wrong?"Helena looked ready to crush her champagne flute in her bare hand."That little bitch just insulted me!"Lawrence cleared his throat. "What are you talking about? I know you don't like her, but just ignore her. There's no way that girl has the guts to insult you. Keep your voice down."Helena felt a fresh wave of blinding rage. It was like a massive lump was lodged in her throat—she couldn't swallow it down, nor could she spit it out.But Lawrence merely gave her a dismissive pat on the shoulder and quickly plastered on a fake smile to go schmooze his clients.The surrounding guests returned to clinking glasses, though they had all drawn their own conclusions. Helena was clearly a ruthless stepmother, but that little country girl was a total pushover. She was bound to be chewed up and spat out by this family sooner or later.Sylvie returned to her second-floor bedroom.It was a converted storage closet with tiny windows. The wardrobe was stuffed with Lydia's hand-me-down dresses.Lydia, her half-sister, was currently studying abroad on an exchange program and was expected back soon.Sylvie hadn't even met her yet, but she was already staring at the discarded clothes Lydia no longer wanted.The wardrobe had been prepared the very day she arrived. Helena had smiled warmly, boasting about how generous Lydia was to share her dresses with her new sister.The young girl had seen these dresses before, idly flipping through them without much interest.Suddenly, her fingers paused. She stared intently at the very back of the closet, the hair on her arms standing up.It was like the first radiant beam of moonlight breaking the horizon—silk and tulle shimmering with the softness of clouds and a starry sky, the skirt lightly dusted with crushed diamonds.A dress made of pure moonlight hung quietly at the very back of the rack.It wasn't a sweeping gown, but a slightly flared cocktail skirt woven with subtle silver rose patterns. It was the absolute pinnacle of luxury.Wow.Sylvie carefully pulled it out, feeling as though she were holding a galaxy in her hands.It was breathtaking.A dress that matched her aesthetic perfectly had miraculously appeared in her closet. It definitely hadn't been there yesterday.Nobody in this house would ever gift her something like this—Frankly, she knew they didn't have the wealth or the taste for it.Even without an extensive knowledge of haute couture, Sylvie could tell this single piece was likely worth more than Lydia's entire wardrobe combined.She blinked, her mind racing. Stepping toward the window, she abruptly yanked back the curtains!In that split second, she felt a burning gaze seared into her skin.It vanished instantly. Almost like an illusion.It was pitch black outside. Nothing. It was a high-end neighborhood with plenty of distance between the manors, and the ground below was a dense thicket of trees and shrubs. There was no moon tonight.Dead silence.She pulled her gaze away, her eyes curving into a delighted smile. She hugged the dress close, looking like a picture of absolute innocence, completely unfazed by the creepy anomaly."So pretty~"She couldn't wait to try it on.With her back to the window, she crossed her arms, grabbed the hem of her shirt, and lifted it without warning—Exposing a stretch of flawless, luminous waist.A sudden rustle echoed from the bushes outside.The girl paused, leaving her shirt on, and glanced toward the glass in confusion.It was just a stray cat bursting out from the shrubbery, sprinting away into the night.The prickly sensation on her back vanished.Still facing away from the window, the young girl narrowed her eyes, a sharp smirk pulling at her lips.She took her time changing.The moment she slipped the dress on, she froze.This piece was practically made for her.Every single inch was tailored to perfection, as if someone had meticulously measured her exact proportions.A pearl belt flawlessly accentuated her slender waist, while the shimmering fabric made her complexion look absolutely radiant.The young girl did a satisfied twirl in front of the mirror.Then she gave her backpack a quick shake. A long, slender shape slithered out and vanished into the shadows in the blink of an eye.Time to make an entrance.She pushed the door open, the sharp click of her low heels echoing softly.The living room fell dead silent.Once again, every eye in the room zeroed in on her, but the vibe was completely different this time.She had a breathtakingly beautiful face, as delicate as a porcelain doll. With just a swipe of lipstick, she easily outshone women caked in heavy makeup.Her chin tilted up slightly, her lips curled in a confident smile. There was not a single trace of the timid girl from earlier.All the light in the room seemed to gravitate toward her, shimmering with her every step, yet nothing was as bright as those dark, captivating eyes.She looked like royalty stepping straight out of a fairytale.Conversations died in people's throats.Lawrence stared at his own daughter, momentarily failing to recognize her as Sylvie.Helena stood frozen, her eyes wide with utter shock.Sylvie descended the stairs gracefully, making a beeline straight for Helena with a sickeningly sweet smile."Helena, is this to your liking?"Helena's mouth twitched. The words lodged in her throat, leaving her completely speechless.Not far away, a group of teenage boys began whispering, unable to hide their awe."Holy shit, Luke. That's your sister? Since when do you have a sister who looks like that?"A friend punched Lucas in the arm, his eyes glued to Sylvie.Lucas was just as stunned.He had barely registered Sylvie's existence before tonight.He didn't care about her and had no reason to interact with her.When she first walked in, he hadn't even bothered to look in her direction.But now... that's what she looked like?Before he could respond, his buddy grinned. "Luke, I wanna be your brother-in-law.""Get the hell out," Lucas shot back."Come on, she's single, right? She's way too pretty.""When are you gonna introduce us?"Chapter 2That feeling was back.Someone was watching her.Ever since her very first day returning to the Lawson estate from the countryside, the sensation had shadowed her.It felt like a cold draft sweeping over the nape of her neck, raising goosebumps along her spine and sending a faint shiver through her body.The night was moonless, the streetlights dim, and the tree branches cast sprawling, web-like shadows across the pavement.She felt a flicker of genuine excitement.Just as she tried to savor the thrill, a balding, heavy-set man suddenly blocked her path."Hey there, beautiful. All alone?"The man flashed a sleazy grin, stepping closer and giving her a little wave.Sylvie Vance stopped in her tracks, blinking with wide, innocent eyes.As he got a better look at the young girl's face, his smile grew even more predatory, the heavy flesh of his cheeks trembling with anticipation."You are absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart. Are you lonely? Want to come have some fun with me?"He closed the distance and suddenly ripped his trench coat wide open!Revealing nothing but his bare, greasy flesh underneath.He stared intently at the girl's face, eagerly anticipating a look of sheer terror and a high-pitched scream.Sylvie didn't flinch. Her dark eyes casually scanned him from top to bottom before her lips curved into a sweet, flawless smile. Her voice was soft and light."You must be Stumpy."Her completely unexpected reaction, paired with the gloomy shadows, made her delicate face look faintly sinister.The man froze in place.But soon, anger overtook his fear. Humiliated and furious, he barked,"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"He lunged forward in a fit of rage, but a fraction of a second later, a blade flashed in the dark.The girl's slender fingers danced, the metal catching the dim light as she stared him down with a smirk.His expression faltered. Ultimately, he pulled his coat tight, spun around, and bolted.He didn't forget to toss a parting threat over his shoulder. "Are you crazy?! You just wait!"The girl clicked her tongue in disappointment.That was it?She turned around and continued her walk home.The middle-aged man ran a safe distance away, already hunting for his next target.He was experienced at this and decided to try his luck in a nearby alleyway that didn't have security cameras.Muttering curses under his breath about the psycho girl he had just encountered, he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks."Who the hell are you? Get out of my way! Wait, what are you doing?!""Help! Somebody help—ugh!"A twisted mask of agony froze permanently on his heavy face.The metallic tang of blood drifted out of the alley, carried by the cool night breeze.A man in a black raincoat brought his hand down. Again, and again.Blood splattered across his pale cheek as a low, hoarse whisper melted into the darkness."How dare you..."...Sylvie pushed open the heavy front doors, and the bustling noise inside the house silenced for a split second.Every eye turned toward the young girl who looked entirely out of place.The stares held a mix of surprise, disdain, amusement, and pity.Over a decade ago, on the day Lawrence Lawson, the Chairman of Vance Group, married his new bride, he had shipped off his late ex-wife's three-year-old daughter to foster care in the countryside.The girl had taken her deceased mother's maiden name.Although Lawrence claimed it was for the sake of the child's fragile health, the reality was that he wanted to please his new wife and erase the humiliating past of having joined a wealthier family.Recently, the Lawson family had finally brought her back.As for her status in the household... rumor had it that even the live-in maids could boss her around.The elegant socialite standing in the center of the living room lowered her champagne glass. She shot the girl a surprised look, her eyes flashing with a split-second of raw disgust."What are you doing here?"The young girl timidly shrank back, flashing a soft, harmless smile."Good evening. It's Lucas's birthday party today, and I wanted to celebrate too."Helena Ward-Lawson scanned her from head to toe, looking at her as if she were an offensive piece of trash."This is a Lawson family gala, not some backwoods playground," she said, her smile utterly flawless. "Sylvie, you need to present yourself properly, understand?"Sylvie glanced down at her outfit—a simple white t-shirt, a plain black skirt, sneakers, and a canvas backpack. Was it really that inappropriate?With the crowd watching, Helena stepped closer, wearing a picture-perfect, magnanimous smile."You lack a sense of time and clearly haven't been taught proper etiquette. I don't blame you.""Go on. Head up to your room, clean yourself up, and find something pretty to wear, alright?"Then, lowering her voice so no one else could hear, she leaned in close. She rested a hand gently on Sylvie's shoulder, portraying the perfect image of a caring mother."What I really mean is, lock yourself in your room and don't come out. You're an absolute embarrassment. Look at yourself—you don't belong here."Sylvie kept her head bowed in silence, her body trembling slightly as if utterly humiliated by the words.Helena watched her reaction with deep satisfaction and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.She played the role of the strict yet loving stepmother to absolute perfection.Right at that moment, Sylvie tilted her head up to meet Helena's eyes.Her large, luminous eyes were slightly glassy, blinking with the innocence of a cornered deer. She kept her voice at an equally discreet whisper."Helena, don't get so close to me with that ugly face. Do you have any idea how bad your breath reeks? You can play the aristocrat all you want, but at the end of the day, you're just a stray dog marking territory in my family's house."Helena's face instantly drained of color!Her eyes bulged as if she had just swallowed a fly, her cheeks flushing a violent shade of red as she refused to believe her own ears."What did you just say?!"Her shrill, piercing shriek made everyone in the room jump, exchanging bewildered glances.Sylvie stared innocently at her twisted expression, took a frightened step back, and let her eyes well up with tears."I'm so sorry, Helena. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."With that, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and jogged up the stairs.As she ran, a colorless powder drifted silently onto the hem of Helena's gown, entirely unnoticed.Helena stood frozen, her face twitching and her chest heaving.Since marrying Lawrence, no one had ever dared speak to her like that!Lawrence walked over, a frown creasing his forehead. "What's wrong?"Helena looked ready to crush her champagne flute in her bare hand."That little bitch just insulted me!"Lawrence cleared his throat. "What are you talking about? I know you don't like her, but just ignore her. There's no way that girl has the guts to insult you. Keep your voice down."Helena felt a fresh wave of blinding rage. It was like a massive lump was lodged in her throat—she couldn't swallow it down, nor could she spit it out.But Lawrence merely gave her a dismissive pat on the shoulder and quickly plastered on a fake smile to go schmooze his clients.The surrounding guests returned to clinking glasses, though they had all drawn their own conclusions. Helena was clearly a ruthless stepmother, but that little country girl was a total pushover. She was bound to be chewed up and spat out by this family sooner or later.Sylvie returned to her second-floor bedroom.It was a converted storage closet with tiny windows. The wardrobe was stuffed with Lydia's hand-me-down dresses.Lydia, her half-sister, was currently studying abroad on an exchange program and was expected back soon.Sylvie hadn't even met her yet, but she was already staring at the discarded clothes Lydia no longer wanted.The wardrobe had been prepared the very day she arrived. Helena had smiled warmly, boasting about how generous Lydia was to share her dresses with her new sister.The young girl had seen these dresses before, idly flipping through them without much interest.Suddenly, her fingers paused. She stared intently at the very back of the closet, the hair on her arms standing up.It was like the first radiant beam of moonlight breaking the horizon—silk and tulle shimmering with the softness of clouds and a starry sky, the skirt lightly dusted with crushed diamonds.A dress made of pure moonlight hung quietly at the very back of the rack.It wasn't a sweeping gown, but a slightly flared cocktail skirt woven with subtle silver rose patterns. It was the absolute pinnacle of luxury.Wow.Sylvie carefully pulled it out, feeling as though she were holding a galaxy in her hands.It was breathtaking.A dress that matched her aesthetic perfectly had miraculously appeared in her closet. It definitely hadn't been there yesterday.Nobody in this house would ever gift her something like this—Frankly, she knew they didn't have the wealth or the taste for it.Even without an extensive knowledge of haute couture, Sylvie could tell this single piece was likely worth more than Lydia's entire wardrobe combined.She blinked, her mind racing. Stepping toward the window, she abruptly yanked back the curtains!In that split second, she felt a burning gaze seared into her skin.It vanished instantly. Almost like an illusion.It was pitch black outside. Nothing. It was a high-end neighborhood with plenty of distance between the manors, and the ground below was a dense thicket of trees and shrubs. There was no moon tonight.Dead silence.She pulled her gaze away, her eyes curving into a delighted smile. She hugged the dress close, looking like a picture of absolute innocence, completely unfazed by the creepy anomaly."So pretty~"She couldn't wait to try it on.With her back to the window, she crossed her arms, grabbed the hem of her shirt, and lifted it without warning—Exposing a stretch of flawless, luminous waist.A sudden rustle echoed from the bushes outside.The girl paused, leaving her shirt on, and glanced toward the glass in confusion.It was just a stray cat bursting out from the shrubbery, sprinting away into the night.The prickly sensation on her back vanished.Still facing away from the window, the young girl narrowed her eyes, a sharp smirk pulling at her lips.She took her time changing.The moment she slipped the dress on, she froze.This piece was practically made for her.Every single inch was tailored to perfection, as if someone had meticulously measured her exact proportions.A pearl belt flawlessly accentuated her slender waist, while the shimmering fabric made her complexion look absolutely radiant.The young girl did a satisfied twirl in front of the mirror.Then she gave her backpack a quick shake. A long, slender shape slithered out and vanished into the shadows in the blink of an eye.Time to make an entrance.She pushed the door open, the sharp click of her low heels echoing softly.The living room fell dead silent.Once again, every eye in the room zeroed in on her, but the vibe was completely different this time.She had a breathtakingly beautiful face, as delicate as a porcelain doll. With just a swipe of lipstick, she easily outshone women caked in heavy makeup.Her chin tilted up slightly, her lips curled in a confident smile. There was not a single trace of the timid girl from earlier.All the light in the room seemed to gravitate toward her, shimmering with her every step, yet nothing was as bright as those dark, captivating eyes.She looked like royalty stepping straight out of a fairytale.Conversations died in people's throats.Lawrence stared at his own daughter, momentarily failing to recognize her as Sylvie.Helena stood frozen, her eyes wide with utter shock.Sylvie descended the stairs gracefully, making a beeline straight for Helena with a sickeningly sweet smile."Helena, is this to your liking?"Helena's mouth twitched. The words lodged in her throat, leaving her completely speechless.Not far away, a group of teenage boys began whispering, unable to hide their awe."Holy shit, Luke. That's your sister? Since when do you have a sister who looks like that?"A friend punched Lucas in the arm, his eyes glued to Sylvie.Lucas was just as stunned.He had barely registered Sylvie's existence before tonight.He didn't care about her and had no reason to interact with her.When she first walked in, he hadn't even bothered to look in her direction.But now... that's what she looked like?Before he could respond, his buddy grinned. "Luke, I wanna be your brother-in-law.""Get the hell out," Lucas shot back."Come on, she's single, right? She's way too pretty.""When are you gonna introduce us?"Chapter 3That feeling was back.Someone was watching her.Ever since her very first day returning to the Lawson estate from the countryside, the sensation had shadowed her.It felt like a cold draft sweeping over the nape of her neck, raising goosebumps along her spine and sending a faint shiver through her body.The night was moonless, the streetlights dim, and the tree branches cast sprawling, web-like shadows across the pavement.She felt a flicker of genuine excitement.Just as she tried to savor the thrill, a balding, heavy-set man suddenly blocked her path."Hey there, beautiful. All alone?"The man flashed a sleazy grin, stepping closer and giving her a little wave.Sylvie Vance stopped in her tracks, blinking with wide, innocent eyes.As he got a better look at the young girl's face, his smile grew even more predatory, the heavy flesh of his cheeks trembling with anticipation."You are absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart. Are you lonely? Want to come have some fun with me?"He closed the distance and suddenly ripped his trench coat wide open!Revealing nothing but his bare, greasy flesh underneath.He stared intently at the girl's face, eagerly anticipating a look of sheer terror and a high-pitched scream.Sylvie didn't flinch. Her dark eyes casually scanned him from top to bottom before her lips curved into a sweet, flawless smile. Her voice was soft and light."You must be Stumpy."Her completely unexpected reaction, paired with the gloomy shadows, made her delicate face look faintly sinister.The man froze in place.But soon, anger overtook his fear. Humiliated and furious, he barked,"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"He lunged forward in a fit of rage, but a fraction of a second later, a blade flashed in the dark.The girl's slender fingers danced, the metal catching the dim light as she stared him down with a smirk.His expression faltered. Ultimately, he pulled his coat tight, spun around, and bolted.He didn't forget to toss a parting threat over his shoulder. "Are you crazy?! You just wait!"The girl clicked her tongue in disappointment.That was it?She turned around and continued her walk home.The middle-aged man ran a safe distance away, already hunting for his next target.He was experienced at this and decided to try his luck in a nearby alleyway that didn't have security cameras.Muttering curses under his breath about the psycho girl he had just encountered, he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks."Who the hell are you? Get out of my way! Wait, what are you doing?!""Help! Somebody help—ugh!"A twisted mask of agony froze permanently on his heavy face.The metallic tang of blood drifted out of the alley, carried by the cool night breeze.A man in a black raincoat brought his hand down. Again, and again.Blood splattered across his pale cheek as a low, hoarse whisper melted into the darkness."How dare you..."...Sylvie pushed open the heavy front doors, and the bustling noise inside the house silenced for a split second.Every eye turned toward the young girl who looked entirely out of place.The stares held a mix of surprise, disdain, amusement, and pity.Over a decade ago, on the day Lawrence Lawson, the Chairman of Vance Group, married his new bride, he had shipped off his late ex-wife's three-year-old daughter to foster care in the countryside.The girl had taken her deceased mother's maiden name.Although Lawrence claimed it was for the sake of the child's fragile health, the reality was that he wanted to please his new wife and erase the humiliating past of having joined a wealthier family.Recently, the Lawson family had finally brought her back.As for her status in the household... rumor had it that even the live-in maids could boss her around.The elegant socialite standing in the center of the living room lowered her champagne glass. She shot the girl a surprised look, her eyes flashing with a split-second of raw disgust."What are you doing here?"The young girl timidly shrank back, flashing a soft, harmless smile."Good evening. It's Lucas's birthday party today, and I wanted to celebrate too."Helena Ward-Lawson scanned her from head to toe, looking at her as if she were an offensive piece of trash."This is a Lawson family gala, not some backwoods playground," she said, her smile utterly flawless. "Sylvie, you need to present yourself properly, understand?"Sylvie glanced down at her outfit—a simple white t-shirt, a plain black skirt, sneakers, and a canvas backpack. Was it really that inappropriate?With the crowd watching, Helena stepped closer, wearing a picture-perfect, magnanimous smile."You lack a sense of time and clearly haven't been taught proper etiquette. I don't blame you.""Go on. Head up to your room, clean yourself up, and find something pretty to wear, alright?"Then, lowering her voice so no one else could hear, she leaned in close. She rested a hand gently on Sylvie's shoulder, portraying the perfect image of a caring mother."What I really mean is, lock yourself in your room and don't come out. You're an absolute embarrassment. Look at yourself—you don't belong here."Sylvie kept her head bowed in silence, her body trembling slightly as if utterly humiliated by the words.Helena watched her reaction with deep satisfaction and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.She played the role of the strict yet loving stepmother to absolute perfection.Right at that moment, Sylvie tilted her head up to meet Helena's eyes.Her large, luminous eyes were slightly glassy, blinking with the innocence of a cornered deer. She kept her voice at an equally discreet whisper."Helena, don't get so close to me with that ugly face. Do you have any idea how bad your breath reeks? You can play the aristocrat all you want, but at the end of the day, you're just a stray dog marking territory in my family's house."Helena's face instantly drained of color!Her eyes bulged as if she had just swallowed a fly, her cheeks flushing a violent shade of red as she refused to believe her own ears."What did you just say?!"Her shrill, piercing shriek made everyone in the room jump, exchanging bewildered glances.Sylvie stared innocently at her twisted expression, took a frightened step back, and let her eyes well up with tears."I'm so sorry, Helena. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."With that, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and jogged up the stairs.As she ran, a colorless powder drifted silently onto the hem of Helena's gown, entirely unnoticed.Helena stood frozen, her face twitching and her chest heaving.Since marrying Lawrence, no one had ever dared speak to her like that!Lawrence walked over, a frown creasing his forehead. "What's wrong?"Helena looked ready to crush her champagne flute in her bare hand."That little bitch just insulted me!"Lawrence cleared his throat. "What are you talking about? I know you don't like her, but just ignore her. There's no way that girl has the guts to insult you. Keep your voice down."Helena felt a fresh wave of blinding rage. It was like a massive lump was lodged in her throat—she couldn't swallow it down, nor could she spit it out.But Lawrence merely gave her a dismissive pat on the shoulder and quickly plastered on a fake smile to go schmooze his clients.The surrounding guests returned to clinking glasses, though they had all drawn their own conclusions. Helena was clearly a ruthless stepmother, but that little country girl was a total pushover. She was bound to be chewed up and spat out by this family sooner or later.Sylvie returned to her second-floor bedroom.It was a converted storage closet with tiny windows. The wardrobe was stuffed with Lydia's hand-me-down dresses.Lydia, her half-sister, was currently studying abroad on an exchange program and was expected back soon.Sylvie hadn't even met her yet, but she was already staring at the discarded clothes Lydia no longer wanted.The wardrobe had been prepared the very day she arrived. Helena had smiled warmly, boasting about how generous Lydia was to share her dresses with her new sister.The young girl had seen these dresses before, idly flipping through them without much interest.Suddenly, her fingers paused. She stared intently at the very back of the closet, the hair on her arms standing up.It was like the first radiant beam of moonlight breaking the horizon—silk and tulle shimmering with the softness of clouds and a starry sky, the skirt lightly dusted with crushed diamonds.A dress made of pure moonlight hung quietly at the very back of the rack.It wasn't a sweeping gown, but a slightly flared cocktail skirt woven with subtle silver rose patterns. It was the absolute pinnacle of luxury.Wow.Sylvie carefully pulled it out, feeling as though she were holding a galaxy in her hands.It was breathtaking.A dress that matched her aesthetic perfectly had miraculously appeared in her closet. It definitely hadn't been there yesterday.Nobody in this house would ever gift her something like this—Frankly, she knew they didn't have the wealth or the taste for it.Even without an extensive knowledge of haute couture, Sylvie could tell this single piece was likely worth more than Lydia's entire wardrobe combined.She blinked, her mind racing. Stepping toward the window, she abruptly yanked back the curtains!In that split second, she felt a burning gaze seared into her skin.It vanished instantly. Almost like an illusion.It was pitch black outside. Nothing. It was a high-end neighborhood with plenty of distance between the manors, and the ground below was a dense thicket of trees and shrubs. There was no moon tonight.Dead silence.She pulled her gaze away, her eyes curving into a delighted smile. She hugged the dress close, looking like a picture of absolute innocence, completely unfazed by the creepy anomaly."So pretty~"She couldn't wait to try it on.With her back to the window, she crossed her arms, grabbed the hem of her shirt, and lifted it without warning—Exposing a stretch of flawless, luminous waist.A sudden rustle echoed from the bushes outside.The girl paused, leaving her shirt on, and glanced toward the glass in confusion.It was just a stray cat bursting out from the shrubbery, sprinting away into the night.The prickly sensation on her back vanished.Still facing away from the window, the young girl narrowed her eyes, a sharp smirk pulling at her lips.She took her time changing.The moment she slipped the dress on, she froze.This piece was practically made for her.Every single inch was tailored to perfection, as if someone had meticulously measured her exact proportions.A pearl belt flawlessly accentuated her slender waist, while the shimmering fabric made her complexion look absolutely radiant.The young girl did a satisfied twirl in front of the mirror.Then she gave her backpack a quick shake. A long, slender shape slithered out and vanished into the shadows in the blink of an eye.Time to make an entrance.She pushed the door open, the sharp click of her low heels echoing softly.The living room fell dead silent.Once again, every eye in the room zeroed in on her, but the vibe was completely different this time.She had a breathtakingly beautiful face, as delicate as a porcelain doll. With just a swipe of lipstick, she easily outshone women caked in heavy makeup.Her chin tilted up slightly, her lips curled in a confident smile. There was not a single trace of the timid girl from earlier.All the light in the room seemed to gravitate toward her, shimmering with her every step, yet nothing was as bright as those dark, captivating eyes.She looked like royalty stepping straight out of a fairytale.Conversations died in people's throats.Lawrence stared at his own daughter, momentarily failing to recognize her as Sylvie.Helena stood frozen, her eyes wide with utter shock.Sylvie descended the stairs gracefully, making a beeline straight for Helena with a sickeningly sweet smile."Helena, is this to your liking?"Helena's mouth twitched. The words lodged in her throat, leaving her completely speechless.Not far away, a group of teenage boys began whispering, unable to hide their awe."Holy shit, Luke. That's your sister? Since when do you have a sister who looks like that?"A friend punched Lucas in the arm, his eyes glued to Sylvie.Lucas was just as stunned.He had barely registered Sylvie's existence before tonight.He didn't care about her and had no reason to interact with her.When she first walked in, he hadn't even bothered to look in her direction.But now... that's what she looked like?Before he could respond, his buddy grinned. "Luke, I wanna be your brother-in-law.""Get the hell out," Lucas shot back."Come on, she's single, right? She's way too pretty.""When are you gonna introduce us?"