Chapter 3

"Brother!"

Chloe Miller cried, throwing herself into Daniel King's arms.

Seeing her tattered dress, Daniel King's heartache almost spilled from his eyes.

I still couldn't believe it.

"Brother..."

*Smack!*

Another slap landed on my face, my head whipping to the side. My brother's reprimand sent a chill down my spine.

"It's just an old dress! How can you be so vicious, doing something like this to a girl over a piece of fabric!"

I finally knew for sure: my brother was no longer my brother.

"A piece of fabric?"

My lips trembled slightly.

In that moment, Liam Blackwood's words — "I didn't give it to her!" — flashed in my mind.

Perhaps he hadn't lied.

Besides Liam Blackwood, who knew the lock code to my walk-in closet? My brother knew it too...

"You call this a piece of fabric?"

My voice shook.

"Mom designed this pattern herself before she died! Have you forgotten?!"

The mention of Mom made Daniel King's expression stiffen.

But only for a moment.

He quickly regained his cold composure.

"No matter how significant it is, it's just an inanimate object. How can it compare to a living person!

"If Mom saw you hurting an innocent girl over a piece of fabric, she wouldn't side with you either!"

My heart tightened, and I clutched the fabric over my chest.

"Get out! Get all these people out of my house!"

My bodyguards immediately stepped forward.

"I'd like to see who dares!"

Daniel King glared fiercely at the bodyguards.

"Think carefully about who the real future owner of the Hayes Corporation is."

The bodyguards halted.

I stared at him in astonishment.

Some of the fan club members started laughing.

"I'm dying of laughter. I didn't expect this crazy woman to actually be part of the Hayes family!"

"I heard the Hayes family did adopt a child. Looks like this lady lucked out, getting adopted by the billionaire Hayes family."

"Who doesn't know our handsome Mr. King? He must be the true bloodline of the Hayes family. What is this crazy woman barking about? She thinks she can order the masters around just because she brought a few bodyguards? Hilarious."

Perhaps there was a lingering trace of familial affection, as he had his men disperse the gawking fan club members elsewhere.

I gritted my teeth.

"Daniel King, you're just an adopted son of the Hayes family! My adopted brother!"

Daniel King's brows furrowed.

The bodyguards looked hesitant for a moment.

"Think about it. Why did Mrs. Hayes adopt me? Wasn't it because she needed me to inherit the family business?"

At his words, the bodyguards fell into contemplation.

"If you don't want your careers ruined, release Ms. Miller now."

The bodyguard holding Chloe Miller thought for a moment, then actually let her go.

A dozen or so men then stood behind Daniel King.

I grabbed a vase and smashed it to the floor, making Chloe Miller flinch and shrink into Liam Blackwood's arms.

"Daniel King, I misjudged you.

"Our relationship is as shattered as this vase!"

Daniel King paused, startled. I stared at him intensely.

"But this is Mom's house. You have no right to wreak havoc here.

"Either you leave now, or I call the police and charge you with trespassing.

"But before that, Chloe Miller, leave the dress!"

The words had barely left my mouth when I grabbed Chloe Miller's shoulder and, with a loud *RIIIP*, tore the dress off her.

She gasped and clutched her arms.

But everyone's attention wasn't on the dress.

Even I gasped, staring at her waist.

In the middle of her lower back, near the curve of her spine... the word "SLAVE" was clearly tattooed.