After Rebirth, She Strikes Back

Chapter 1 She Came Back

Simone had thought about it more times than she could count—if she could go back to when she was three, she'd never call Samuel Spence "Dad" again.

She'd always wanted to return the favor and part ways—somehow, she had. At twenty-eight, in the prime of her life, Simone was gone.

When she woke up, she couldn't believe it—she was seventeen again. And she'd been back in the country for only six months right now.

At Sogin Hospital, Simone groveled alone by the hospital bed, wearing a black jacket and jeans that had faded from too many washes. Her face was pale and stubborn, and the only sign of her inner turmoil was the tight grip of her trembling fists.

"Simone, apologize," Samuel ordered, his voice as cold as ice.

Earlier that day, Simone had argued with Stella Spence, Samuel's real daughter. The security footage showed her pushing Stella down the stairs. But no one believed her when she said it wasn't her fault.

"I didn't do it," Simone said, looking up slowly. Her words were the same as in her past life. Facing her father after all those years, she felt nothing but distance. Her tone was flat, as if she were talking to a stranger.

The slap came as she just finished her sentence. It snapped Simone's head to the side, and a drop of crimson welled up at the corner of her mouth.

"Still lying through your teeth?" Samuel's voice trembled with disgust. "How could I ever have a daughter like you?"

Simone met his gaze, seeing the raw contempt in his eyes. If he were a cop, she was sure she'd already be on death row. A harsh, mirthless laugh escaped her. "Thank God I'm not your flesh and blood. Imagine the shame I'd bring you."

"What did you say?" Samuel's hand shot up again, but this time it hovered in the air, trembling.

Simone stared at him coldly, her eyes calm and resolute. The Spence family had destroyed any affection she had for them in another life. "Don't expect an apology—or I'll make it happen."

Samuel blinked, staring at her as if he'd never seen her before. "How did you become like this after all these years? Sending you abroad was supposed to help you grow, but all it did was make you worse—more arrogant and overbearing than ever."

Over the past six months, Samuel had been more and more disappointed in her.

He thought, 'She was such an angel when she was little. But ever since she came back from abroad, she has changed completely—picking fights with Stella and growing bitter and selfish, her entire demeanor prickly and sharp.'

Simone gazed steadily at the man berating her. At this moment, she finally understood—he was Stella's father; never hers.

The tension surrounding Simone was a stark contrast to the lively scene at the hospital bed nearby. Stella was the center of attention, enveloped in the warmth and care of everyone around her. She didn't have to lift a finger—her mere presence was enough to win their affection.

'How ironic,' Simone thought. She had never experienced such love in her last life.

She rose from her seat, frowning as she smoothed down her clothes that were already neat. With a cold glance at those gathered, she turned to leave. "I'll let you enjoy your little family drama. I'm out."

In her previous life, she had never been loved by the Spence family and, in the end, they were the ones who took her life. She had already paid them back with her life once. There were no debts left to settle.

"Stop." Charles's voice was like a blast of frost, carrying the weight of command.

Simone glanced back at Charles Spence, the brother she'd once thought the world of. "Get out of my way, now."

"Is that how you speak to me?" Charles's eyes darkened as he stepped forward and clamped down on Simone's wrist in disbelief. Even at her worst, she'd never dared to defy him so openly.

Simone's eyes flickered with disgust—she didn't think he deserved her good graces. His fake righteousness made her want to gag. "Let go. You disgust me." She wrenched her arm free, as if she'd touched something slimy.

Charles stumbled a little from the force, his anger flaring. "Simone! What game are you playing? You pushed Stella down the stairs and almost killed her. And now you won't even own up to it. What kind of sister are you? How can you be so heartless?"

'Almost killed Stella? If that counts, I've long been a dead body. Charles's still the same—always pretending to be the good brother, but always favoring Stella in his heart,' Simone sneered inwardly.

She glanced at Stella, who was surrounded by a crowd in the hospital bed, being pampered with food and drinks. Her scraped arm had already healed, and her cheeks were rosy, making her look perfectly healthy. Meanwhile, Simone looked pale — the one who actually seemed unwell.

Simone let out a bitter laugh. "Are you all blind? She looks perfectly fine. Is she that good an actress, or are you all just idiots?"

Samuel's other adoptive son, Raymond, glared at Simone with stormy eyes, his jaw clenched tight and a vein bulging on his forehead. "You've really crossed a line, Simone. How dare you even suggest something like that about Stella? She got hurt because of you."

His fists balled up, his anger simmering just below the surface. "Stella's never done anything to you. She's kind, and you're just jealous—always trying to tear her down."

The hatred in Raymond's eyes was palpable—he'd have lunged at Simone immediately if Stella weren't here. This violent monster was just afraid of frightening his baby sister.

Simone let out a cold laugh. Compared to Charles, she hated Raymond even more. "This isn't even close to malice. And who do you think you are?" she snapped. "What makes the Spence family so special?"

Before anyone could stop her, she marched over to the hospital bed. In one swift motion, she slapped Stella across the face. "This," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "is what real malice feels like."

The slap felt like a release, a way to get some of the anger out. Charles and Raymond had been adopted by Samuel before Stella came back into the picture. They used to be Simone's protectors, but now they felt like strangers—worse, like enemies.

Simone was a blur, too fast for anyone to catch her. Samuel's face twisted in shock as he leaped to his feet. "What the hell are you doing? You can't just hit her!"

He rushed to the bedside, throwing himself between Simone and Stella. "It's okay, Stella. Daddy's got you. Nobody's going to hurt you," he murmured, his voice soft and reassuring.

"Are you crazy?" Charles and Raymond moved in, standing shoulder to shoulder with Samuel, eyes locked on her like she was a bomb about to go off.

Simone just stood there, watching them all gang up on her. She almost laughed. 'In their world, Stella is always the innocent princess, and they are her brave knights. So I'm the villain in their little story? The evil witch in their fairy tale?'

'Yes, I'm crazy,' Simone thought. 'But you guys made me this way.' She tilted her head, her interest in the drama fading. "Keep pushing me, and you'll see just how crazy I can get."

Stella was crying now, hiding her face in her mom Norah's arms. "Simone, did I do something wrong? Please don't hate me," she sniffled, her voice breaking.

"Don't call me in that tone," Simone snapped, her disgust clear. "We're not that close."

"Simone..." Stella's eyes were red and wet, tears streaming down her cheeks as if she had been deeply wronged.

'The same old act, but always works,' Simone sneered to herself. "Are you seriously still playing this game? Grow up, Stella." She cut Stella off. "If you want me out of your precious Spence family, then shut up about it."

Stella bit her lip and fell silent. The room went quiet, the air thick with tension.

Simone's voice was firm and final. "I'll pay back every penny I've spent. It'll go straight to Mr. Spence's account."

Samuel's face froze, confusion creasing his brow. "What are you trying to pull?" he asked.

Then his eyes sharpened with realization. "Don't forget who's been putting food on your table all these years. You dared to step all over my own daughter? I shouldn't have taken you in in the first place."

He thought, 'I shouldn't have spoiled her. Look where it had gotten me.'

Simone's laugh was bitter. "Yeah, I'm just the adopted one. What kind of parent would send their own kid away for five years and leave her be?"

Those years overseas still burned. She'd pleaded with Samuel to bring her home, but he'd never come.

"Do you hate me?" Samuel's eyes caught the anger in hers, and he felt a pang of regret.

He glanced at the hearing aid in Simone's ear, but the guilt was short-lived. "Don't forget about your fault back then. Sending you away was for your own good," he said, his voice cold and his eyes stern.

Simone's face turned pale, and a chill ran through her. But she quickly pushed down the emotion—the Spence family weren't worth it. "I'm moving out today," she said, meeting his gaze. "This is over, Mr. Spence."

To the Spence family, Simone seemed to have lost her mind. Their status in Sogin was solid. Even the least successful Spence would still live a life of ease—a dream for most. Yet here she was, walking away without a second thought.

Stella's eyes darted around the room, her gaze sharp and calculating. "Simone," she said softly, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, "you're just messing with Dad, right? This is all my fault—I didn't mean to upset you."

Simone's face was like stone. She'd seen through Stella's act a hundred times before. This time, she wasn't playing along. She pushed through the crowd, her movements swift and deliberate. Without a word, she slapped Stella hard across the face.

Then, gripping Stella's throat, she tightened her fingers just enough to make a point. "Didn't anyone teach you not to interrupt? Keep pushing me, and I'll stay."

Stella's face turned a mottled purple as she gasped for breath, genuine fear flickering in her eyes for the first time.

After what felt like an eternity, Simone finally let go, and the tension in the room eased. Charles and Raymond, who had failed to protect Stella, looked furious.

Raymond's face turned red with rage. He swung at Simone, shouting, "You're asking for this."

Before he could make it, Simone dodged the punch and kicked out, her foot connecting with his stomach. He grunted and crumpled to the ground, unable to move.

"Pathetic," Simone said, her voice flat. She watched as Raymond spat out blood, too dazed to even try to get up. She felt a cold satisfaction settle in her chest.

In her past life, everyone in Sogin had whispered about her being cruel and arrogant, a bully with no heart.

But they didn't know the truth—she had always done everything the Spence family asked, willing to sacrifice herself to protect them. And yet, they had cast her aside without a second thought.

Samuel was thrown by the cold determination on her face. He didn't even have the energy to chew her out for what she'd done to Stella and Raymond.

His mind was a mess, and he felt like he was on the verge of losing something important. "You seriously want to cut me out of your life?"

"Yeah," Simone said, shrugging like it was no big deal. She didn't give a damn what they thought. Her life was her own now, and their opinions didn't matter.

Samuel let out an ironic laugh. "Without the Spence family, you're nothing. I won't give you a dime. You sure about this?"

"Absolutely," Simone replied, her voice rock-solid.

"Fine. Get out. And don't you ever come back," Samuel snapped, his face red with anger as he threw a plate across the room.

He figured she'd never actually go through with it. A seventeen-year-old with no family—she'd never make it on her own.

But Simone just stared at the broken plate on the floor, feeling nothing. Samuel had adopted her when she was three, and he'd loved her at first.

However, everything changed when he brought home Norah and his real daughter Stella a year later. Their once-happy bond was now shattered, just like the porcelain at her feet.

Chapter 2 I'm Your Real Daughter

After leaving, Simone made her way to the Irwin Group's office, dragging her suitcase behind her.

In her past life, she'd stumbled upon the truth about her real father from Norah—that he was Cyrus Irwin. Back then, she'd already given up on the idea of family and never considered tracking him down. But now, still underage, she needed a guardian.

The Irwin Group's security was notoriously strict; no one got in without an appointment. Knowing this, Simone simply settled down to wait outside the gates.

As the night grew darker, the guards initially tried to shoo her away. But seeing her just sitting there, they eventually left her be.

Simone sat there, lost in her thoughts, watching the people come and go. Then, a shrill scream pierced the air, followed by a thud that jolted her back to reality.

"Mr. Irwin, I'm sorry. Please, have mercy! They forced me! If I didn't hand over the project files, they'd kill my son," a middle-aged man sat there, shouting frantically and looking disheveled.

"What are you talking about, Mark? When did I ever make things difficult for you?" Cyrus, standing before him, smiled, but his eyes were cold and distant.

"Mr. Irwin... I'm so sorry. I'll never cross you again. I'll do anything to make it right, even at the price of my life. Please, spare my family!" Mark begged, his voice trembling with desperation.

But Cyrus didn't seem to waver. His gaze was cold and dismissive, as if he were looking down at some low creature. "Whatever. You should have thought about the consequences when you betrayed me."

Mark's heart sank, and in a burst of anger, he shouted, "Cyrus, you're a monster! You'll get what's coming to you! Your own children will suffer because of you!"

"I don't want children," Cyrus replied, waving his hand dismissively. "He's making too much noise. Get rid of him."

At his command, the bodyguards hauled Mark away without a second glance.

All this sent a shiver down Simone's spine. She'd seen Cyrus's sharply chiseled features countless times on the financial news in her past life. At 37, he was more striking than any movie star, untouched by the passage of time.

Simone's eyes locked onto his broad shoulders ahead. She gritted her teeth and quickened her pace. "Cyrus!" she called out, her voice soft yet tinged with a youthful earnestness.

Cyrus turned to see her. She was dressed in ordinary clothes, but her beauty was striking. Cyrus had met plenty of pretty girls, but this one took his breath away—she was definitely an unforgettable stunner.

But her pretty face didn't change the fact that he had zero patience for kids. Cyrus frowned slightly and asked coldly, "What do you want?"

Simone looked him straight in the eye and said calmly, "My name's Simone. I'm your daughter."

Cyrus's face darkened at the word, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. 'Another scammer,' he thought.

He replied curtly, "I'm not even married. How could I have a daughter your age?"

Simone didn't flinch. "I'm not lying. I really am your daughter. You can take me for a DNA test if you need proof."

Cyrus studied her, his mind drifting for a moment. 'Those eyes... They look so familiar.'

But his brief moment of distraction faded quickly. His gaze sharpened. "Who sent you?"

The cold intensity in his eyes felt like a punch to Simone's gut. The sparkle in her eyes faded. "No one sent me," she replied calmly. "I'm telling the truth."

Since he seemed unmoved, Simone quickly added, "And I can take care of myself. I don't need you to support me."

She never expected Cyrus to take care of her anyway. To her, he was just the quickest way out of the Spence family's shadow.

Calming herself, she switched to a more businesslike tone. "The Irwin Group's been working on that AI medical assistant for five years now, and it's still nowhere."

Cyrus's expression shifted. The AI project was the group's most closely guarded secret, never disclosed to the public. Every prototype had failed—information only the core executives knew. He looked at her with growing suspicion. "How do you know about this?"

Simone met his gaze steadily, not revealing that it was mostly a guess. Years of experience in her past life had honed her instincts.

Seeing his wavering resolve, she added, "I've got the patent for this project and you'll like it. You know, I can give it to you."

Shock flickered in Cyrus's eyes, but he quickly dismissed it. He must be imagining things—this was just a schoolgirl. The idea seemed ridiculous. 'She's just a kid,' he thought. 'Probably overheard something from someone who couldn't keep their mouth shut.'

Cyrus chuckled at his momentary gullibility. "Shouldn't you be doing homework instead of playing corporate spy?"

"My time is too valuable for this," Simone said, her voice flat. At that moment, she realized he'd never believed her. After a long, heavy silence, determination flickered in her eyes. "If you won't trust me, maybe your family will."

"Threatening me?" Cyrus scoffed, a cold laugh escaping his lips. In his thirty-odd years, no one had ever dared to threaten him—certainly not some naive little girl.

Cyrus knew Graham, the patriarch as well as his father, cared only about profit. The AI medical assistant project was his obsession. Blood meant nothing—this technology alone would make Graham keep Simone around.

'She's clearly done her research on the family.' Cyrus studied her face, his gaze sharpening. 'Not bad.'

His assistant, Christian Harrison, stood by, holding his breath. He'd never seen anyone—let alone a young girl—dare to threaten Cyrus. He silently hoped his boss would show some mercy.

"So what if I am?" Simone retorted, her voice steady. Her upbringing had taught her one thing: in the fight to survive, kindness got her nowhere.

Her clear eyes locked onto his, and Cyrus felt a sharp pain in his chest again. This uncontrollable reaction irritated him. He'd been dealing with these mysterious chest pains for weeks, but every hospital test came back clear.

He glared at her, impatient. "Do you know what happens to people who cross me? If you want to live, you'd better run."

Rain began to fall, and Simone stood there, drenched, staring at Cyrus under the umbrella. Her soaked state only highlighted her desperation. She knew she had nothing—and if Cyrus wanted her gone, she'd be gone. Her life felt as insignificant as a speck of dust.

"Cyrus! Abandoning your child is a crime!" Simone shouted, her voice cracking with anger. When he didn't respond, she turned and walked into the rain. The day's humiliations and rejections finally broke her, and her legs gave out as rain washed away her tears.

Watching her thin figure disappear into the rain, Cyrus's chest ached worse than ever. Her defiant stare was hauntingly similar to the hopeless eyes from his dreams.

Christian glanced at her retreating back, feeling a pang of sympathy. "Mr. Irwin... You're really just going to let her go like this?"

Cyrus winced, pressing a hand to his aching chest. "What do you want me to do?"

"It's late," Christian muttered. "Who knows what could happen to her out there?"

"Fine, follow her," Cyrus said, waving his hand irritably. The strange tightness in his chest lingered.

Simone wandered into a 24-hour convenience store and collapsed into a chair by the window, staring out at the people passing by.

"Miss?" A voice cut through her daze. "Mr. Irwin wants to see you."

Simone blinked. 'Oh, it's Cyrus's assistant. Is he here to take me back? Is Cyrus actually worried about that 'crime' thing?'

She followed him out to the black Rolls-Royce parked at the curb. Cyrus was already inside, his fingers pressed to his temples, his face pale. Simone glanced at him and then quickly looked away.

Cyrus glanced over, sensing her eyes on him. But it wasn't her defiant expression that caught his attention—it was the small black hearing aid tucked behind her ear.

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, he looked almost pained. "Your ear...?" he asked, his voice rough.

Simone froze, then shrugged, trying to act casual. "I can't hear anymore," she said, her voice flat. But only she knew her indifference was just a facade.

Cyrus's mouth tightened, and he looked away.

The car was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the engine. After a long moment, Simone broke the silence. "I wasn't lying," she said quietly. "Let's get a paternity test."

Cyrus nodded this time. "Alright."

They headed straight to the hospital under the Irwin Group's umbrella for a paternity test. Two hours later, the results were in: they were father and daughter, no doubt about it.

Cyrus was taken aback. The Irwin lab's word was law—never wrong. He'd entertained every possibility, but this one had never occurred to him: she was his biological daughter.

"You can count on it," Cyrus said, his tone now tinged with a rare warmth. "I'll take care of you, seeing as you're my kid."

Simone met his gaze, her eyes flat. "Don't worry; I won't be any trouble."

She wasn't foolish enough to believe that being his daughter would change anything. In her experience, love wasn't something she could expect from anyone.

After the test, Cyrus drove Simone to Serenity Estates, the crème de la crème of Sogin's neighborhoods. It was where the city's true elite lived.

The Spence residence's area was nice, sure, but it didn't hold a candle to Serenity Estates. This place wasn't just about money—it was about pedigree and proven worth.

Chapter 3 Your Brother Is There

Simone glanced around discreetly. The villa's gray-and-white decor was sleek and luxurious, every piece of furniture a masterpiece. The surfaces were almost bare, giving the place an untouched, pristine feel.

"Pick any room upstairs," Cyrus said, gesturing toward the staircase. "Need anything, just ask Matthew the butler or Christian." He had no intention of getting personally involved in raising her.

"Thanks," Simone murmured, following him quietly. She was polite but distant, knowing that a loving father-daughter bond wasn't in the cards for them. She didn't hate Cyrus; she was just using him as a way out of the Spence family's grip.

With that, Cyrus left with Christian, leaving Simone to settle in on her own.

*****

The DNA test had confirmed Simone was Cyrus's daughter, but that didn't mean she wasn't being manipulated. A flicker of something dark crossed Cyrus's face. "Christian, dig up some dirt on her."

Christian felt a pang of unease and thought, 'She's just a teenager, still so young and innocent. Is it too harsh on her?' He couldn't help but speak up. "Mr. Irwin, she's your daughter... Isn't this a bit much?"

"Are you questioning my judgment?" Cyrus's gaze was like a freeze, making Christian's heart skip a beat. The look was a clear warning.

"Never, sir," Christian muttered, feeling his pulse quicken. He already regretted speaking up. No one ever questioned Cyrus's decisions. He must have been out of his mind.

"Get out," Cyrus said, his voice colder now.

Christian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and slunk out of the office.

*****

Simone was wandering through Serenity Estates, completely unaware of the stir she had caused.

The house was typically quiet and cold, so Matthew, the butler, was genuinely delighted when Cyrus brought home his own daughter. She looked so small and sweet that Matthew's heart instantly softened. "Miss, if you need anything, just come find me," he said warmly.

Simone nodded politely, picking up on his kindness. She asked casually, "Do you know when Cyrus... uh, Dad usually gets home?"

Matthew hesitated. Cyrus was a phantom—disappearing for months at a time was normal. He paused thoughtfully before speaking, "It's hard to say. He's rarely here. He works around the clock, and most nights, he ends up sleeping at the office."

Not wanting Simone to feel left out, he added, "If you ever want to talk to him, you can call him." He then recited Cyrus's number to her.

She didn't really want it, but seeing Matthew's earnestness, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

Back in her room, Simone lay on the bed, staring at the number for a good ten minutes. In the end, she didn't save it.

*****

Meanwhile, Cyrus sat in his office, his brow furrowed.

"Seeing your daughter made your heart react more intensely?" asked Hendrix Dalton, his private doctor.

Cyrus had been dealing with this for six months now. Hendrix's expression grew more serious. He'd never seen anything like it before. He'd run every test imaginable—Cyrus' heart was perfectly fine. It just didn't make sense.

Cyrus despised this feeling of being out of control. "Yeah. When she's upset, it hits me harder."

"Your condition might be related to your daughter," Hendrix said seriously.

"But I only found out about her today," Cyrus replied in disbelief.

As his personal doctor, Hendrix spoke sincerely, "Cyrus, you should think about seeing a therapist."

Cyrus fell silent.

*****

It was late, and Simone was about to call it a night after slapping on a face mask when her phone buzzed with a message.

It was from Christian: [Miss, pick any high school—we'll get you in.]

She opened the image stuck to it to see a list of Sogin's top high schools—both public and private. The private ones had price tags that made her eyes widen.

Simone barely glanced at it before shutting her phone. Then she replied: [Thanks, Christian, but I'm good.]

She had no intention of transferring. Sogin High was already the best school in town, and more importantly, the only one that valued academics over everything else. Plus, Stella was there.

*****

Meanwhile, the forum of Sogin High School was on fire. Two videos had gone viral on the school's website.

One showed Simone in a hospital, facing a crowd of people who were tearing her apart. The other caught Stella tumbling down the stairs, with Simone's hand outstretched just in time. The comments section was a cesspool of vitriol.

[Unbelievable. I thought Simone was already the lowest of the low, clinging to the Spence family like a leech. But this? This is a whole new level of shameless.]

[A kid with no parents—no wonder she's so desperate. She's nothing but trash.]

[The Spence family took her in, and this is how she repays them? Trying to kill their real daughter? It's a real-life cautionary tale.]

[Pathetic. She's nothing but a beggar. Worthless.]

[Why hasn't she just disappeared yet?]

[Karma's a real thing. No wonder she's deaf in one ear.]

[I don't get why the Spence family even bothered with her. She's useless. Not even worth a fraction of what Stella is.]

[Heard the Spence family finally kicked her out and cut ties. About time.]

[Really?]

[Swear to God it's true.]

[Good riddance. She brought this on herself.]

[She needs to get out of our school. Now.]

*****

The next morning, Matthew had a driver waiting to take her to school. Simone didn't object.

In Class 8, Grade 11, the students were clustered together, gossiping about the latest drama on the school forum from the day before. The moment Simone walked in, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned to her.

Simone was used to it. She gave a quick, mocking smile at the stares and dropped into her seat with a casual shrug.

As soon as she sat down, a classmate nudged her arm and said quietly, "Simone, you should check the school forum."

The girl, Claire Davis, had a short, spunky haircut and a sharp, no-nonsense look. It was the first time Simone had really looked at her—one of the few who had ever shown her any kindness.

"Thanks," Simone said, offering a rare smile.

Claire blinked, surprised. 'Awww, she's talking to me! She looks so cute when she smiles. I just want to squeeze her cheeks.' But on the surface, Claire managed to say, her voice a little shaky, "My pleasure."

Simone scrolled through the latest posts on the school forum and quickly lost interest.

Claire misinterpreted her silence. "Don't pay attention to those people. They don't know you at all."

Simone paused. "You believe me?"

Claire nodded. "Looks can be deceiving."

She would never forget the day her father showed up drunk at school and even hit her. Everyone else just stood there, watching her embarrassment. But Simone was the only one who stepped in. Simone chased her father away and became her beacon of hope.

Even with all the mean rumors about Simone on the forum, Claire never doubted who she really was.

Simone had never truly experienced unconditional trust before. But now, as she recalled how this same friend had comforted her in her past life, a wave of warmth spread through her. Such kindness felt rare and precious. "Thank you for believing in me," she said.

*****

At lunch, Simone finally gave in to Claire's enthusiasm and headed to the cafeteria with her. They'd barely sat down when they spotted Stella across the room, holding court as usual, with a crowd of admirers around her.

"Simone, your brother's there," Claire said, her smile wavering. She couldn't stand Raymond—he was always so mean to her—but Simone always seemed to glow whenever he was around.

"Yeah, I see him," Simone replied, still eating her food calmly, like it was no big deal.

"Aren't you going over?" Claire asked, clearly puzzled. In the past, Simone would have rushed over the second she saw him.

Simone shook her head. "Nope. Not now, not ever. I've cut all ties with the Spence family."

Claire suddenly remembered the rumors on the school forum about the Spence family cutting Simone off. She hadn't taken them seriously before, but she didn't expect the Spence family to be so ruthless. She said, her voice tinged with worry, "What are you gonna do now?"

Simone laughed softly at Claire's worried look. "Don't stress. I found my real dad."

Claire finally relaxed, letting out a breath of relief.

Chapter 4 Adopted Son?

Raymond had seen Simone earlier. She usually couldn't wait to come over, but today she hadn't even glanced his way.

"Guess she's finally got some guts," he muttered, thinking back to yesterday when she'd kicked him and called him a loser. His face darkened at the memory.

"Hey, Raymond, isn't that your little shadow?" his friend Marico Green followed his gaze, smirking. "What's up? Usually she's all over you."

Another friend Jerry Thompson just looked at Simone briefly before turning back to Stella, putting more food on her plate with a soft smile.

Both of them were Raymond's best friends, always sticking together and treating Stella like a precious little sister.

Raymond was still seething from yesterday, and hearing his friends ribbing Simone only made him feel a bit better. "That girl needs to learn some respect," he said. "A few days of being ignored will knock some sense into her."

Stella noticed Raymond's sour mood and smiled gently, "Raymond, I think Simone must be mad at me. Maybe I should apologize."

Jerry ruffled her hair affectionately. "You don't need to apologize, Stella. She's the one in the wrong. You're just too kind."

"Yeah," Marico chimed in, "Why should a real lady like you apologize to some nobody?"

Raymond nodded, feeling proud of his sensible sister. He patted her head. "Don't worry about apologizing. She's the one who should be apologizing to you."

He paused, and then added, "Don't you worry, Stella. In a few days, Simone will realize her mistake, and I'll make sure she apologizes properly."

Stella smiled softly, "It's okay. I'm just glad if Simone's coming home."

Raymond's heart softened at his sister's sweetness, and Simone's behavior seemed even more out of line in comparison.

Marico suddenly had an idea. With a malicious glint in his eyes, he loomed over Simone and ordered, "Simone, Stella's thirsty. Go buy her orange juice."

"Don't push it," Claire said coldly, standing up. She'd always hated how they treated Simone like a servant, bossing her around without a second thought.

"Who do you think you are?" Marico snapped, jabbing a finger at Claire's forehead. "You don't get to speak here."

Simone suddenly slammed her fork down and slapped him hard - so fast that everyone was stunned. "Talk with your mouth, not your hands," she said coldly, subtly shielding Claire while glaring at Marico.

Marico clutched his reddening cheek in shock. "You insane bitch!" he finally roared. "How dare you hit me?"

Everyone was stunned into silence. Simone had always been the one to take their orders without complaint, even if she didn't like Stella. She'd endured their mistreatment without a word. The girl who had always been so meek was suddenly standing up for herself.

"Like I care if I hit you," Simone said, her eyes scanning the group with open disdain.

Then she fixed a sardonic smile on Marico, knowing exactly where to strike the deepest. "Are you guys incapable of doing things yourselves? And you, you're just a lackey for Raymond. What's there to be proud of?"

Marico's face turned red with rage. He hated being called Raymond's lackey more than anything. He glared at Simone, murder in his eyes. "Watch your mouth," he growled, and then shot a sly look at Raymond. "Refuse me? But you can't refuse Raymond, right?"

Raymond was still fuming over yesterday. He barked at Simone, "Go get it now! If Stella doesn't get her juice today, you're gonna hear from me."

His bossy attitude was pure arrogance. Simone had seen this side of him plenty of times. She couldn't understand why she'd ever let herself be pushed around by him, chasing after the scraps of attention he threw her way.

"Who do you think you are to boss me around? Just because you're the Spence family's adopted son?" Simone gave him a mocking glance, then pulled Claire back to the classroom, leaving Raymond and the others standing there, stunned.

At eighteen, Raymond was very sensitive about his reputation. Being publicly exposed as an adopted son was a major blow to his ego.

Someone in the crowd couldn't resist calling out, "Hey, Raymond, is it true you're the Spence family's adopted son?"

Raymond's face drained of color as he glared at the guy.

Marico stepped in and kicked the guy. "Mind your own damn business and get lost!"

Stella rolled her eyes. 'Crashed down by this? Typical.' But she still offered comfort. "Raymond, no matter what, you're always gonna be my real brother to me."

Marico and Jerry nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that will change nothing."

Raymond felt a wave of gratitude. Their support eased most of his anger.

*****

The day had gone well, mostly. Raymond and his crew were the usual irritants, but Simone had managed to enjoy herself otherwise.

When she got back home, Cyrus was nowhere to be seen, which suited her just fine.

Bored, she decided to upload the novel "Innocence" she'd started writing abroad in her past life. She'd never published it in her past life, and now, with a fresh start, she wanted to see what might happen.

After that, she spent some time on her computer, playing games. After a few weeks of this, it started to feel almost normal.

At eight in the evening, Simone's stomach growled. She tiptoed downstairs, opened the fridge, and grabbed a sandwich and a yogurt. She was about to head back to her room when the living room lights came on.

The butler and servants were usually gone by this hour. So she wondered if it was Cyrus.

Simone stuffed the sandwich and yogurt into her pockets and walked out of the kitchen. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw him standing there.

"Back already?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. She hadn't done anything wrong, but she still felt a pang of guilt.

"Is it a crime to be home?" Cyrus glanced at her bulging pockets. "Hungry?"

"Yeah," she said, scratching her nose and feeling a little awkward.

For the first time, Cyrus really looked at Simone. She was so thin, almost fragile. Her face was ghostly white, like she'd been through something tough. There was a cool, almost regal air about her, as if she'd wandered out of a fairy tale.

Even though she was just a little girl, it was easy to see that she was going to be a beauty when she grew up.

Cyrus looked at her face, which bore a resemblance to his own. It reminded him of the news Christian had uncovered earlier that day. She had had a tough time with the Spence family and had been sent overseas at the age of eleven.

This made Cyrus think of his own life. As the head of the Irwin Group, he'd fought tooth and nail for every bit of power and authority, clawing his way to the top with ruthless determination.

Growing up in the Irwin family, there was no such thing as a carefree childhood. Power and status were everything.

From a young age, he and his brother had been put through brutal training. Anything less than perfect was met with harsh punishment. Their rivalry had turned toxic, each of them scheming to be the heir, even if it meant tearing each other apart.

"Let's get you something to eat," Cyrus said, his voice softening at the sight of her pale face.

Simone paused for a moment, but she didn't refuse.

Chapter 5 This Is My Daughter

At Epicurean Haven, Tim the manager scurried over and asked, his voice tinged with nervous excitement, "Mr. Irwin! What brings you here?"

His eyes immediately landed on Simone standing behind Cyrus. She was stunningly beautiful, and for a moment, Tim couldn't help but take an extra glance.

Then, realizing his mistake, he quickly averted his gaze and thought, 'Mr. Irwin has never brought a woman here before. This girl must be someone important.'

Cyrus noticed the look and got what he must be thinking. He gave Tim a cool, dismissive glance and said, "This is my daughter."

Tim's heart skipped a beat as he realized he was way off. He quickly recovered. "Of course! You two look so much alike," he said, trying to smooth things over.

He was so nervous about having misjudged their relationship that he broke into a sweat without even realizing it. Fortunately, Cyrus didn't make things difficult for him.

Simone glanced at Cyrus, surprised. She hadn't expected him to acknowledge her so openly in front of others.

"Ms. Irwin, I apologize for my rudeness earlier," Tim said, his voice earnest.

"It's fine," Simone replied with a small, reassuring nod. She knew it was an honest mistake.

*****

Tim escorted them to the best booth before slipping away. From here, the view was pure magic—nothing but a blanket of stars overhead. No wonder this place was Sogin's top-rated restaurant. The view was worth the price of admission alone.

Cyrus and Simone sat across from each other, both a little awkward. It was hard to believe that these two, who had been at each other's throats just hours ago, were now sitting here in relative calm.

"Order whatever you like," Cyrus said, pushing the menu toward Simone.

Simone glanced through the menu and picked out a few dishes without much thought. She handed it back. "I'm good."

Cyrus scanned the choices. "Just these?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Yeah," Simone replied, nodding a little nervously.

'All vegetarian. That won't do,' Cyrus thought. He quickly added a few meat dishes to the order before handing the menu back to the waiter.

"Not into meat?" Cyrus asked, noticing how Simone was avoiding the meat dishes when they arrived.

"Try their specialty, honey glazed ribs." Without waiting for Simone to respond, Cyrus motioned to the waiter to place the honey glazed ribs in front of her.

Simone looked at the ribs and felt a wave of queasiness. She took a deep breath, then picked up her fork and took a tiny bite, forcing herself to chew slowly.

The Irwin family had strict dining rules. Cyrus kept his usual silence during meals, while Simone was accustomed to eating alone.

Together, they moved with an almost regal grace, like figures from an old-world painting—elegant, poised, and easy on the eyes. Their striking looks only added to the allure, drawing glances from other diners who couldn't help but admire the scene.

But the calm didn't last. Samuel walked in with Charles, and spotted Simone from across the room. As they approached, Samuel's eyes widened. "Simone? What are you doing here?"

Simone's appetite soured the moment she saw them. Her irritation showed in her eyes, and her voice turned frosty. "If Mr. Spence can be here, why can't I?"

"Mr. Spence?" Samuel let out a short, bitter laugh.

"Simone, don't be rude to Dad," Charles scolded, his face stern. He was growing tired of her defiance.

Samuel was about to respond when he felt the weight of a cold, piercing gaze. He turned to see Cyrus, his expression unreadable. "Mr. Irwin?" Samuel's voice wavered slightly.

Both the Irwin family and the Spence family were big names in Sogin, and their faces were familiar from countless magazine covers. So they knew each other.

Cyrus, in particular, was a force to be reckoned with—ruthless, brilliant, and feared in high society. Even Samuel knew better than to cross him.

Cyrus's eyes gleamed with a hint of coldness as he said, "Your boy seems quite bossy, Mr. Spence. He's already lecturing my little girl before even taking over the family business."

"What gives you the right?" Cyrus turned to Charles with a glare.

Charles knew better than to challenge Cyrus directly and fell silent.

"Your girl?" Samuel's expression shifted, his mind racing. Simone was acquainted with Cyrus—he hadn't seen that coming.

Samuel bit back his confusion and turned to Simone. "What's your deal with him?"

Simone didn't even glance up from her plate. "None of your business."

Samuel's face reddened with anger. "Simone!" he snapped, grabbing her arm. "We're leaving. You're not making a fool of yourself in public."

Cyrus's hand closed firmly around Samuel's arm. His voice was like ice. "And who do you think you are, Mr. Spence? Last I checked, Simone was your adopted daughter, and you two cut ties weeks ago."

Samuel's eyes narrowed. He couldn't believe that Simone would share their family matters with an outsider. "Mr. Irwin, I'm still her father. This is my family's business, not yours."

"You're coming with me," he said to Simone.

Samuel had once been the center of Simone's world, but now all she felt was irritation. "I'm not going anywhere with you," she said flatly. "I cut ties with the Spence family. I'm free."

"If you're not coming home, are you planning to stay with him?" Samuel shouted, jabbing a finger at Cyrus.

"Absolutely," Simone shot back, her voice sharp and unyielding.

Samuel and Charles both looked like they'd swallowed something sour. Charles couldn't hold back. "Are you out of your mind, Simone? Cyrus is over thirty."

Simone let out a bitter laugh, the sound harsh in the silence. It was a laugh born of anger and frustration.

"We never should've brought you back from overseas," Samuel said, pointing at her, his voice dripping with disappointment. "You're a disgrace to the Spence family."

The words hit Simone like a punch. She thought she'd moved past the pain, but it still cut deep. Her smile was twisted and forced. "But here I am," she said quietly, her voice trembling just a little.

Her hands clenched into fists under the table, nails digging into her palms. On the surface, she looked like the perfect little princess—polished and composed. But beneath that facade, she was a storm of darkness and madness, barely contained.

Cyrus caught on to Simone's discomfort in an instant. His gaze turned frosty as he stepped in front of her, shielding her from view. "Mr. Spence, maybe you and your oh-so-clever son should get yourselves checked. Clean up those dirty minds of yours. This is my daughter."

Samuel and Charles were taken aback, their faces reddening with embarrassment as they realized their blunder.

Samuel snapped out of it first, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What did you just say? Your daughter? No way."

He couldn't wrap his head around it. Simone had been adopted years ago, and he'd done his due diligence—there was no trace of her biological parents.

Cyrus shot him a sardonic glance. "I'll send you the DNA results. Believe what you want, but if you ever hassle my baby girl again, our business is done."

Then he looked down at Simone, his voice softening. "Come on, let's go."

Simone followed Cyrus, feeling a strange mix of emotions. His protectiveness was making her uneasy. She didn't like feeling indebted to anyone.

During the ride back, Simone was quiet and drowsy. She nodded off, lulled by the late hour. Cyrus shook her awake only when they reached the gates of Serenity Estates.

Samuel had just gotten back from dinner when he received the DNA report from Cyrus's assistant. The official document was clear: Simone was Cyrus's biological daughter.

Samuel stared at the paper, stunned. He sat there for what felt like hours, his mind racing. He knew the Irwin family wasn't the type to fake something like this.

Chapter 6 I'm Not Your Dad

His daughter had become Cyrus's daughter. The realization made Samuel feel a faint ache in his chest. For no reason, he suddenly thought of Simone when she was little.

Back then, Samuel had no money or connections. He had just started his business, but the projects his company took on lost quite a bit of money, leaving him with massive debt. He was in a slump for a long time.

At the lowest point in his life, he met Simone. That day, he had been drinking heavily outside and, on his way back, ran into little Simone.

Three-year-old Simone was dressed in tattered clothes, looking like a little street urchin. She lifted her head and called out to him, "Dad." Her bright eyes sparkled as if they held an entire galaxy within them.

Samuel had never dealt with such a little child before, but for once, he stopped in his tracks. In an unusually serious tone, he said, "Kid, I'm not your dad."

Simone stared straight at him, her eyes carrying a maturity far beyond her years. "Then, can you be my dad?"

Worried he might not believe her, Simone added, "Dad says I'm just a money pit, so he hates me. I want a different dad. Can you be my dad?"

Her childish yet sincere words eased some of the tension Samuel had been carrying. "Are you trying to stick to me?" he said with a faint chuckle. He didn't take her words seriously—until he was almost home and realized she had been following him.

"Have you been following me this whole time?" he asked, and Simone nodded.

"You know this is really dangerous, right?" Samuel, rarely serious, now had a stern tone. "Where do you live? I'll take you home."

Simone seemed to notice he was upset and mumbled an address in a low, muffled voice.

The narrow alleyways were littered with trash, and the air was filled with the stench of sewage. Simone lived in an old apartment building hidden in the alley. "This is my home," she said as she knocked on the door.

In no time, the door swung open. Before Samuel could react, a man kicked Simone out, shouting angrily, "Useless brat, give me the money!"

Simone seemed to be used to that. She quickly got up and pulled out several 5-dollar bills from her pocket, handing them to the man.

"That's all you have, huh?" The man, displeased, grabbed a stool from the doorway and swung it at Simone.

Samuel quickly stepped forward to block the attack and punched the man hard in the face. "What is wrong with you? She's your daughter," he shouted, pointing angrily at the man.

"Daughter? She's just a money pit," the man snapped, spitting angrily as he held his face. In the end, he still wouldn't let them in.

Samuel couldn't bring himself to leave Simone with that man. Later, after asking the police to investigate, he discovered that Simone had been abducted by the man. With no other options, Samuel decided to take her home for the time being.

But Samuel was completely broke, buried in debt, and surviving on instant noodles every single day. He felt it was far from suitable for him to raise a child.

"Simone, would you like to have new parents?" Samuel held Simone in his arms and asked her gently.

Simone hesitated for a moment and didn't say a word. Samuel thought she had agreed. The next day, he began contacting adoptive families, preparing to send her away. But just after he stepped out, Simone left too.

When Samuel returned, the house was empty, and he became frantic with worry, searching everywhere for Simone.

When he finally found her, she was carrying a big plastic bag filled with bottles, jars, and various scraps of cardboard. Her entire face was covered in smudges, making her look just like a little raccoon.

When she saw him, she ran toward him as fast as she could. With her big, clear eyes, she stared at him with admiration. "Dad, look! I can earn money. I'm not worthless," she said.

As she spoke, she pushed a few crumpled 5-dollar bills into Samuel's hand. The wrinkled bills felt warm in his palm, and the scolding Samuel was about to deliver got stuck in his throat.

He thought he should have noticed it earlier. Simone was smart and perceptive. She had already figured out his plan to send her away long before he acted on it.

Eventually, Samuel decided to adopt Simone. The two who had fallen on hard times leaned on each other for support. That year was Samuel's lowest point, but having that small bundle of joy by his side brought a rare sense of warmth to his life.

Things happened more than a decade ago, but Samuel remembered it clearly as though it had just happened yesterday.

Back then, Simone looked up at him with admiration in her eyes, hugging his leg and insisting that he hold her. Now, she was demanding to sever their father-daughter bond, and in no time at all, she'd found her real father.

When Samuel thought about Cyrus being her father, a faint sadness welled up in his heart. That night, he couldn't sleep at all.

*****

Meanwhile, after Cyrus returned home, he immediately instructed someone to look into Simone's past abroad. When Samuel mentioned her time overseas, it was obvious something was off with her reaction. That night, Cyrus also found himself unable to sleep.

Unlike the others, Simone had a restful and dreamless night's sleep. She hadn't slept well since returning home six months ago and had barely gotten any rest at the Spence residence.

She didn't expect to sleep peacefully at Serenity Estates. She wondered, 'It seems like the Spence residence just doesn't suit me.'

When Simone went downstairs for breakfast, she found out that Cyrus had already left for the office early in the morning. Without overthinking it, she finished her breakfast and headed to school.

As soon as she entered the classroom, she saw Claire slumped over her desk, looking completely drained and motionless. "What's wrong?" Simone asked. It was rare for her to see Claire in such low spirits.

"Simone, monthly exams are next week," Claire said, lifting her head, looking utterly exhausted like all her energy had been drained.

Simone then noticed the dark circles under her eyes. "Don't tell me you stayed up all night," she said.

Claire nodded. She had stayed up all night reading, but nothing seemed to stick in her mind.

"If I end up in the bottom ranks again after this month's exams, they'll force me to drop out," Claire said and sniffled, clearly feeling down.

Sogin High School had an extremely strict rule: any student who ranked in the bottom five for three consecutive monthly exams would be expelled and required to transfer to another school.

However, there was also a more flexible rule. Students from other schools who wanted to join Sogin High School were allowed to take its entrance exam at any time. If they passed, they could enroll immediately. But of course, passing the entrance exam wasn't easy.

Simone had thought of it too. She rummaged through her desk for a while and finally handed Claire a notebook. "Don't worry, you won't get expelled."

There was always something about Simone that felt almost magical. Claire couldn't help but trust her, and the fear in her heart began to fade a little. She stared blankly at the notebook in her hands and asked, "What's this?"

Simone replied, "These are the notes I took in class earlier. Go through them, and you'll pass the exams for sure."

It wasn't just an ordinary set of class notes—it was a set Simone had created herself. Each problem came with simpler explanations and solutions that were easier to understand and apply.

Claire was a little doubtful at first, but then she remembered it was Simone who said those words, so she accepted the notebook happily. Honestly, even if Simone gave her a pile of trash, Claire would still be thrilled.

Suddenly, a mocking laugh came from the side. Joanne Reed wasn't breathtakingly beautiful—just subtly attractive—but she exuded an undeniable elegance. Dressed in a high-end custom outfit, she looked every bit like a wealthy heiress.

She stood there with her arms crossed, her face full of disdain as she stared at Simone and Claire. "Someone ranked sixth from the bottom teaching someone ranked fifth from the bottom how to study? That's honestly funny."

Claire felt a bit unsure after hearing those words, but then, thinking of Simone's kind intentions, she stood her ground.

"So what? Simone might rank the same in every monthly exam, but that consistency is her own talent," Claire said. Though she was nervous, she wasn't about to back down in attitude.

Joanne snorted and said with disdain, "Keep pretending to be tough all you want. Let's see if you can still laugh after the exams are over."

Seeing the person in front of her, Simone suddenly felt a flood of dark memories from the past rush into her mind.

Chapter 7 Simone Irwin

Joanne was an old acquaintance of Simone's, whom she and Stella had grown up with. Joanne had been at odds with Simone since they were kids, and things had only gotten worse over time. Seeing Joanne's furious expression, Simone let out a sudden laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" Joanne felt like she was punching a pillow—it was infuriating.

Simone stared at Joanne, who was desperately trying to suppress her anger, and couldn't help but mock her inwardly. 'Still the same clueless fool as always. How pathetic of her to get angry over this,' Simone thought.

Simone showed no mercy and struck right where it hurt the most. "For someone who's forever stuck in second place, you sure have a lot of time to meddle in our business.

"If I were you, I'd spend that energy studying instead—maybe then you could finally break free from being 'always second.'"

Joanne absolutely hated being considered a perpetual runner-up. She gritted her teeth with fury, but when she thought of the rumors swirling on the school forum, her expression softened a little.

"Simone, after all the nasty things you've done, you've already been kicked out of the Spence family. It won't be long before you're expelled from Sogin High School. Let's see how long you can keep that smug look," Joanne snarled through gritted teeth.

She was looking forward to the moment when Simone became the laughingstock of everyone. She thought, 'Let me see how arrogant Simone could still be without the Spence family's support.' Saying those words out loud made Joanne feel much less upset.

Simone maintained a faint smile. "Without the Spence family, I'm still myself. As for getting expelled? That's never going to happen."

She muttered in her mind, 'Without the Spence family, I'll be so much better off. In my past life, I wore myself out trying to protect the Spence family, never considering my own needs. I gave up so much, including honor and achievements.

'None of them mattered to me, though. All I wanted was the faintest trace of familial love that barely existed.

'But whether it was something I cared about or not, Stella could effortlessly get it with just a slight furrow of her brows. Why is that fair? This time, I'm going after it all—reputation, success, and more.'

*****

It was noon, and the sun outside was blazing hot. Yet, inside the Irwin Group's CEO office, the atmosphere felt as cold as ice. Cyrus was in a fury, violently smashing everything on his desk to the floor, leaving papers and objects scattered everywhere.

His face was grim, his eyes icy and penetrating. "How dare the Spence family do that?"

Cyrus considered himself cold-hearted enough, but he hadn't expected Samuel to be even more heartless. He had found out that Samuel had actually sent an eleven-year-old girl to Infinity Island.

Cyrus always thought the Spence family simply sent Simone abroad. If it weren't for Simone acting strange during that dinner last time, he might have never known the truth.

Infinity Island was a lawless place, a name that struck fear the moment it was mentioned. It was full of dirt, violence, bloodshed, all kinds of shady dealings, and even illegal trades. It was a paradise for the wealthy but a nightmare for the underprivileged.

Anyone who stepped inside either ended up dead or gravely injured, with barely anyone making it out alive—let alone a child. Cyrus couldn't imagine how Simone had managed to escape from such a place. Even he, as an adult, had found it terrifying.

It was the first time Christian had seen Cyrus so angry. Inwardly, he cursed the Spence family countless times but forced himself to continue his report. "She escaped from there at the age of fourteen, but there's no way to track her life after that."

Christian thought for a moment and continued, "Perhaps someone deliberately erased all traces of her life abroad during those years."

Cyrus nodded thoughtfully. "That's true. If someone intentionally wiped out any records of Simone's life abroad, it would be almost impossible to investigate. Alright, you can leave for now."

After Christian left, Cyrus walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and lit a cigarette. Growing up in an unhappy family, he had never planned to marry or have children. Simone's sudden appearance in his life was completely unexpected for him.

The unexpected event left Cyrus with mixed emotions. When Simone first came to him, he didn't believe her. But then, the paternity test confirmed that she was indeed his biological daughter. As difficult as it was to accept, he forced himself to face the truth.

It wasn't until the moment that Cyrus truly realized how much he had failed his daughter. He had brought her into the world but hadn't done enough to protect her.

*****

After school at five in the afternoon, Simone was looking for the Irwin family's car when she unexpectedly spotted that familiar black Rolls-Royce Phantom. "Stop looking. The driver isn't coming today," Cyrus said as he stepped out of the car with his long stride.

Simone stared blankly as Cyrus walked up to her. "Why are you here?" she asked, feeling a little confused inside, though her face remained calm.

Although Cyrus had taken her out for a meal once before, Simone didn't think that he was there just to pick her up from school. She clearly remembered how much he had resisted acknowledging her as his daughter when they first met.

"The driver had something else to take care of, and I just happened to be free," Cyrus said, his expression momentarily stiff. He subtly avoided making eye contact with Simone.

Simone nodded without doubting him.

Once they were in the car, Cyrus said, "We'll handle your legal documents in a bit." It was something he had planned on doing before coming.

Simone paused what she was doing, feeling slightly puzzled by Cyrus. "Why?" she asked. She vividly recalled how much he had resisted accepting her when they first met.

Cyrus knew she hadn't forgotten the tension from their first meeting, and a wave of regret washed over him. He said, "When we first met, I never imagined you could actually be my daughter."

Simone understood what he was trying to say.

"Do you want to change your name?" Cyrus hesitated before asking, thinking about how Simone might not have had an easy life with the Spence family.

Simone shook her head. She had lived with the name her entire last life and didn't want to change it. Cyrus assumed Simone still felt some attachment to the Spence family, so he didn't ask further.

When they arrived, Cyrus quickly completed all the procedures, everything going smoothly from start to finish. Simone watched as her name was officially changed on the legal documents, now reflecting her new identity. She was no longer Simone Spence. She was now Simone Irwin.

After everything was done, Simone assumed Cyrus would take her straight back to the villa. To her surprise, Cyrus drove directly to a mall instead. "Aren't we going home?" she asked, puzzled.

"We're here to get you some proper clothes," Cyrus said, glancing at Simone's outfit with a faint frown.

For a moment, she thought she caught a hint of disapproval from Cyrus. She silently lowered her head and looked at her faded sweatshirt and jeans, thinking to herself, 'Yeah, I do look kind of shabby.'

Simone followed Cyrus into a designer clothing store. Once inside, Cyrus simply gestured for the saleswoman to buy all the new arrivals in the store. Simone didn't even need to try anything on, which made things much simpler.

Simone silently glanced at him and thought, 'Well, so bold and decisive way of doing things. That's typical of Cyrus.'

They visited several stores in a row, all following the same pattern, which Simone found quite relaxing. But the thought of how much money those clothes must have cost made her heart sting.

'If only I had that much money,' she thought, 'I can't even imagine how happy I'd be.'

Before, when Simone lived with the Spence family, she had been focused on getting Stella out of the picture and hadn't even thought about earning money or pursuing a career.

To make things worse, Norah—Stella's mother—didn't give Simone a single penny. Now, she couldn't even scrape together a thousand bucks.

Chapter 8 Did Those Jerks Bully You?

On Friday after school, Simone told the Irwin family's driver not to pick her up. Instead, she bought a few things and took a ride to a secluded villa in Capitalton.

The villa was tucked away in a quiet forest on the outskirts, with tight security that added to its mysterious vibe. The guards nodded respectfully as Simone arrived. "Welcome back. Please come in," one of them said.

Simone nodded politely and walked inside. With each step, her heart grew heavier. She wasn't sure how to face Jerome Bennett. If it weren't for him saving her in Ameritopia and treating her like his own granddaughter, she wouldn't be who she was today.

In her past life, she had given everything to the Spence family and completely neglected Jerome. In the end, he even ended up with a tarnished reputation, all because of her. 'For someone as proud as he was, it must've been incredibly painful,' she thought.

Standing in front of the villa, Simone clenched her hands tightly as hesitation took hold. Just as she was about to step back, the door swung open.

August, the butler, noticed her and quickly led her in. "You're back. After knowing you were coming, Mr. Bennett has been waiting in the living room since early this morning."

Simone's heart warmed as she made her way to the living room. As soon as she walked in, she saw the upright figure on the couch. He flinched visibly when he saw her.

Jerome wore a stern expression and snorted, turning his head away. Simone could tell he was upset, so she walked over, sat beside him, and said softly, "Grandpa."

Jerome ignored her, but Simone wasn't discouraged. She leaned closer with a grin and said, "Grumpy old man?"

"Watch your manners," Jerome said sternly, keeping his serious expression. "I'm not your grandpa. I'm just an old man living alone."

Simone's eyes turned red as she sat closer and wrapped her arms around Jerome. She pouted and said sweetly, "What lonely old man? You're my favorite grandpa." She always knew how to cheer him up.

August watched them for a moment, finding it amusing. Despite his age, Jerome still acted like a kid sometimes. It was nothing new—scenes like that had happened all the time abroad, and August had grown used to it.

Jerome kept his composure at first, but when he turned and saw Simone's red, tear-filled eyes, he lost it. He stomped his foot in fury and overturned the fruit bowl on the table. Fruit tumbled to the floor, the loud clattering echoing throughout the room.

Jerome was furious. "Sweetheart, did those jerks from the Spence family bully you?" he demanded. "I'm going to make sure they regret it."

He pulled out his phone, ready to make a call. Simone had always been a bit unruly around him, and he'd never seen her so sad before. His anger instantly dissipated.

Simone quickly grabbed Jerome's arm, stopping him just in time. After a long moment, she finally said in a soft, timid voice, "Grandpa, I just missed you." As she spoke, she buried her head into Jerome's chest.

"If you missed me so much, why didn't you come see me earlier?" Jerome asked and snorted, pretending to be angry once again.

"I was wrong, okay? Look, I'm here now, aren't I? From now on, I promise I'll visit you often," Simone chuckled at his reaction and immediately raised her hand to make a solemn promise.

"Really?" Jerome asked, his eyes lighting up. He had no children of his own; his whole life was dedicated to his career. For him, Simone was like his true and beloved granddaughter, and her promise filled him with joy.

"Of course," Simone replied with a firm nod.

Jerome adored Simone so much that no matter how fiery his temper was, she could always get him to calm down. "What kind of trouble have you run into out there? Tell me, and I will fix it for you."

This time, Simone came back without her usual backtalk, and Jerome knew she must have faced some difficulties outside. When he thought of the Spence family, his expression darkened. "Was it Norah and her daughter who bullied you again?"

Although Jerome lived in Capitalton, he had people keep an eye on the Spence family back in Sogin, so he knew some of their affairs. Even though Simone never mentioned the Spence family to him, he was well aware that they had treated her terribly.

Feeling the warmth of Jerome's concern, Simone felt comforted. She decided not to hide it from him and directly told him about cutting ties with the Spence family.

"What? That little brat Samuel dared to treat you like this? I'll skin him alive." Jerome shot up from his chair, looking for something to throw. Seeing there was nothing left on the table, Simone quickly stopped him.

She lightly patted Jerome's back, worried he might get too upset. "Grandpa, please don't get mad. I've already left the Spence family, and guess what? I've found my real dad."

Hearing the first part of her words, Jerome breathed a sigh of relief. "Leaving them was the right decision. That group of fools in the Spence family isn't worth your concern."

However, recalling the next part made him immediately alert. "Your real dad?"

Simone nodded. "Yeah, he's Cyrus Irwin."

Jerome gently rubbed Simone's head, his expression becoming a bit more serious. "Sweetheart, if the Irwin family ever mistreats you, remember, you can always come home. I'll always be your support, and wherever I am, you'll always have a home."

Jerome didn't try to persuade Simone to stay with him. He knew her well; she had always made her own decisions. Over the years, she had been deeply hurt by Samuel. No one understood better than Jerome just how much she craved love.

Now, even though she had found her real dad, Jerome still couldn't help worrying. He just hoped that the Irwin family wouldn't hurt her feelings like the Spence family had.

"Grandpa, thank you." With tears in her eyes, Simone threw herself into Jerome's arms. She knew just how stubborn Jerome was and how much he wanted her to stay by his side.

She also knew the only reason he agreed to let her stay in Sogin was because he knew he had no way of changing her mind.

The two of them seldom met, so Simone didn't have the heart to disappoint Jerome. She decided to stay the night and called Matthew ahead of time.

A short while later, her phone buzzed with a call from an unfamiliar number. She glanced at it and declined the call without hesitation.

The same number called again shortly after. This time, Simone answered. "Where have you been?" a man asked, his voice calm yet tinged with a barely noticeable hint of nervousness.

Simone recognized Cyrus's voice and froze for a moment. She wondered, 'How did he know my number? Is he worried about me?'

'No, probably not.' Simone quickly dismissed the thought. After a moment of silence, she finally said, "I have something to do tonight, so I won't be back."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "I've already told Matthew in advance." In the end, she still didn't answer Cyrus's question.

On the other side, the empty villa felt unusually quiet. Cyrus sat on the couch, feeling strangely uneasy.

For the past week, every day when he came home, he would either see Simone curled up on the couch watching TV in the living room or notice the lights on in her room upstairs.

But tonight, for the first time in days, he came back to a pitch-black, silent house. It felt unexpectedly hard to bear, so he made the call.

Hearing that Simone was avoiding his question, Cyrus couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. And there was a small hint of worry that even he hadn't noticed himself.

When Simone didn't hear anything from Cyrus for a moment, she was about to hang up when he suddenly asked, "When will you be back?"

"Tomorrow," she replied. After that, silence hung between them for a while. Finally, Simone hung up.

She suddenly remembered her time with the Spence family. Samuel was rarely home, and even if she didn't return for a whole week, no one would call to check on her. No one cared whether she lived or died. She had gotten used to it.

Chapter 9 Having A Fever

Cyrus sat alone in the empty living room. Out of nowhere, he thought about how Simone was always on her own when he stayed late at work. 'She must have been scared,' he thought to himself.

A moment ago, he'd really wanted to ask her directly, to find out exactly where she'd gone. But he swallowed the urge and kept it to himself.

He knew in her eyes, they were just a superficial father-daughter pair, and that if he pushed her for an answer, it would probably just make her hate him more.

Even so, Cyrus still couldn't help but worry. He picked up the phone and called Christian.

Christian was deeply lost in a steamy kiss with his girlfriend when the phone on the bedside table suddenly buzzed, startling them both. The unexpected interruption completely ruined the moment. "Who the hell is it now?" his girlfriend muttered irritably.

"The annoying capitalist..." Christian grumbled through clenched teeth as he recognized the number. The light in his eyes went out instantly. Frustrated, he shouted loudly, "Screw this. I'll quit."

Even though he kept complaining, Christian's actions told a different story as he hurriedly put his clothes on. A few seconds later, he nervously picked up the phone. "H-Hello, Mr. Irwin," he stammered, his tone dripping with forced politeness.

"Check where Simone went today," Cyrus ordered before hanging up abruptly.

An hour later, Christian called Cyrus. "Mr. Irwin, Ms. Irwin has gone to Capitalton, but I couldn't find out exactly where she went."

Cyrus furrowed his brows, a serious expression appearing in his eyes. He wondered, 'If even Christian can't find her, someone must have intentionally erased the traces to keep her whereabouts hidden.'

*****

The next afternoon, when Simone returned, she saw Cyrus lying on the couch. As she got closer, she noticed his eyes were tightly shut, and his face looked a bit flushed. The man, always so decisive and commanding, now seemed unusually fragile in his illness.

"Cyrus," Simone called out, giving him a gentle poke. She called his name a few times, but he didn't respond. Worried, she placed the back of her hand on his forehead to check his temperature.

"Oh no, he's burning up," she muttered to herself. 'Could he have been running a fever all day?' she thought.

Matthew and the others had taken a couple of days off, so it was just the two of them at home. Simone checked Cyrus's temperature and saw it was nearing 104°F. She quickly gave him a fever-reducing pill she had made herself.

She then grabbed a blanket from the bedroom and tucked it snugly around him on the couch. After that, she dampened a towel and placed it on his forehead. Once she finished those, she headed to the kitchen to make some porridge.

When Simone lived with the Spence family, Norah never gave her any living allowance. When Samuel wasn't home, it was common for Simone to come home and have nothing to eat.

Norah would order the housemaids not to cook for Simone, and no one dared disobey. Over time, Simone learned to cook for herself, and her meals ended up tasting pretty good.

Cyrus had just taken the medicine, but he was still barely conscious. Simone managed to feed him only half the bowl of porridge.

That night, to make it easier to take care of Cyrus, Simone just grabbed a blanket and slept on the couch across from him.

At three in the morning, Cyrus's body temperature had almost returned to normal. His head, which had been heavy and foggy earlier, now felt surprisingly clear.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Simone asleep on the couch across from him, and a peculiar feeling stirred inside him.

Though he had been drowsy and unable to open his eyes clearly yesterday, he vaguely sensed someone was taking care of him with great care.

The Irwin family was distant and indifferent. Every time he got sick, he would just tough it out alone. Even when it got serious, the most he did was buy some medicine. No one had ever shown him such attentive care before.

For the first time, Cyrus experienced what it felt like to be cared for—and it was his daughter who did it.

In the morning, when Simone woke up, Cyrus was still asleep. "That's strange," she murmured. She was certain the medicine she had specially made should have worked.

The fever-reducing medicine she developed had no harmful ingredients and was more effective than any other products on the market. She thought there was no reason it wouldn't bring the fever down.

Simone walked up to Cyrus, crouched down, and gently placed the back of her hand on his forehead. As soon as her hand touched him, his eyes suddenly opened. Startled, she quickly pulled her hand back.

Their eyes met, and Simone felt a bit awkward. She scrambled to her feet and stammered, "You're... awake?"

"Yeah," Cyrus said, his gaze steady as he kept looking at her.

"Are you feeling any better now?" Simone asked.

The sickly look on Cyrus's face had disappeared. He got up from the couch, once again exuding his usual cold, sharp demeanor, though a subtle and barely noticeable softness flickered in his eyes.

"Much better. Thanks for taking care of me yesterday." Cyrus quickly looked away after he spoke.

Cyrus had never thought he would say something like that. What surprised him even more was how he stayed up the entire night when she didn't come home. It was the first time he truly felt what it meant to care so deeply about someone.

Simone, feeling a little awkward, paused before saying, "It's... it's fine."

Since it was the weekend and the household staff, including August, were all off, Cyrus found it improper to leave Simone alone at home with no one to care for her. He cautiously asked, "Do you want to come with me to my office later?"

Simone spaced out for a brief moment but quickly agreed afterward.

When she was younger, Samuel often took her to the office. However, ever since she returned home six months ago, Samuel's attitude had changed.

He had clearly shown more than once that he didn't want to take her there anymore, even though to Samuel, she was just an adopted daughter who posed no threat to him.

Samuel used to be clueless, but after what she experienced in her last life, everything became crystal clear. Samuel only saw Stella as the rightful heir of the Spence family.

His warning was obvious—Samuel shouldn't think about taking what wasn't hers. He was worried she might compete with Stella.

*****

The Irwin Group was much larger than the Spence Group. Simone walked beside Cyrus, catching many people's attention. It wasn't common to see Cyrus with a woman by his side, and a lot of people couldn't resist gossiping.

"Wow, who's that behind Mr. Irwin?"

"This is the first time I've seen Mr. Irwin bring a woman to the office."

"She's so beautiful, like a princess. The way she walks is so elegant. She's like the daughter of a tycoon or something."

"Oh! She looked at me. I'm going to lose my mind."

The women in the company couldn't take their eyes off Simone, their gazes sparkling with excitement. They looked at her the way starving wolves might eye a delicious piece of meat.

Simone felt a little uneasy under all that staring, but she didn't sense any malice from them. It wasn't until she got to Cyrus's office that the feeling of being watched finally disappeared.

Cyrus had arranged for a stylish desk to be set up next to his own ahead of time. It came with a computer, a trendy gaming chair, a pair of gaming headphones, and other state-of-the-art gear, all freshly cleaned and ready for use.

Simone's eyes lit up the moment she saw them.

When Simone was a child, she loved playing video games. But Stella was passionate about singing and dancing, so nearly every spare room in their house was transformed into a dance studio, a singing practice room, or a similar space for her.

That year, Simone studied hard and ranked first in her entire grade. When Samuel asked what reward she wanted, she said she'd like a gaming setup in her room.

He initially agreed, but later changed his mind, saying playing games would disrupt Stella's rest. He even criticized her for being inconsiderate. From that moment on, she never asked Samuel for anything again.

"Do you like it?" Cyrus asked. It was the first time he had seen Simone with such an expression. At that moment, she looked just like a child thrilled to receive an amazing gift.

Even though Simone didn't show it, Cyrus could still sense her excitement. A faint smirk appeared on his lips as he thought, 'Not bad at all. I might consider giving Christian a raise for this.'

Simone nodded and said, "Yeah, I like it." With that, she casually took a seat.

"I've got a meeting. Hang out here, and if you need anything, just find Christian," Cyrus said, pleased to see her in such good spirits before heading out.

Sitting alone at her desk, Simone, with nothing better to do, logged into the website where she had previously published her novel. The moment she logged in, she was stunned by the 99+ notifications in her inbox.

In just a few days, there were over ten thousand comments and readers urging for more chapters. Simone skimmed through them for a while; most of the feedback was positive, with only a handful of negative comments.

Besides that, she also received numerous offers from editors inviting her to sign contracts. She casually picked one, agreed to the deal, carefully reviewed the contract to ensure there were no pitfalls, and promptly signed the e-contract after confirming everything checked out.

Chapter 10 She Deserved It

The conference room at the Irwin Group was thick with silence. All the senior executives kept their eyes fixed on Cyrus, who sat at the head of the table, deeply engrossed in a proposal.

No one dared to breathe too loudly, terrified of being the first to face his wrath. The meetings were pure torture for everyone, leaving them wishing they could just hide under the table.

After a long silence, Cyrus finally said, "Not bad."

As soon as he spoke, beads of sweat appeared on the foreheads of the department leaders. Some began whispering among themselves.

"Am I hearing things? Did Mr. Irwin drink last night?"

"Did Mr. Irwin just say 'not bad'?"

One of them in the front wiped the sweat off his forehead, feeling even more anxious inside. He whispered, "What do you know? We better keep a low profile. Ever heard of 'building someone up before tearing them down'?

"Get ready. Our proposal is probably going to take an even bigger hit this time."

Cyrus had no idea the top executives were still so nervous. He scanned the room and lowered his voice. "Why aren't you leaving yet?"

He added, "All the proposals are approved. Meeting adjourned." With that, he closed his laptop and was the first to leave the conference room, leaving the others stunned and looking at each other in disbelief.

"Oh my! Was I dreaming just now?"

"Was that really Mr. Irwin just now? Did I hear that right?"

"All our proposals got approved? Hey, pinch me. I think I must be dreaming."

"Did Mr. Irwin have a complete change of personality or get hypnotized?"

*****

When Cyrus got back to his office, Simone was wearing headphones and playing a game. It was the first time he had seen such a lively expression on her face. He couldn't help but take a few extra glances but decided not to disturb her.

Not long after, Cyrus headed to the reception room. A few minutes after he left, the office door swung open. The sound of high heels clicking grew steadily louder.

Simone had her headphones on and didn't notice someone approaching until her power cord was pulled out. Only then did she take off her headphones and look at the woman standing in front of her.

The woman, Wendy Danner, had delicate features and was wearing a snow-white dress. Her long hair fell softly over her shoulders. She looked like the classic vision of an angel often seen in movies.

"What do you think you're doing?" Simone's good mood was abruptly interrupted, and her expression grew colder. She could clearly sense Wendy's hostility and had no intention of being polite in return.

Wendy didn't answer. Instead, she closely examined the girl in front of her from head to toe. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find a single flaw. Simone was breathtakingly beautiful from top to bottom, leaving Wendy both jealous and resentful.

"What's your relationship with Mr. Irwin?" Wendy asked cautiously after a moment.

'So, she's not as innocent as she seems, huh? More like a pretentious schemer,' Simone thought to herself.

"None of your business," she said, slightly raising an eyebrow, her eyes brimming with open mockery. She wasn't going to tell Wendy anything.

Wendy was left speechless by Simone's sharp comeback. Judging Simone by her young age, Wendy quickly formed an assumption, though her expression gave nothing away.

She muttered inwardly, 'She's so young. She must be one of Mr. Irwin's playthings. What a sly little temptress, always flirting with men. So disgraceful.'

"If you're playing games here, it'll disturb Mr. Irwin's work," Wendy said, suddenly switching to a friendlier tone.

After thinking for a moment, she added with a slightly troubled expression, "How about I ask someone to move your desk outside? Mr. Irwin doesn't like being disrupted by anyone nearby."

'What a joke. This petty trick isn't even worth noticing,' Simone thought to herself. She ignored Wendy's words and instead asked, "Who are you?"

Wendy crossed her arms and flashed a proud smile. "My name's Wendy Danner. I was personally hired by Mr. Irwin as an intern."

Simone nodded slightly, her expression tinged with disappointment. She said, "Oh, so you're just an intern." Then she added, "Then what makes you think you have the right to boss me around?"

"You might not understand, but Mr. Irwin personally recruited me. I'm not like the others," Wendy said, barely holding back her anger, though she had already cursed Simone countless times in her mind.

"Well, he's got pretty bad taste, hiring someone like that," Simone muttered under her breath.

"What did you just say?" Wendy felt like she was being insulted by Simone.

"Oh, nothing. Why do you think you're so special?" Simone laughed. It amused her how a simple hiring decision from the boss could lead someone to imagine a Cinderella-style love story.

Before Wendy could say anything, Simone continued, "You don't seriously think Cyrus would marry you and make you the lady of the Irwin family, do you?"

Wendy's face instantly turned bright red. Although that was exactly what she had been thinking, having Simone say it out loud so blatantly made her feel a little embarrassed.

"Well—" Wendy was about to make a smug comeback, but Simone's next words immediately left her speechless.

"You're delusional. I'd suggest you pay a visit to the neurology department. Delusions are a mental condition, and they need treatment." Simone's clear voice echoed through the office, each word perfectly clear.

Simone stayed calm the whole time, but Wendy's face kept shifting, her polite smile about to crack. She decided to drop the act.

She sneered, "Little tramp, what are you pretending for? You managed to get into Mr. Irwin's bed at such a young age. You really have some skills.

"With a face like yours, you must have wrapped plenty of guys around your finger. Your parents are probably no good either—" Before Wendy could finish, she received a solid slap across the face, the sting burning hot.

'How could this damn little tramp hit so hard?' she thought, clutching her face in disbelief and staring at Simone. She never expected Simone to slap her.

After all, Simone had an innocent-looking face, and although she seemed a bit aloof and cold when she wasn't smiling, she didn't appear threatening at all.

Wendy winced in pain, and Simone felt a surge of satisfaction. Simone curled her lips into a smile and warned Wendy, "If you dare to insult me again, I'll hit you again."

Anything that could be solved with a fight wasn't a real problem for Simone. Having gotten a chance to live life over again, she wasn't about to let herself be miserable. If someone made her unhappy, she'd take action.

Wendy covered her face, the pain almost too much to bear. She was about to curse when she heard footsteps approaching the door. She quickly wiped her face, sat down on the floor, and burst into tears on cue.

She cried, "How could you slap me? I was just worried you'd disturb Mr. Irwin, so I asked you to move out. No matter how reluctant you are, you shouldn't resort to violence, right?"

Wendy was quite attractive, and even when crying, she had a certain charm that made people want to comfort her.

When Cyrus walked in, that was the scene he saw. His expression darkened, and his tone was cold. "What's going on here?" he asked, his gaze falling on Simone.

Simone looked up and locked eyes with Cyrus, her gaze subtly darkening. She noticed the coldness in his eyes, and irritation flared up inside her. Her voice was steady and cold. "I hit her, and she deserved it. I'm not apologizing."

Wendy's heart, which had been in her mouth, finally settled back down. A flicker of smugness crossed her mind. She thought, 'I knew it. Mr. Irwin treats me differently. That little witch could never compare to me.' She muttered, "Mr. Irwin—"

"Shut up. Get out."

Wendy was about to cry again to win Cyrus's sympathy, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she met his cold, piercing gaze and felt a chill run down her spine.