Chapter 1

Chapter 1

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In the dazzling heart of Hallon City, the Dalton family was throwing a massive celebration. The star of the night? Selena Dalton, who just snagged the Best Author Award.

Guests were dressed to the nines, sparkling under the lights, as laughter and chatter filled the air, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and festivity.

But behind all the glitz and glam lay a dark secret. In a cold, damp basement, Hailey Dalton, the family’s forgotten heiress, had been locked away for seven years.

At twenty–seven, she should’ve been living her best life, but instead, she’d been stuck in this hellhole for the past seven years,

The heavy basement door slammed open, and a thin shaft of light cut through the dark. Hailey’s heart jumped.

She looked up, eyes wide with the smallest spark of hope. ‘Is it Mateo? Is he finally here to rescue me?”

Her heart dared to believe it, though the hope flickered weakly–she didn’t dare believe too much, but she couldn’t help. herself. Maybe just maybe–this nightmare was finally over.

The sound of sharp high heels clicking on the concrete floor drew closer, and a figure stepped into view.

Hailey squinted, trying to make out the face, and then it hit her: it was Selena. Her half–sister. The very same person who had locked her away here in the first place.

At that moment, Hailey couldn’t bring herself to hate Selena anymore. Her legs were shattered, and she could barely move, the pain unbearable as she dragged her broken body off the bed.

With every ounce of strength, she crawled toward Selena, finally collapsing at her feet.

Her voice was raw with agony, filled with nothing but pleading, “Selena, please… I’m begging you. Let me go. Just let me see Mateo one last time, even if it’s from afar. Please, just give me a moment with my family…”

Selena stepped into the light, wearing a nude–colored gown, her red lips parting in a cold, calculated smile. “Alright, I’ll let you out,” she said in a voice that was sweet but absolutely frigid.

For a second, hope flickered in Hailey’s chest, but Selena quickly dashed it to pieces with her next words.

“Too bad… your adoptive parents are both dead. Now what?” Selena’s tone was a sickening mix of fake sympathy and cruel

amusement.

Hailey froze. Her heart sank. “No… that’s not possible.”

Selena smirked, pulling out her phone, and Hailey watched as she showed her a news article with the headline: [Family Tragedy Strikes–Parents and Sister Dead.]

“You didn’t see the news, did you? Your parents died in a car crash three years ago. And your sister? Yeah, she killed herself six months ago.” Selena glanced at the laptop in the comer, her smile turning wicked.

She paused, then added, “I almost forgot. While I was out there making my future, you were stuck working on that manuscript. The signal here was so spot–on, wasn’t it? Too bad no one would ever see it.

“Your work could only exist in this house. So, thanks for all your effort, sis.”

Hailey’s blood ran cold. “You! You killed my family!” she hissed, fury burning in her chest.

Selena played the victim, dramatically throwing her hands up. “Mateo, look at her! She’s glaring at me like she’s going to murder me. I’m so scared, she mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm

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man she had thought might save her, stepped into the

body couldn’t

and she crashed into the bedframe. Blood poured from her forehead, staining her face.

now even worse. The blood mixed with her tears, making her look like something straight out of

to be all concerned. “You okay, babe?” he asked, his voice dripping with fake

tenderness.

couple, so full of love and

all. She felt so stupid, so pathetic. All this

her sister, the one she had thought was innocent? Just a monster feeding off her. All the love she had believed in? It was poison–the kind of poison that killed her, and everyone

high heel into Hailey’s stomach, twisting it with a sick

with her tears as she glared at both Selena

deadly whisper. “Selena Dalton, Mateo Stafford… I swore, even as a ghost, I would make sure you

a handful of Hailey’s hair and slammed her head into the ground with a vicious snarl. “Die already, you

body weakening with every passing second. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she saw Mateo’s face one last time, his grin twisted

called through the darkness: “Hailey..

“Who is calling me? That voice… it

Breakfast

open, her body jerking upright, gasping

couldn’t hide her striking beauty. Her heart- shaped face had sharp, defined features,

Hailey murmured without thinking.

seeing the dazed look on Hailey’s face, waved a

of bed, and glanced around the room, full of memor This was the

people go back to their happiest place before they die? she thought to herself.

out and rolled her eyes. “Come on, dummy. Mom’s calling us to

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at Lydia, confused. “Lydia, how old am I now Then, de

her a look like she was crazy. “Are you for

shoes,

of electricity had hit her. Without even bothering to put on choro, de droed open the door and ran outside, standing in

but she didn’t even care.

more than anything. And in that moment le far bep the hud

same–quiet,

but the people here had that small–town stubbornness

family’s tiny kitchen,

as she slammed her fork onto the

the Daltons think they’re doing? Just waltzing in and taking her away? What the hell are wie, dipped liver

didn’t want to let Hailey go either, but she knew deep down t the

said softly, her voice full of care, “this is your decision to

stood up, walked over to her adoptive parents, and bowed derph and Lucia Brown.

wrong?” Lucia asked, her heart

spoke “Mom, Dad, thank you for everything. But

the Daltons.”

anger had festered in her heart for three long years:

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