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On his birthday night, his friends egged Rex on to make a wish. Out of nowhere, Rex thought of Linda. Cold-blooded and heartless-that was how outsiders described him. Only Linda had ever called him a good person. And only when she was using him did her words sound so sweet. For the first time in his life, on his own birthday, he made a wish for a woman-hoping she would get what she wanted. If she wanted to borrow his power, he was willing to let her borrow it for a lifetime. Recently, in New York City's high society, rumors had been swirling that Linda had been dumped by her ex-boyfriend, her dream of marrying into wealth shattered, and that she was now dating a big shot from London. That day, Linda was called last minute to a dinner gathering. She was the last to enter the private room, only to find her ex-boyfriend among the guests. She was just a small figure, unworthy of being introduced to everyone at the table by the host. During the meal, her ex-boyfriend raised his glass to her. "Congratulations, I heard you've found a new relationship." Someone, eager for drama, asked her who her new boyfriend was. "Which London big shot?" Linda didn't know any so-called London big shot and had no idea where the rumor had come from. Casually, she named the only prominent, unmarried man she had heard of. "Rex." Everyone was stunned and turned to look at the man seated at the head of the table. Linda, clueless, followed their gazes-only to meet the man's deep, unfathomable eyes. He leaned back in his chair, exuding an air of nobility and indifference. Though his posture was relaxed, his presence was overwhelming. He was watching her with an unreadable expression. Linda thought to herself, Could I be this unlucky? Is this man a friend of my ex? At that moment, the host snapped out of his shock. Seeing that Rex hadn't denied it, he smiled and congratulated him, "I was wondering why you suddenly came to New York City-turns out it's to see your girlfriend."
[I think I should remind you that we're getting engaged next month. You'd better break things off with Linda in advance.]
Bert stared at the message for a few seconds, then turned off his phone without replying.
He looked toward the sofa where Linda stood with her back to him, bending slightly to retrieve something from her bag. Her form-fitting brown dress accentuated her graceful figure.
Tomorrow was his birthday, and Linda had booked a table at Riverside Restaurant to celebrate in advance.
Bert pressed his fingers against his temple and withdrew his gaze from Linda, shifting it toward the river outside the window. The twinkling fishing lights on both banks flickered, with yachts passing by occasionally.
Linda took out what she needed and sat back at the table, placing a carefully prepared gift in front of him before gently pushing it closer. Bert was still gazing out the window. Her voice was light and cheerful as she picked up her wine glass and clinked it against his. "What are you looking at?" She smiled. "Happy birthday. Love me forever."
Bert turned back, smiling faintly, and took a symbolic sip of wine.
Linda sipped her wine slowly, glancing repeatedly at the gift box on the table.
But Bert neither noticed the new addition to the table nor picked up on her silent hints.
The brown gift box wasn't small. Even in the dim lighting, it stood out against the white tablecloth. Yet he simply didn't notice it.
Linda's eyes flickered before finally meeting Bert's unreadable gaze.
"Linda," Bert took another sip of wine, swallowing with slight effort. "You can name a condition. Anything within my ability, I'll agree to it."
Linda didn't even think before laughing it off. "It's your birthday. Why would I ask for a gift?"
She hadn't yet realized the true meaning behind his words.
Bert set his wine glass down and picked up his phone, typing a message to his secretary.
Since she didn't want a gift, Linda stood up, placing her hands on the table as she leaned in, about to kiss him-
Then he spoke.
"It's not a gift. If you haven't thought of anything yet, I'll transfer the Riverside Community villa to your name. I'll have Assistant Chad handle it. Besides the house, you can ask for one more thing."
Riverside Community was a newly developed villa district in New York City. Each standalone home was prohibitively expensive, owned exclusively by the wealthy elite. Linda had never imagined she could afford a house there in her lifetime.
And now, he was suddenly giving her such a costly property?
A bad feeling rose inside her.
Bert continued typing, deliberately avoiding looking at Linda, unwilling to see the expression on her face at this moment.
After a brief pause, he added, "If you ever run into trouble you can't handle, you can always go to Assistant Chad. He'll take care of it. I won't be available anymore."
Linda froze for a moment. Then, realizing what he meant, she let out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh.
He had made it clear. There was no need for further explanation.
Bert finished instructing his secretary and only then noticed Linda's posture. She had been leaning forward to kiss him. He reached out, trying to hold her shoulder, but she suddenly pulled back and sat down, dodging his touch.
Their eyes met.
Linda's gaze, filled with silent sorrow, scanned his deep-set eyes, the sharp bridge of his nose, and his entire face. She knew him so well, yet at this moment, he seemed like a stranger.
In terms of family background and financial power, he had always been the dominant one. That meant he could break up without warning, without reason, without needing to give her any explanation.
Maybe he had loved her at some point during their relationship, but when it came time to be ruthless, he was truly ruthless. She was in the middle of celebrating his birthday, yet this was the moment he chose to break up with her-without a thought for whether she would be devastated or heartbroken.
If their roles were reversed, if she were Bert, she would at least wait until after the birthday dinner to bring up breaking up. And if she had to offer "compensation," she would do so as gently as possible.
But he was not her.
To him, their relationship had been nothing more than entertainment. She was the one who took it seriously.
Bert braced himself for an outburst, but Linda never questioned him.
"Within five years, ensure that none of my dad's law firm's major clients are lost. Also, when new companies move into the New York City district, introduce their business to my dad first." She didn't pretend to be noble. She stated her terms straightforwardly, ending their two years and four months of being together.
After all, he had pursued her by sending business to her father's law firm.
And now, it was business that ended it.
Bert agreed immediately. "No problem."
She didn't make a scene, didn't beg, didn't cling to him. A rare sense of guilt stirred within him, and he inexplicably wanted to compensate her more. "Is there anything else..."
Before he could finish, his gaze landed on the gift box beside her hand.
The logo on the box was unmistakable-it was the brand of watches he often wore.
Her entire annual salary, if she didn't eat or drink, would barely be enough to afford one.
"For me?" His voice was hoarse.
Linda maintained her carefree expression, smiling. "For someone who deserves it." She grabbed the box and walked toward the sofa.
With her back to Bert, she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself after the unexpected breakup.
She had been telling herself that he wasn't worth her sadness, but it was useless. After two years together, how could she possibly not feel hurt?
Putting the watch away, she rang for a server.
The door opened, and it was the restaurant manager, followed by two waiters.
She wasn't important enough for the manager to personally serve her-only the other person in the room had that kind of status.
The manager stood at the door, smiling as he asked Bert, "Mr. White, shall we start serving the dishes?"
Bert said nothing, merely waved a hand to dismiss them.
Linda spoke up instead. "Manager Harris, please see the guest out. Thank you."
There were only two people in the private room. Since she was the host tonight, the only "guest" could be Bert.
Manager Harris forced an awkward smile. Even if he had the courage, he wouldn't dare ask Bert to leave-unless he no longer wanted to work at this restaurant.
Linda had made a reservation for this river-view private room two weeks in advance. She had spent all afternoon decorating the place and ordering the cake. Now, before even the appetizers had been served, she was kicking the birthday guest out. Manager Harris was baffled. Even if they were arguing, this was too much.
Just as the manager hesitated, Bert stood up, retrieved his jacket from the wardrobe, and put it on slowly. His eyes never left Linda.
She had her back to him, sorting her bag, her expression hidden from view.
Bert ultimately remained silent and strode toward the door.
With a soft 'click,' the door shut.
Linda no longer had to maintain a false expression. She crossed her arms and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window for an unknown amount of time. The manager and servers didn't disturb her until her phone rang on the table.
"Where are you? The dress has arrived. Should I send it over, or will you come pick it up?"
The voice on the other end was cold and emotionless.
It was Helen, her half-sister. Their father had just married Helen's mother this month, ending a ten-year relationship. They planned to hold a small wedding in two months.
Their stepmother had bought a dress for each of them to wear at the reception.
Over the years, Linda and this sister, with whom she shared no blood relation, had maintained a distant but peaceful relationship. They only met two or three times a year-no conflict, but no closeness either.
Linda responded, "Send it to my home or my mom's office. Either is fine."
"I'll send it to your place," Helen said. She was about to hang up when she hesitated and added, "By the way, I heard Bert has a fiancée. You should make sure you weren't the other woman."
"I broke up with him. Just today."
Helen usually didn't meddle in her stepsister's affairs, but perhaps out of boredom, she asked, "Where are you? If it's on my way, I'll drop off the dress."
"Riverside Restaurant. I'm about to enjoy a free meal."
She asked, "Want to join me?"
Helen wasn't naive. The Riverside Restaurant required reservations well in advance-there was no such thing as a free meal. "Feeling generous, are we?"
"Not me. Just lucky to pick up what someone else left behind."
"..."
Helen was just around Riverside Restaurant and arrived by car in ten minutes.
It was Manager Harris who escorted her to the private dining room.
Earlier, Manager Harris had walked Bert all the way to the restaurant's entrance. Before getting into his car, Bert instructed him to ensure Linda was taken care of and safely sent home since she had been drinking and couldn't drive.
Manager Harris was just fulfilling his duty, unaware that they had completely broken up. He assumed it was like the previous times-just a little lovers' quarrel. Linda and Bert were frequent guests at the restaurant. Over the past two years, he had witnessed Bert coaxing Linda more times than he could count on one hand.
The tricky part tonight was that all the ingredients had been meticulously prepared according to Linda's specifications. Now, with an unexpected fallout, they were about to leave without even starting the meal. He was already stressing over what discount to offer Linda when it came time to settle the bill.
As this thought crossed his mind, Manager Harris glanced at Helen. "Your sister is too headstrong. No matter what, today is Mr. White's birthday. She shouldn't be making a fuss. You should talk to her."
Helen was displeased by his words and instinctively stood up for Linda. She retorted, unhurriedly, "Unlike Manager Harris, I don't enjoy meddling in other people's business."
Manager Harris was taken aback-she was clearly calling him out for overstepping.
He had interacted with Helen a few times before, and she always had a stern expression with a sharp tongue. Tonight was no exception.
The elevator reached the 42nd floor, and Helen stepped out with long strides.
Inside the private dining room, Linda sat at the table, idly swirling the wine in her glass while staring at the men's wristwatch on the table.
After Bert left, she had taken the gift box back out of her bag, contemplating what to do with the watch that she never got to give him.
The door pushed open from the outside, and Linda turned her head.
"So fast?" she said, taking a small sip of wine, subconsciously covering up the fact that she had been lost in thought.
Helen entered. "A rare chance for a fancy meal-I had to hurry before I missed out."
Manager Harris, still standing at the door, took the hint and instructed the kitchen to start preparing the food.
Since Linda and Helen barely saw each other and had little in common, an awkward silence settled in the room once the door closed.
"You just broke up, and you still have an appetite?" Helen broke the silence with her straightforwardness.
Linda remained unfazed, her tone leisurely. "With prices like this, it'd be a waste not to eat."
Helen was speechless. She hadn't expected that her half-sister got dumped while celebrating someone else's birthday. She casually placed her bag on the sofa and took off the white shirt she had been wearing over her top.
She glanced at the wardrobe across the room-it was about five or six meters away. Debating whether to hang up her shirt, she ultimately decided against it and draped it over the sofa instead.
Linda noticed that Helen always took the easy way out, even if it meant her clothes would wrinkle just to avoid taking a few extra steps.
It was already a miracle that she had come all this way to deliver a dress.
Linda put down her wine glass and got up. As Helen approached the table, Linda glanced at her shoes-light-colored flats. Helen had always been tall and had a few centimeters on her. But now, she seemed even taller.
"You've grown taller," Linda said, grasping at something to talk about.
Helen responded with a simple "Mm" as she pulled out a chair and sat down. She had, in fact, grown two centimeters. At her recent physical exam, she measured 174.5 cm. Even at twenty-seven, she was surprised she was still growing.
She poured herself a glass of red wine. As Linda had not yet returned to her seat, Helen turned to look for her-only to find her standing by the wardrobe, carefully hanging up her expensive white shirt.
A few years ago, it would have been unimaginable for Helen to personally deliver a dress to Linda, or for Linda to hang up her clothes.
For a moment, Helen couldn't tell who had changed more.
She wasn't one for sentimental words, and thanks were unnecessary. So she simply turned back and took a sip of wine. Her gaze landed on the watch box on the table. It was open, revealing an expensive timepiece inside.
She raised an eyebrow. "You bought that for Bert?"
Linda nodded.
The leather strap was custom-made, adding significantly to the cost. Linda's annual salary wouldn't even cover this watch. Helen clicked her tongue. "Generous."
Then added, "And devoted."
"He's given me far more over the years, not to mention all the business he brought to my dad." Linda didn't elaborate further.
Helen tilted her chin toward the watch. "You've broken up. What are you going to do with it?"
Linda had been pondering this exact question. Keeping such an expensive watch wasn't necessary, nor did she have anyone else to give it to. "When I have time, I'll check with some industry contacts to see how much I can sell it for." Even if it had never been worn, just opening the box would lower its value significantly.
Helen didn't comment. Instead, she messaged a friend-who happened to be the manager of a flagship watch store in New York City and well-versed in the market value of luxury watches.
She briefly explained Linda's situation and asked, "Will she lose a lot on depreciation?"
Her friend quickly responded, "Linda went through a lot to get that watch. She waited over seven months in line and had to purchase additional items to qualify. Now she wants to return it? Did her boyfriend think it was too cheap and refuse to accept it?"
Helen, "They broke up. She never got the chance to give it to him."
The manager sighed, feeling bad not only for the seemingly perfect couple that had split but also for the expensive watch that never found its recipient.
Helen, "Any way to minimize her losses?"
The manager teased, "I thought you didn't care about your stepsister? What's with the sudden concern?"
Helen wouldn't admit that it was because Linda had hung up her shirt.
Instead, she dodged the question, "Will you be at the store tomorrow? I'll drop by after work."
Manager, "I'm here now."
Helen raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you off today?"
Manager, "Last-minute change. A VIP customer is coming in to buy a watch. Apparently, he's in New York City for a conference, and his friend accidentally dropped his watch, cracking the case. He needs a replacement urgently. Not sure who he is, but even our regional director flew in for this. No way I could take the day off."
In San Francisco, everyone knew that the always cold and aloof daughter of The Green family had married a crippled man from a wealthy family. Three years into the marriage, she remained childless, and outsiders mocked her, saying she was still a virgin. But no one knew- For three years, she had been unable to sleep every single night. Due to a car accident, a top billionaire became disabled, and his lover left for abroad. Cathy had no choice but to marry Lucas, being his wife at night and his caretaker during the day. Until one day, there was hope for his legs to recover, and his first love returned. Cathy overheard him saying that he would definitely divorce her. Cathy fulfilled her duty and took good care of him. Since he wanted a divorce, she turned and left without hesitation. Three years of marriage? She considered them a moment of misplaced responsibility-just a good deed to make up for the past.
For the three years he was my live-in husband, there was no physical contact between us. He was like my most loyal butler, servant, and caretaker. But when he became my financial backer, we were intimate all the time, indulging in passion every night. "I've been thinking about you for a long time..." In the darkness of the night, the man kissed me recklessly. He was my live-in husband. Thus, as the precious daughter of a wealthy family, I had no choice but to let this destitute man marry into my family and become my husband. Out of resentment, I humiliated him repeatedly, mistreated him, and even resorted to physical abuse. Yet, he never got angry, always maintaining the appearance of an obedient and gentle man. But just as I was slowly falling for him, he suddenly asked me for a divorce. The once gentle and submissive man turned into a cunning and terrifying figure overnight. In an instant, my family fell into ruin, while he rose to power. The man I once trampled underfoot had transformed into my financial backer.
The Tragic Fate of Alex, the Rise of Diana The head of the top US consortium, Alex, met an untimely demise, and all his assets were transferred to Diana. The real heiress of The White Family was found after eighteen years. Yet, everyone mocked her, calling her uncultured, useless, and nothing more than a pretty vase. However, at the wedding of the century, when the wife of the young head of The Smith Family was revealed to be none other than the "vase" Diana, the socialites of New York City were left pounding their chests in disbelief-How could she deserve this?! After Alex's death, Diana not only had to face the covetous gazes of The Smith Family but also play the role of a leader among various powerful organizations. Alex's subordinates assured her, "We will handle everything; you just need to sit on the throne." But later... When Diana was in danger, she wielded a gun, stepping on her enemy with a dazzling smile, "Be good, and I'll give you a quick death." When her loved ones fell ill, the legendary medical master personally visited and admitted-she was Diana's senior disciple! The renowned racing legend willingly became Diana's personal driver, calling her "Boss" at every turn. Alex's subordinates were in utter disbelief, "Wasn't she supposed to be a weak little white flower, a soft and obedient golden canary?!" But Alex wasn't entirely dead. When his consciousness awakened, he found himself soul-bound to a plush doll-one that Diana had designed in his likeness. Now, he not only had to endure being dressed and undressed by Diana but also be at her mercy, bathed and squeezed in her hands... Watching her reveal one hidden identity after another, Alex was utterly dumbfounded. Even the woman he admired and respected the most-was her?! [Mini Theater 1] Alex, now in plush doll form, was held against Diana's soft, snowy chest as she stood before a mirror. Staring at his own ridiculously extravagant appearance, his expression cracked- "Is this really how she sees me in her heart?!" Diana's fingers teasingly unfastened his tiny clothes, one button at a time. Alex shut his eyes, his mind filled with only one thought- "I want to die." [Mini Theater 2] Diana stared at the dust-covered plush doll, frowning, "My doll is precious-I have to wash it myself." Alex's inner monologue, "Stay away from me!" After an intense round of scrubbing and kneading, his soul burned with shame, his spirit flushed red, on the verge of tears. Diana, completely satisfied, gave him a kiss-he turned even redder... They said Alex had a cleanliness obsession, high standards, and was impossible to please. But now? He felt that... maybe staying dirty wasn't so bad after all. [Mini Theater 3] Once back in his real body, Alex trapped Diana against the wall, his gaze burning as he questioned, "You took so much advantage of me, destroyed my innocence-how are you going to repay me?" Diana's eyes gleamed mischievously. "That bad, huh? How about you cry for me first?" Alex, "..."
He is aloof and abstinent; she is wild and unrestrained. For revenge, she meticulously approaches him, shamelessly flirts with him, and cunningly schemes against him. She disrupts his engagement party, drives away his first love, and repeatedly steps on his bottom line. One late night, he corners her against the wall. "Rose, what other tricks do you have that I don't know about?" And just like that, she barges into his world, does whatever she pleases, and drags him down from his pedestal step by step until she completely devours him... Upon returning home, Rose discovers that the wealthy man who just gave her a sky-high breakup fee is actually her half-sister's fiancé... He broke up with her because he got engaged to her half-sister. To make matters worse, Rose's biological mother had also met her tragic fate because of her half-sister's mother. Now, the grudge is set in stone...
At first sight, in order to create a bond with Angela, Frances risked his life and deliberately staged a car accident. Angela was the adopted daughter of the Moore family. On the night she was kicked out of the house, her fiancé was already on the entertainment headlines, holding her sister in his arms. Later, Angela was caught up in endless scandals because she had gotten involved with the most powerful man. Everyone mocked her, saying she was nothing more than Mr. William's fleeting amusement. Little did they know that from the moment Frances first laid eyes on her, he had only one thought-to steal her away! To take her from the hands of her fiancé. Everyone was waiting to see Angela make a fool of herself, deliberately asking about her relationship with Frances. He merely smiled and said, "Perhaps I haven't tried hard enough. After being married for so long, Mrs. Williams still refuses to acknowledge me publicly and give me a proper title." That night, the air was damp. Angela was breathless as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. His breath was scorching. "Mrs. Williams, have I tried hard enough?" Angela gritted her teeth. He was trying... far too hard!
Andy, staring at the man in front of her, felt her mind go blank, oddly thirsty. Her body instinctively leaned into his, subconsciously craving more, yet with an undercurrent of nervousness and unease. "Andy, are you going to pay for me?" Andy wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, the pressure increasing, suppressing the sounds rising from her throat. "I'll give you a discount." Charlie's body was solid, like a silent presence enveloping her, mixed with a familiar and intoxicating scent. "Charlie, you didn't turn off the light..." Now tinted with desire, his features remained striking, yet their invasiveness seemed to intensify. "Turn off the light?" His voice was deep, tinged with a trace of amusement. "Then how would you still see me?" The story begins with Andy, curious to finally see the legendary, breathtakingly beautiful star of the club. To her surprise, the irresistibly charming "star" turns out to be the owner of the club. Yet, she bluntly states her intention to pay for his company. Charlie, "This is a club, not a brothel." Later, by a twist of fate, Andy ends up sharing an apartment with Charlie, a high school classmate she once rejected. Their peaceful routine comes to an end one night when Andy learns from Charlie that she has been sleepwalking recently. Feeling a little embarrassed and unsure how to react, Andy asks, "Last night was the first time you saw me sleepwalking, right?" Charlie replies lazily, "There was another time." Andy falls silent for two seconds before hesitantly asking, "Did I... do anything?" "You suddenly ran out and hugged me." "?" Charlie raises an eyebrow and casually adds, "And you kissed me, touching me over."
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.