Lereader-jy8 Facebook ad: “Betrayers Bow Before Me”

About this ad

Meta Ad Library ID

1338957561634863

Platforms

Facebook, Instagram, Audience Network, Messenger and Threads

Relaunches

1

EU reach

3

How we count

Ad text

Chapter 1 I Want to Marry You "Victoria, we need to break up. It turns out I'm actually the heir to the Fairbank family, one of the most powerful families in Benwig City. You're just a country girl who sells herbs. You're not good enough for me anymore." Victoria Binder had just received a call from her boyfriend, Gavin Alvarado—no, Gavin Fairbank now. She had been about to tell him that she was the long-lost daughter of a wealthy family herself, but before she could say a word, she heard him claim she wasn't good enough for him. She let out a silent, cold laugh. The medicinal herbs she grew were incredibly valuable. Countless rich and influential families were trying to buy them at high prices. Her products had even appeared several times at the largest auction house in Benwig City. Gavin's arrogant voice came through the phone again. "With my status now, I need to marry a proper heiress from a family that matches mine. "But since we dated for two months, I won't treat you badly. Before I marry someone suitable, you can stay with me. Even after I get married, I can still keep you as my—" Before he could finish, Victoria snapped, "Asshole. If you want to break up, then we're done." She hung up immediately. The handsome man standing in front of her, Jackson Thornton, raised an eyebrow. He had been waiting for her response. He smiled. "So? You just found out you're the heiress of the Binder family, one of the richest families in Benwig City, and you still got dumped?" Victoria looked up at him and smiled brightly. "Funny coincidence. He just told me that he's the heir to a wealthy family in Benwig City and that I'm not good enough for him." Then her expression shifted, turning doubtful. "Wait a second. This whole thing about being the real daughter or real son of some rich family... Isn't that some new kind of scam going around?" Jackson paused for a moment, then smiled. "Of course not. You really are the true daughter of the Binder family." Victoria gave a nonchalant hum. She took the basket off her back, sat down on a chair, and began sorting the herbs she had just picked. "Then who are you?" she asked. "Why are you the one coming to find me instead of my biological parents?" Jackson glanced at the shabby house in front of him, then looked at Victoria, who sat casually on a small stool. He said, "If nothing unexpected happens, I'll soon be your fiancé. I'm Jackson, the eldest son of the Thornton family in Benwig City." Victoria almost slipped off her stool. She stared at him in shock. "What? Fiancé?" "That's right. But as you can see, I'm disabled now. I lost the use of my legs last month." Sitting in his wheelchair, Jackson lifted a hand and pointed at his legs, giving a helpless smile. "I see. And what does that have to do with you coming to find me today?" Victoria asked. Then she suddenly understood. "Wait. Are you saying that I'm the real daughter of the wealthy Binder family, and that they're planning to bring me back and have me marry you?" Jackson nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Exactly." Victoria's gaze flickered. Jackson continued, "Because of my legs, I'm about to be dumped. Just like you." Victoria caught on quickly. "So the one who was supposed to marry you was the Binder family's adopted daughter. But now that you're disabled, she doesn't want to marry you anymore." Jackson nodded again. "Yes. That's exactly it." Victoria almost let out a bitter laugh. "Then why don't you look upset at all?" Jackson said calmly, "You just got dumped by your boyfriend, and you don't look upset either." "He's just trash. Good riddance." Victoria curled her lips in disdain. Jackson studied her, the admiration in his eyes deepening. "You're surprisingly chill about it." Victoria let out a small scoff. "Of course. Why waste time and energy feeling bad over someone who isn't worth it?" She had started dating Gavin after saving his life by chance two years ago. After that, he had chased after her nonstop, using gratitude as an excuse. For two whole years, he acted devoted, as if he would never marry anyone but her. He didn't seem to have any serious flaws. She figured having a man around could help her take care of the herb garden and keep other men from bothering her, so she agreed to date him. But she never expected that the moment Gavin found out he was the heir to a wealthy family, he would turn on her so quickly. Jackson smiled. "Same here. She's trash anyway. Better not to marry her." There had never been anything between him and Angelica Binder. Their engagement had only been arranged by his grandfather for a business alliance. Now that his legs were disabled, Angelica's parents naturally didn't want her to marry him anymore. But the Thornton family was the most powerful family in Benwig City, with huge wealth and influence. They weren't willing to give up the alliance, either. In the end, they planned to have their biological daughter, Victoria, marry him in Angelica's place. Victoria went straight to the point. "It's just strange. How could it be such a coincidence? Right after your legs were disabled, my birth parents suddenly found me and decided to have me marry you instead of their adopted daughter." She let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Looks like they always knew I was their real daughter. I just had no value to them, so they left me out here all this time and never brought me home." Jackson didn't try to comfort her with lies. "I think you're right." Victoria gave a cold sneer. If that was true, then her birth parents were even more heartless than she had thought. Still, one thing didn't make sense to her. "Since you already know what the Binder family is planning, why not just give up on the alliance? Why walk straight into their trap?" "I had someone look into you," Jackson said calmly. "You sell medicine, and you're pretty well-known around here. "I heard you've treated quite a few difficult cases with your own methods. My legs are disabled. Over the past month, I've invited top doctors from all over the country, but none of them could help. "So I came here myself to see if marrying you would be a trap or a chance for me." He didn't hide why he came. Victoria found him interesting. She shrugged. "Well, you've seen me now. I'm just a wild country girl. My birth parents, the ones I've never even met, clearly don't like me. "Do you still want to marry someone like me? I'm just a real daughter who isn't valued and is just being used as a substitute bride." Jackson looked at her closely. At first glance, she wasn't the delicate type raised in comfort. Her skin wasn't soft. It had a light wheat tone that made her look healthy and full of life. But if one looked more carefully, her features were actually very refined. Her eyes were bright and clear, and there was strength in the way she looked at people. There was no trace of disrespect in Jackson's gaze. He looked sincere. "Yes. After meeting you, I'm sure I want to marry you. I just don't know if you're willing to give me a chance." Victoria studied his face. She had to admit that he was strikingly handsome, the kind of man who wouldn't be forgotten even in a huge crowd. His features were sharp, and his face was well-defined. What stood out the most was his eyes. Even after going through something as serious as losing the use of his legs, they were still clear. There was no bitterness or confusion. Victoria glanced at his legs again. "What's going on with them?" "They were broken with a wooden club last month," Jackson said. "I've had many well-known doctors take a look. They all said my legs are beyond saving. I'll never stand again." "Pull up your pant legs. Let me see," said Victoria. "Okay." Jackson did as she said, lifting his pant legs to reveal his knees and lower legs, covered in scars. Victoria's expression darkened. She set the herbs aside, stood up, and walked over to him. Then she bent down and pressed carefully on his knees. The pain made Jackson frown, but he didn't make a sound. "They can be treated," Victoria said firmly. Hope lit up in Jackson's eyes at once. Thinking about how her birth parents had ignored her existence for so many years, Victoria made up her mind. She would go back to Benwig City and take her place as the Binder family's true daughter. She wanted to meet them face to face. She clapped her hands lightly and sat back down on the small stool. "I can marry you." Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any conditions?" Victoria tilted her head and smiled brightly. "Listen to you. Do I need conditions to marry you? You're so good-looking. If I fix your legs, I'll be the one getting the better deal." Jackson hadn't expected her to be so straightforward. His brow lifted higher, and he let out a soft laugh. "Alright. Then it's settled. I'll wait for you to return to the Binder family." Chapter 2 A Welcome Gift After Jackson left his phone number with Victoria, he left the village with his assistant, Ollie Rowse. Victoria watched him go, her eyes growing thoughtful. She took out her phone and dialed a number. "Mara, I need you to look into everyone in the Binder family in Benwig City right away. Focus on their daughter. I want everything you can find, and I want it by tonight." "Yes, boss," Mara replied. After hanging up, Victoria's gaze turned even sharper. Ford had once told her about that freezing winter night twenty years ago. He had been on his way to settle down in a small southern town when he heard a baby crying from inside a trash bin. He got out of the car to check and found a baby girl, not even a month old, her skin red from the cold. If she hadn't been crying so loudly, and if he hadn't happened to pass that deserted road, she would have died quietly in that trash bin. That baby was Victoria. Ford gave her that name, hoping she would grow up strong and tough no matter what life threw at her. Even on his deathbed, Ford never stopped looking for her biological parents. And all this time, Victoria had believed they must have abandoned her because they had no other choice. But now, it seemed that wasn't true. Her biological parents didn't want her and had no intention of taking her back. If it weren't for the adopted daughter they had raised for twenty years, Victoria might have gone her whole life without parents. Just then, someone called out from outside, "Victoria, who was that man in the nice car looking for you?" It was Stephan, a middle-aged man from next door. He spent most of his time up in the mountains hunting herbs. Victoria put her phone away and walked out, smiling at him. "To be honest with you, that was my fiancé." Stephan looked surprised. "Your fiancé? You have good taste. He's a handsome man. Why didn't you ask him to stay for dinner?" "He had things to take care of in the city. He couldn't stay today," Victoria said. "Next time he comes, make sure he stays for a meal. Everything we eat here is grown by us. Let him try it. It's much better and healthier than city food," Stephan said. "I will," Victoria said with a smile. Stephan grabbed his tools and headed up into the mountains. Only after he left did Victoria go back inside to keep sorting the herbs she had picked. ***** After leaving Mullinran Village, Ollie, who was driving, glanced at Jackson's calm face in the rearview mirror and asked carefully, "Mr. Thornton, are you really going to marry her? "You saw it yourself. Her own parents don't even want her. She makes a living selling herbs and doing some basic medical work. "You just went through something serious, and this is when you need support the most. Marrying her won't help you secure your position in the Thornton family." Jackson shifted his gaze away from the fields outside the window and gently rubbed the petals of a purple flower he had picked from Victoria's doorstep. He asked, "Ollie, do you remember six months ago, when my grandfather was seriously ill and needed a very rare herb to survive?" Ollie wasn't sure why he changed the subject, but he nodded. "Of course. That herb showed up at the biggest auction house in Benwig City. You spent 30 million dollars to get it." "Didn't you notice? That same rare herb was hanging casually on the wall of her simple, run-down house," Jackson said. That one bundle alone would be worth a fortune at any auction in Benwig City. "What?" Ollie was stunned. From the moment they walked into Victoria's house, he had only noticed how shabby it looked and missed everything else. Now it finally clicked. "Do you mean her background might not be as simple as it seems?" Jackson lifted the purple flower to his nose and took a light breath. "I can't say for sure what her background is yet. But one thing is clear. Her medical skills are far from simple." Ollie understood right away. If that was true, then there was real hope for Jackson's legs. Still, he couldn't help asking, "If all you want is to fix your legs, you could just pay her a large amount of money. There's no need to marry her." Jackson blinked and slowly turned the flower between his fingers. A faint smile appeared on his lips. "What if I said I fell for her at first sight? Would you believe me?" Ollie paused and looked at him again through the rearview mirror. He seemed calm. He wasn't exactly joking, but he wasn't completely serious, either. But Jackson rarely joked, so Ollie couldn't tell how much of it was real. In the end, he chose to believe him. "I believe you." "Good. In my eyes, she is already my fiancée. From now on, you need to treat her with respect," Jackson said. "Understood." Ollie nodded. Jackson wasn't joking. When it came to love, he had never believed in feelings that grew over time. To him, if there was no spark at first sight, then staying together would only lead to a relationship based on weighing pros and cons, not the kind of love that made his heart race. That was why, when his grandfather arranged his engagement to Angelica, he had agreed for practical reasons alone. But when he saw Victoria, everything changed. It felt like the world spun around him, and everything else faded away. In his eyes, she was the only color left. He couldn't explain why it had to be her. Maybe it was that moment when their eyes met, when the light in hers pulled him in like a whirlpool. Jackson picked up a book from the car and carefully placed the small purple flower between its pages. Then he closed the book and shut his eyes. ***** At eight that evening, Victoria had just finished bringing in the herbs she had been drying on the roof when her phone rang. She set the herbs aside, brushed the dust off her hands, and picked up the call. Mara's cool voice came through. "Boss, I found what you asked for. The Binder family has only one daughter. She was born to the second son, Darell, and his wife, Julia. Her name is Angelica. She's the same age as you. "She's very spoiled at home. Two months ago, Darell arranged a great marriage for her. She's engaged to Jackson, the eldest son of the Thornton family, the most powerful family in Benwig City. "Jackson had already been chosen by his grandfather, Gerry, as the next heir. But last month, he had an accident. Someone broke both his legs, and the announcement was put on hold." "What is Angelica like?" Victoria asked. "She has a very good reputation. She's beautiful and talented. A lot of rich young men in Benwig City admire her. That's probably why she gained Gerry's approval for the marriage," Mara said. Victoria let out a cold laugh to herself. She didn't believe for a second that Angelica's perfect life came without tricks. "Got it. Now find out if Angelica is really Darell and Julia's biological daughter," Victoria said. "You're focusing on the Binder family, especially Angelica. What are you planning to do?" Mara asked. "I'm going back to take my place," Victoria said. A faint spark lit up in her deep eyes. She found the idea of being the Binder family's real daughter interesting. Victoria had many identities. The one she used the most was a village herbalist and healer. In her daily life, she spent time with her retired scientist friends in the village, growing new herbs and developing new medicines. Over the years, she had cultivated twenty kinds of rare medicinal plants. Because they were so hard to produce, they sold for extremely high prices. Any one of them, if sold at auction in Benwig City, could earn more than most people made in a lifetime. On top of that, she was skilled in traditional medical techniques. When she treated regular villagers, she charged normal fees. But when rich families or powerful figures came to her, her starting fee was three million dollars. Of course, she guaranteed results. If she couldn't cure them, she wouldn't take a single dollar. This identity alone had already made her very rich. Money no longer meant much to her. So when her ex-boyfriend, Gavin, said she wasn't good enough for him, she found it almost funny. If she wanted, she could build her own place in Benwig City without relying on anyone. Over the years, all her different identities had started to feel dull. It was time to try something new. And she had to admit, Jackson impressed her. Out of all the people she had treated, none had faced sudden injury like he did, so calm and steady. His willpower was strong. He was someone who would go far. He was handsome and capable. It would be a waste for him to stay crippled. So she would fix his legs. Mara quickly understood, her voice turning serious. "Understood, boss. I'll get on it right away." ***** Late that night, Victoria was fast asleep when she heard wood cracking outside. Her eyes opened at once, sharp and alert, and she turned toward the sound. Anyone showing up at this hour without warning was not from the village. She had spread powders around her home to keep wild animals away, so no beasts would come near. That left only one answer. Someone had broken in. Victoria got up quietly and, using the moonlight, moved to hide behind the door. Soon, her old wooden door was kicked open, and a shadow rushed inside. She hadn't expected him to be so bold, barging in instead of sneaking around. She flicked a silver needle straight at him. The man let out a low groan and dropped to the ground. Victoria turned on the light, filling the room with brightness. She kicked him aside and finally saw his face clearly. He looked like a hardened criminal. She grabbed a rope, walked over, and tied up his hands and feet. Once he was secured, she took out a needle and stuck it into his neck. Within seconds, he woke up. Victoria sat on the bed, crossing her legs as she played with another needle. "If you don't want to suffer, you'd better tell me the truth. Who sent you?" The man quickly sized up the situation. "People who hire killers stay anonymous. Who would be stupid enough to give their name? But they said that if I raped you, they would get me out of the country safely." Victoria's eyes turned cold and sharp. If he needed to run overseas, that meant he was already a wanted criminal. The man hurried to beg, "I've told you everything I know. Let me go. I won't take this job anymore." Victoria nodded. "Fine." She walked over, pulled out the needle, and untied the ropes. "You can leave." The man rubbed his wrists. "Thanks—" Before he could finish, his face suddenly changed. He lifted his leg and tried to kick Victoria in the knee. But the moment his foot rose, a sharp pain shot through him. Then his whole body went numb. He couldn't move. He looked down in terror. A small black snake had bitten his ankle. "How is there a poisonous snake here—" Before he could finish, blood burst from his throat. His body fell stiffly to the ground. After a few jerks, he went still. Victoria let out a cold laugh. "Trying to kill me in my place? You asked for it. Good job, Blackie. Go rest." The little black snake slipped into a dark corner and quickly disappeared. Victoria picked up a hoe, stuffed the body into a large basket, and lifted it onto her back with ease. She carried it outside and buried it near her vegetable garden. It would make good fertilizer for her herbs. After that, she let out a long breath, brushed off her hands, and looked up at the nearly full moon. She had just learned who she really was, and someone had already sent a man to ruin her. It seemed that someone had prepared a "welcome gift" for her in advance. Chapter 3 We've Got Your Back The next day at noon, a black Bentley worth 1.5 million dollars stopped in front of Victoria's house. Victoria was grinding the herbs she had picked the day before. When she heard the car, she glanced out the window and checked the license plate. It was from Benwig City, just as she expected. She finished grinding the herbs, put them into jars, brushed the dust off her hands, and walked outside. She went straight to the car and knocked on the window. A moment later, the window slid down, revealing the still handsome face of a middle-aged man—Hector Binder. He looked about fifty, with neatly slicked-back hair. A woman sat beside him. She looked about the same age. Even though she wasn't young anymore, she had taken good care of herself and looked as if she were in her thirties. Her features were still soft and beautiful. Victoria didn't waste time. "Are you here for me?" Hector, sitting in the back seat, looked at her, then at the photo in his hand. His eyes lit up. "Daisy, it's her. She's the one we're looking for." Daisy's eyes filled with excitement, even shining with tears. "Yes, it's her. No mistake." They quickly opened the door, got out of the car, and walked over to Victoria. Hector nodded. "Yes. You're the real daughter the Binder family lost years ago. We're here to take you back." Victoria looked straight into his eyes. He seemed like a decent man, and the excitement in his expression matched Daisy's. It didn't look fake. This couple didn't seem to have anything to do with what happened to her last night. Hector paused, a little surprised. "How did you know we were coming?" But he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he explained, "You are the young lady of the Binder family. "When you were little, someone switched you with another baby. That's why you ended up here. You've suffered for twenty years, living away from your real home." As soon as he finished, Daisy started to choke up. "Poor child." Victoria stayed calm. "So, are you my parents?" Hector and Daisy froze. They exchanged a look, then answered awkwardly, "No. We're your uncle and aunt." Victoria let out a cold laugh. "Then why aren't my parents here? Why did they send you instead?" Daisy looked uneasy. "Something came up at home. They couldn't leave, so they asked us to come get you." Victoria saw right through it. "You don't have to cover for them. I'm not a child. What could be more important than picking up their own daughter? They just didn't want to come." Hearing that, Daisy stepped forward and gently hugged her. Tears slipped down her face. "My poor child, you've suffered so much." Victoria didn't expect the sudden hug. At first, she wanted to pull away, but the warmth of it stopped her. It felt soft and comforting, unlike any embrace she had experienced in twenty years. It was, perhaps, the closest she had ever come to what a mother's embrace should feel like. She let out a quiet sigh. For a moment, she thought that if these two were her real parents, it wouldn't be so bad. After a while, Daisy let go and held her hand. "Go pack your things. We'll take you home today. You won't have to live like this anymore." Victoria nodded. "Okay. Wait for me. I'll go pack." She didn't need to bring clothes. The only things she needed were the medicines she had made. After packing all the bottles of medicine powder and poison powder from the wooden cabinet, Victoria called out, "Blackie, Whitey, Greenie, come out. I'm taking you somewhere new." As soon as she finished, three small snakes slid out from the corners and crawled into a sack. Victoria tied the sack and slung it over her shoulder. Then she took a drum from the old cabinet. After giving the shabby house one last look, she walked outside and began to beat the drum. The loud sound of the drum echoed through the area. Hector and Daisy, waiting outside, looked confused. Before long, the villagers gathered around. They looked at Victoria with concern. "Victoria, what's wrong? What happened?" Victoria set down the drum, cleared her throat, and said, "Everyone, you all know I'm an orphan. I grew up without parents, raised by all of you. "But now I know who my real parents are. It turns out I'm the daughter of the Binder family in Benwig City." The villagers were happy for her at first, but then she continued, "But here's the thing. My real parents knew all along who I was, but they never came to acknowledge me. "And now, the only reason they're taking me back is to make me marry a disabled man in place of their adopted daughter." Hector and Daisy were stunned. They had no idea about any of this. The villagers were furious. "What kind of people are they? They knew you were their real daughter but ignored you all this time, and now they want to use you like this, huh?" "Blind fools! You're such a good girl, and they treat you like a tool, making you marry some cripple instead of their adopted daughter." "Victoria, don't listen to those heartless people." "That's right. Ignore them. We'll go teach them a lesson." "The Binder family? They're nothing special in Benwig City, acting all high and mighty. Victoria, you don't need to go back with them." Victoria raised her hand to quiet them. "Everyone, calm down. I've decided to go back to the Binder family for this arranged marriage. "But I'm going back to teach them a lesson. So I'm telling you all ahead of time. Please help take care of the herbs I just planted in my yard." Even though the villagers didn't really understand, they still respected her choice. "Okay. But if anyone from the Binder family dares to bully you, just call me. I'll get people to take them down," one person said. "That's right. We've got your back," another added. Victoria waved her hand. "Thank you, everyone. That's all I wanted to say. You can all head back now." After that, she turned to Hector and Daisy, who were still waiting, and gave them a light smile. "We can go now." Hector and Daisy were still a little stunned. When they heard her, they finally snapped out of it. "Oh, okay." "Let me carry that." The driver stepped forward and reached for the sack. "Be careful. It's heavy," Victoria said. The driver didn't believe it at first. But the moment he took it with both hands, he almost dropped it on his foot. Victoria blinked at him. "Can you handle it? Don't break anything inside." "No problem." The driver forced a smile, gritted his teeth, and lifted the sack into the trunk. By the time he got back into the driver's seat, he was sweating all over. He hadn't expected Victoria to be this strong despite looking so thin. After getting into the car, Daisy and Hector looked at each other, then kept glancing at Victoria. They seemed to want to say something, but neither of them knew how to start. In the end, Daisy asked, "Victoria, you just told the villagers about marrying a disabled man instead of that adopted daughter. What did you mean?" "You didn't know?" Victoria looked back at her, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. Daisy shook her head. "Hector and I really had no idea. About half a month ago, your parents suddenly told us Angelica wasn't their biological daughter. Then they sent people to look into it. "Just yesterday, they found out their real daughter was living here. That's why they want to bring you back today." Hector nodded to confirm her words. Victoria smiled faintly. "Then why do you think they didn't come themselves?" Daisy fell silent. To her, it was absurd that Victoria's parents would have relatives fetch their biological daughter instead of coming themselves. But the truth would hurt Victoria, so she chose not to say anything. Victoria let out a bitter laugh. "Aunt Daisy, even if you don't say it, I can guess. Just like I said, they don't want to acknowledge me. "They're only bringing me back because they have no choice. They want me to marry that disabled heir in place of their precious adopted daughter." Her gaze was clear and calm, and there was a quiet maturity about her that went far beyond her years. Hector frowned slightly. "Victoria, how did you find out about this arranged marriage?" Victoria smiled. "Secret." On the way, Daisy told her a lot about the Binder family. It wasn't much different from what Mara had already found out. The Binder family was still led by Calvin. He had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Hector, was the one who had come to get Victoria, and his wife was Daisy. They didn't have any children. The second son, Darell, was Victoria's biological father. He and his wife, Julia, had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Simon, managed the family's entertainment company, Brightstar Entertainment. The second son, Curtis, was a well-known singer under the same company. Then there was the youngest daughter, Angelica. She was considered very outstanding. At just twenty, she had already skipped grades and finished college. She was now preparing to study abroad after getting engaged to the eldest son of the Thornton family. Angelica was the baby who had been switched with Victoria. As for Calvin's daughter, Sirena, she had already married into another wealthy family and only returned for holidays. The drive from the village to Benwig City took six hours over bumpy roads. By the time they arrived, it was dark. "We're here," the driver said as he stopped the car. Victoria looked out the window. In front of her stood a large estate, with several villas spread across it. It looked grand and impressive. The Binder family mansion alone was almost as big as the entire Mullinran Village. Victoria got out of the car and followed Hector and Daisy inside. The head butler, Milton, who had been waiting at the door, stepped forward respectfully. "You're back." He looked at Victoria and gave a polite nod. "This must be Miss Victoria Binder." "Yes," Daisy replied. Then she looked at Victoria gently. "Victoria, go in and meet your parents and brother." Victoria said nothing. She quietly followed them inside. They passed through the wide front yard and stepped into the entrance hall. Standing at the doorway, she quickly scanned the four people sitting on the sofas in the main hall. First, she saw a middle-aged couple dressed in expensive clothes, carrying themselves with an air of wealth and status. Next was a handsome young man who looked a bit rebellious. Finally, there was a beautiful young woman about her age. The corners of her eyes were red, and she looked pitiful, as if she had been crying. None of them looked happy. Their faces were tense, filled with worry. When they looked at her, Victoria caught the flash of disgust in their eyes. A faint smile appeared on her lips. She thought the family was really quite interesting. Chapter 4 Are You an Idiot? "Darell, Julia, I brought your daughter back," Daisy said. She gently patted Victoria on the back. "Victoria, go say hello to your parents and your brother." Victoria didn't move. With a faint, mocking smile, she asked, "Aunt Daisy, are they really my parents and brother?" Daisy froze for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, they are. Why do you ask?" Victoria let out a cold laugh. "I'm supposed to be their daughter and sister, but why do they all look like they can't stand me?" The four people in the room all stiffened. They hadn't expected her to be so direct. Daisy froze again. She wanted to say something, but stopped herself. She knew what Darell and Julia were thinking. They didn't want to accept this daughter because they already had an excellent adopted one. They would rather stay home and comfort their adopted daughter's feelings than spend even a little time going to the village to pick up their real daughter. Simon and Curtis felt the same way. They were closer to the sister they had lived with for twenty years. None of them wanted to hurt her feelings just to pick up Victoria. Simon didn't even bother to show up; he was still at work. In the end, Daisy couldn't take it anymore and offered to go with Hector to bring Victoria home. What she didn't expect was that even after Victoria came back, Darell and Julia still acted like this. They didn't even try to hide it. Julia looked at Darell, and he looked back at her. In that brief exchange, they reached an understanding. Victoria clearly wasn't as quiet and easy to control as they had thought. They couldn't just brush her aside. If they wanted her to willingly take Angelica's place in the marriage to Jackson later, they would have to act nice and coax her a little. Julia hesitated, then forced herself to stand up. She put on a pained expression and walked toward Victoria. "My child, you've suffered so much out there." Victoria stepped aside slightly and avoided her touch. "Stop pretending. I don't see any concern in your eyes." Julia froze in place. A wave of anger rose inside her. She had lowered herself to show kindness, yet Victoria had refused it and embarrassed her in front of everyone. But to her, Victoria's lack of manners was no surprise. She had grown up in the countryside without her parents and had never been properly brought up. Julia forced a stiff smile. "I carried you for ten months. Of course, it hurts me to know you've suffered." Victoria sneered, "Is that so? If you really feel that way, why didn't you come pick me up today? Why did you send Uncle Hector and Aunt Daisy instead?" Daisy wanted to speak, but Hector gently held her hand and shook his head. He said quietly, "Daisy, we've already brought her back. What happens now is their family matter. Let them handle it. Let's go home." Daisy looked at Victoria, her eyes full of worry and sympathy. But she knew Hector was right. This was between Victoria and her parents. No matter what happened, she had no right to interfere. "Julia, now that Victoria is back, you should treat her well. Don't hurt her again. Daisy and I will head back now," Hector said politely, hoping his words would help a little. Darell nodded. "Thank you for your help today." Daisy said gently, "Victoria, we are leaving. If you need anything, come find us at Goldenwood Villa on the east side." With that, she reluctantly turned and left. Victoria watched them walk away, then quickly looked away. Once they were gone, Julia finally breathed a sigh of relief. "This is all my fault. Your father and I didn't go pick you up ourselves because I'm very emotional. "I was afraid that if I saw how poorly you were living, I wouldn't be able to handle it. So I stayed home to calm myself and prepare to welcome you." She was lying. Actually, after Angelica found out last night that she wasn't their real daughter, she had been upset the whole night. This morning, she was so distracted that she couldn't even eat. Julia felt sorry for her and stayed home to comfort her. Victoria's eyes were full of sarcasm. "So what exactly did you prepare for me?" Julia quickly said, "I've already cleaned up a room for you. Come, I'll show you." She reached for Victoria's hand again, but Victoria dodged her once more. "So cleaning a room was more important than coming to pick me up yourself." Julia's hand hung in the air. A trace of impatience flashed across her eyes. "Forget the room. I'm not even sure I'll stay," Victoria said. Then she pointed at the young woman about her age. "Who is she?" Angelica froze. Her eyes instantly turned red. She gently tugged on Curtis's sleeve. Curtis held her hand and said softly, "Angelica, don't be afraid." After comforting her, Curtis looked at Victoria coldly. His tone turned sharp. "I'm your brother, Curtis. And she's my sister, Angelica." He deliberately stressed the words "my sister." "I see." Victoria's voice carried a hint of sarcasm. "So that means she's the adopted daughter who was switched with me, right?" Angelica's hand trembled. Tears gathered in her eyes, ready to fall. Curtis's face darkened. He emphasized, "In my heart, Angelica is my real sister." Victoria let out a cold laugh. "Calling her your real sister? Are you an idiot?" Everyone except Victoria froze at her words. Curtis stared at her in disbelief. "You just called me an idiot, huh?" Victoria laughed mockingly. "Yeah. Did I say anything wrong? Don't you know her mother was the one who secretly switched us back then?" Angelica's birth mother, Jasmine, had worked as a customer service representative at a postpartum care center. When Julia was three months pregnant, she started looking for a high-end center, and Jasmine had served her. By coincidence, Jasmine was also pregnant at the time. When she realized Julia was wealthy, she started having bad thoughts. She secretly followed Julia to find out which center she chose and forced herself to spend the money to book the same one. During the recovery period after giving birth, Jasmine secretly switched her own daughter with Julia's without anyone noticing. At the time, Angelica had an allergic rash on her face. Julia didn't realize anything was wrong, and when she left the center, she took Angelica home. Angelica bit her lip. Tears finally streamed down her face. "I'm sorry." Curtis held her cold hand tightly and gently said, "Angelica, this has nothing to do with you." Then he turned to Victoria, his voice full of anger. "Yes, her mother switched you back then. But Angelica is innocent. She didn't know anything about it." Victoria laughed out loud, her eyes full of ridicule. "Oh, she's innocent? She spent twenty years enjoying my life, living in comfort and luxury. "And me? I was thrown into a trash can by her cruel mother in the freezing cold. If no one had found me, I would have died right after I was born." Chapter 5 I'll Leave Victoria's words left Curtis speechless. He had just started to feel a bit guilty when Angelica suddenly broke down in tears again. She said, "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. It's my fault for having a mother like that. Victoria, if you hate me, you can hit me or yell at me, but please don't blame Curtis." As she spoke, she struggled to pull free from Curtis's hand. With a determined look, she bit her lip and ran toward Victoria. "Angelica!" Curtis panicked and quickly got up to follow her. Angelica ran up to Victoria and was about to bow, but Curtis caught up just in time and pulled her back. "Angelica, what are you doing? This isn't your fault. It's your mother's fault." Victoria watched the whole scene and suddenly laughed. She even clapped her hands like she was watching a show. "This is really something. Are you putting on a pity act for me?" The small bit of guilt Curtis had felt disappeared right away. After helping Angelica steady herself, he looked at Victoria coldly. "Why are you being so unreasonable?" he asked. "Angelica already apologized sincerely, and you're still mocking her." "I'm not just mocking her. I'm mocking all of you," Victoria said. "Her mother planned everything, found a way to switch us, and let her take twenty years of the life that should have been mine. "Now that I'm back, you guys are still protecting her right in front of me. It's a shame that I ended up with a family like this." Curtis's face darkened even more. Julia looked helplessly at Darell. She hadn't expected Victoria to be so stubborn and didn't know how to deal with her. No matter how she looked at it, Julia just couldn't bring herself to like Victoria. Darell, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "That's enough, Victoria. Angelica's mother has already been punished. Angelica is alone now, with no one to rely on. "Your mother and I raised her for twenty years. We can't just throw her out. The Binder family has more than enough. Keeping her here is no big deal. She won't affect you." But Victoria didn't accept that. "If it's really no big deal, then she can live anywhere. Why does she have to stay here and bother me? "Every time I see her, I'm reminded of everything I went through after being switched." Darell didn't expect her to keep pushing like this. Just like Julia, he began to feel more and more resistant toward Victoria. Compared to Angelica, who was gentle and understanding, Victoria seemed completely rude to him. Angelica bit her lip and let her tears fall silently. She looked pitiful, making it hard not to feel sorry for her. Seeing how aggressive Victoria was, Curtis finally lost his temper. "So you won't be satisfied unless we send Angelica away, huh?" Victoria nodded. "That's right. We're not both living here. It's one or the other." As soon as she said that, everyone's faces darkened. "I don't want to leave you," Angelica said through her tears, looking completely wronged. It made anyone who saw her feel bad. Curtis held her hand tightly. "Angelica, don't worry. You don't have to go anywhere. As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone drive you out of the Binder family. You'll always be my sister. You're part of us." Victoria raised an eyebrow. "So you want me to leave, huh?" Julia was already at her limit, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Victoria, you just got back. You don't really know Angelica yet. "She's kind and understanding. Once you spend some time with her, you'll accept her. Her staying here won't affect your place. No matter what, you're our real daughter." Victoria sneered, "Really? Then why did all of you look disgusted the moment you saw me? Is it because I'm not as pretty as her? Or because I'm not as refined? "But have you forgotten? If we had never been switched, the pretty, refined one would be me. Everything she has now was built on the suffering I endured for her." Julia froze and quickly shook her head. "That's not it. We just haven't adjusted yet." "You need time to adjust to your own daughter, huh? Then why didn't Uncle Hector and Aunt Daisy need time when they saw me?" Victoria pressed. Julia had no answer. But she thought it was because Hector and Daisy had no children, so of course, they would be happy. She took a deep breath and softened her voice. "Victoria, we won't treat you badly from now on. Your living expenses will be the same as Angelica's. Your father and I won't favor one over the other." Victoria gave a faint, mocking smile. "Should I thank you for that? Honestly, for me, not favoring one over the other is already the biggest favoritism. "You two are really kind. You don't want your own daughter, but you're willing to spend money raising the daughter of someone who ruined my life. I've never seen people this generous." Julia held back her anger and continued, "Victoria, stop making trouble. You're my real daughter. We finally found you. How could we let you keep suffering out there?" Victoria replied, "So you knew I was suffering. While I was suffering, that criminal's daughter was living here, enjoying everything you gave her in my place. "And now, on the very first day I come back, you're ready to push me away again." Curtis said coldly, "Get this straight. We're not pushing you away. You're the one making things difficult. You could stay here peacefully, but you refuse to accept Angelica." "How could I accept the daughter of a criminal?" Victoria asked. "If I hadn't been lucky enough to survive, her mother would be both a trafficker and a murderer. "She committed the crime, but her daughter hasn't been punished at all. Why should she get to keep living this rich, comfortable life as if nothing had happened?" Angelica's body swayed. Curtis quickly held her steady, his anger finally breaking through. "With your attitude, do you even deserve to stay here while Angelica leaves?" "Of course I do. First, I'm a Binder by blood. Second, unlike you, I'm not an idiot." After snapping at him, Victoria lost her patience. "Have you decided? Is she leaving, or am I?" Curtis pulled Angelica into his arms protectively and said firmly, "Dad, Mom, if I have to choose, then I only recognize Angelica as my sister." "Good. One vote." Victoria raised her index finger and then looked at Julia. "What about you?" Julia forced down her frustration and said gently, "Victoria, don't do this—" "Alright, that's two votes," Victoria said, not even bothering to listen. She turned to Darell. "Your vote doesn't matter anymore. There are already two votes for Angelica. Fine. Since that's the case, she stays. I'll leave." A trace of anxiety flashed in Angelica's eyes. If Victoria really left, there would be no one to take her place in marrying Jackson. Chapter 6 This Is Your Home Angelica quickly pushed Curtis away. She turned back, her voice catching in her throat. "Dad, Mom, I know this puts you in a tough spot. "I don't want to make things harder for you. If only one of us can stay, then let Victoria stay. I'll leave." If it weren't for the fact that Victoria had to take Angelica's place in marrying Jackson, Julia wouldn't have wanted to acknowledge her at all. A life of wealth and comfort was right in front of Victoria, yet she was still being so difficult. Julia simply didn't believe Victoria would actually give up her identity as a daughter of the Binder family and walk away. So she dropped all pretense of politeness. "Curtis is right. You are my biological daughter. I didn't want to say anything too harsh, but look at how rude and unreasonable you're being. "You have no sense of your place, and you don't understand the situation. You just keep pushing. "So let me be clear. Angelica is far more outstanding than you. We are not going to give up a daughter we've raised for twenty years just because you share our blood." She spoke without holding anything back. "If you want to come back to the Binder family and live peacefully as a rich young lady, without worrying about food or money, then behave yourself. "You should swallow your resentment and accept that Angelica will continue to live here as our daughter." At the end, she said firmly, "Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to give you up." Before Victoria could respond, Daisy's voice came from outside the door, filled with concern. "Darell, Julia, are you really going to be so foolish as to abandon your own daughter?" Victoria froze. She turned and saw Daisy and Hector walking back in. As she came closer, Daisy looked at Victoria with sympathy in her eyes. "I just couldn't stop worrying, so I came back to check. I didn't expect to hear this—" Curtis frowned when he saw Daisy return. "Aunt Daisy, we're not abandoning her. She's the one who insisted on leaving." Daisy sighed softly and said, "You're determined to keep the criminal's daughter who caused her so much suffering. How could she not be heartbroken?" At those words, Angelica shot Daisy a sharp look, a flicker of malice flashing through her eyes. She thought, 'She's so meddlesome. No wonder she can't have children. She deserves it.' Hector noticed the look Angelica gave Daisy and caught the hostility in her eyes. His gaze darkened at once. Angelica sensed it immediately. She forced her emotions down and looked away. Curtis shook his head. "Aunt Daisy, Angelica was just a baby back then. She didn't know anything. What did she do wrong?" Victoria felt a warmth spread through her chest at Daisy's defense. "Aunt Daisy, don't waste your breath on them. "I have no interest in a family like this. They don't want me, and I don't want anything to do with them." "Poor child." Daisy's eyes reddened. She gently touched Victoria's cheek. "Why not just bear with it and let Angelica stay?" Victoria shook her head. "No. If they want to acknowledge me as their daughter, then I won't allow a criminal's daughter to stay here for even one more day." Just then, a deep, aged voice sounded from the doorway. "Has my precious granddaughter been brought back?" Everyone turned. An elderly man walked in slowly with a cane, Milton by his side. Victoria looked over. This had to be her grandfather, Calvin. He looked to be around eighty. His hair was completely white, but his eyes were sharp and bright, and his steps were steady. The moment Darell saw him, his stern expression vanished. He hurried forward to help, but Calvin shook him off with a look of annoyance. "I don't need help from a fool like you," he snapped. "I can't believe you're choosing a criminal's child over your own daughter. I'm starting to wonder if she's your illegitimate daughter." Darell's face stiffened with embarrassment. "Dad, please don't say that. We did a paternity test. Angelica has no blood relation to me. "It's just that we've lived with her for twenty years. Of course, feelings develop over that much time." "Idiot!" Calvin snorted. "If you'd picked her up off the street, that would be one thing. But her mother swapped her for your real daughter. I think there's something seriously wrong with you." He walked straight up to Victoria and studied her carefully. Just as Milton had said, even after spending twenty years in the countryside, Victoria carried herself with confidence. There was no trace of fear or timidity. Her eyes were bright and steady, full of strength. She was clearly no ordinary girl. Calvin reached out and patted Victoria's shoulder. "Sweetheart, I'm your grandfather. Your father may be confused, but I'm not. If he won't accept you, I will." Victoria smiled faintly. "Grandpa, thank goodness you, Uncle Hector, and Aunt Daisy are sensible. Otherwise, I'd seriously question how the Binder family became rich in Benwig City with idiots like these around." Darell's face darkened at the mockery. Julia felt even more disgust toward Victoria. Curtis stepped in front of Angelica, worried Calvin might take his anger out on her. Calvin burst out laughing. "Don't worry. I'll stand up for you today. Even if I have to throw all of them out, I won't let you leave the Binder family." Curtis immediately protested, "Grandpa—" Calvin cut him off. "Shut up. You're the one who should be thrown out first. Why weren't you the one who got switched? "You should've gone out there and suffered for a few years, then come back and face what Victoria is facing now. I'd like to see if you'd learn your lesson." Curtis had nothing to say. Calvin turned to Darell and Julia, his expression turning cold again. "And you two. What nonsense about developing feelings after twenty years? "I haven't even held you accountable for spending the Binder family's money to raise a criminal's daughter, and now you care more about her than your own flesh and blood. "You're even trying to drive away my precious granddaughter for her sake. If my granddaughter leaves, then all of you can pack up and get out." Julia opened her mouth, but no words came out. Darell didn't dare argue. Curtis clenched his fists, his hatred toward Victoria deepening. Victoria noticed his glare. She lifted her hand slightly at her waist, gave him the middle finger, and mouthed silently, "Idiot." She sneered inwardly, unable to understand how Curtis could be so blind to his own faults and still blame everything on her. Julia asked awkwardly, "Then, what about Angelica?" "If you love her, then keep her," Calvin said flatly. "But from now on, she is not allowed to get in my granddaughter's way." After that, he turned back to Victoria. "Alright, you stay. Don't worry about anyone else. From now on, the Binder family is your home." At that moment, an idea suddenly came to Victoria. "Grandpa, I don't want them to be my parents. Anyway, I'm a Binder by blood. How about Uncle Hector and Aunt Daisy adopt me instead?"

Where the ad sends people

website.kwmobi.com

Betrayers Bow Before Me