The Olsen Family Mansion buzzed with activity the next day. As Heidi stepped into the house, she felt like she had just walked into a new world.
Despite three years passing, everything seemed oddly unchanged. Whispers of recognition followed her every step.
“The Young Miss is back.”
“Really? I thought I was imagining things. Our Young Miss’s complexion is brighter, and her hair is shinier. This lady is just skin and bones.”
“Are you sure it is our Young Miss? She might resemble her,” questioned the skeptical whispers.
The servants’ gasps of astonishment spread across the compound as they spoke in hushed tones, all casting strange looks in Heidi’s direction. She heard their conversations and a bitter smile formed on her face.
For three long years, she had deliberately kept her distance from the mansion. It wasn’t enough time to erase her identity, but it had certainly worked its magic on her appearance. The reason the servants couldn’t recognize her was that her appearance had indeed changed significantly.
Her parents were the most shocked of all. “So Zach wasn’t messing with us. You finally came back to your senses and got a divorce, Heidi,” her mother’s tone dripped with scorn.
“I always knew this would happen someday. Where is the undying love you wouldn’t shut your mouth about?” added her father.
Heidi chuckled softly and embraced them both. “Mum, Dad, I hope you’re in good health.”
“Well, you didn’t manage to give us a heart attack. Congratulations,” her mother’s response was a mixture of reluctant acknowledgment and sarcasm.
“We’ve been healthy, thanks to the daily dose of bitter words we endure,” her father added.
Due to their daughter’s marriage to a man the family disapproved of, the couple had become objects of ridicule. Not a day went by without her brother pointing out how worthless their daughter had become. If it hadn’t been for Heidi’s grandfather, that marriage would never have happened.
“I’m back now, Dad. No one will dare say anything again,” she assured her parents, who responded with disapproving looks before turning away.
“Hurry up, the meeting is about to start. And oh, what a shock you’re going to give everyone, Heidi,” her mother called out.
While gaining her parents’ forgiveness would require many pleas and apologies, Heidi remained unfazed. In truth, her parents were being lenient by not casting her out, considering the discord her marriage had caused within the family.
As the family gathering approached, every member of the Olsen Household assembled, ready for the occasion. Contrary to her mother’s prediction, her uncle and his family didn’t appear shocked. Zach, being the chatterbox he was, had probably spread the news of her divorce throughout half the city by now.
A hush fell over the living room as numerous eyes fixed upon Heidi. Her grandfather occupied his king-sized chair, her uncle and his wife sat on a separate couch, while her cousin-sisters and brother shared a long couch. The awkward silence prompted Heidi to approach her parents, but they shooed her away.
“Haha! Isn’t this my favorite cousin?” Zach burst down the stairs, breaking the silence. “Finally, you are here. We have all been waiting for you.”
He hugged her tightly, treating her as if they were meeting for the first time. Heidi pushed him away and settled on the floor beside her grandfather’s chair. “Grandpa, I’m back.”
“I have failed you, Heidi,” Grandpa Jeffrey sighed heavily. “I shouldn’t have let you wander into the monsters’ den.”
“Grandpa, it was all my fault. Don’t blame yourself.”
“Are we here to discuss business or just listen to some meaningless sorry tales?” Her uncle stood up. “AG Group is falling for crying out loud.”
“Dad, relax,” Zach laughed. “You are making a mountain out of a molehill. Besides, Heidi has returned. Everyone knows she graduated from business college with flying colors. How about we make her the CEO?”
“You-” his father pointed a trembling finger at him. “If you hadn’t been so lazy and stupid, AG Group wouldn’t have faltered. All you know is lavishing money on women and cars. And what do you mean by making her the CEO?”
“The literal meaning, Dad,” Zach shrugged and sat beside Heidi. “Heidi’s back for good. We can’t just let her talents go to waste.”
“No way! Heidi’s not up to the task!” Zach’s sister, Natalie, stood up.
“She has been living as a dumb housewife for three years. Does she even know how to write her name on a paper?” His second sister, Lilian, added.
“Come on, Bro,” his brother, Aiden, rolled his eyes. “We might as well leave the position vacant. If anyone should be the CEO, it should be me. Heidi won’t be the CEO. In this family, a woman has never become the company’s CEO before.”
Zach’s mother wondered if her son was drunk. Maybe that was why he suggested that. Why would they give Heidi the CEO’s position? If someone would revive AG Group, it should be one of her children.
While Heidi’s uncle’s family criticized her, her parents remained silent. Heidi stood up, digesting their words. With a gentle smile on her face, she faced her uncle.
“Why do you all doubt my abilities? Just because I have been away for three years doesn’t mean that I’ve become a retard.”
“Grandpa,” she turned to her grandfather. “As the chairman of AG Group, you have a say in this. If others look down on me, you know what I am capable of.”
“You are thinking too far, Heidi. Father doesn’t have a say in this. The whole board of directors will decide whether you will be the CEO or not,” her uncle countered.
“Then let’s hold a CEO appointment meeting,” Heidi responded
“Haha!” Her uncle laughed. “You are just a silly girl with nonsensical wishes. Since you are so confident, why don’t you prove yourself first? You made the stupid decision of marrying the wrong man. Is it a huge company that you can take care of?”
“How should I prove myself?” Heidi lifted her chin. “Don’t look down on me, Uncle.”
“Well, StriveStyle Co. is on the brink of bankruptcy. If you can revive it within three months, you will be qualified for the position.”
StriveStyle Co. was a fashion marketing brand under the AG Group. Due to Zach’s poor leadership, the brand’s fame had declined rapidly. Every day, people pulled out their investments, and there were many lawsuits against the company.
“Challenge accepted,” Heidi declared, folding her hands. “I will revive StriveStyle Co. within a month, Uncle.”
Inside the towering skyscraper of the GK Group...Lucas stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his frigid frame unmoving. The cold, sterile light of the office cast shadows across his face, revealing a tense mask that concealed the boiling rage inside him.His eyes were fixed on the bustling city below, yet the image of her leaning into another man’s arms flashed in his mind.“Mr. Harrison,” his secretary, Amanda, walked into the office.Lucas seemed lost in his thoughts. The secretary had been knocking for a while but received no response.“Mr. Harrison.” Clearing her throat, Amanda called his attention again. “I am here with the reports.”Remembering the assignment he’d given his secretary, Lucas snapped out of his thoughts. He strolled back to his swivel chair and sat down.“What did you find?”“Regarding Mrs. Harrison’s whereabouts…” she watched the man’s expression carefully before reporting, “I am afraid to tell you that her provided address is false. No one in the Metrolift Apar
[Yes, Ms. Carlson. Everything is set.] The reply came instantly. Tracy dropped her phone and wrapped both hands around Lucas’s arm as he stared out of the window.The car pulled over in front of the hotel. Lucas was somewhat surprised to find paparazzi present; after all, it wasn’t some extravagant business dinner. He might have declined the invitation if not for Tracy’s request.As they emerged from the car, a dazzling display of flashes and shutters greeted them. The paparazzi were in a frenzy, capturing every moment as if it were a cinematic event. The questions came like rapid-fire, each one attempting to unveil the mystery behind the couple.“Mr. Harrison, what a splendid surprise. For the first time in history, you have a woman by your side. May we know who this lucky lady is?”“Isn’t she the Young Mistress of the Carlson Household? There have been rumors that Mr. Harrison and Ms. Carlson are in a relationship. Is it true?”“Mr. Harrison is one of the most eligible bachelors in
At StriveStyle Co. “I heard we are getting a new CEO soon.” “Ha! You must be joking. Who is that unlucky person?” “StriveStyle Co. is practically a sinking ship. I can’t imagine anyone willingly stepping into the CEO role.” “Unless it is someone as greedy as the former CEO who laundered money mercilessly.” The employees were in a frenzy. Some of them even bumped into Heidi as they rushed to get to the conference room early. Heidi didn’t walk in the same direction, though. Her new assistant hurried up to her, panting heavily. “I- I am so sorry, Ms. Olsen. I was still setting up your office; I couldn’t receive you at the parking lot. Please overlook my mistake; this is the last time, I promise.” “Relax.” Heidi smiled. “Where are the reports I requested?” “Here, I’ve printed them out.” The assistant handed her a documents folder. “They have all the information you need, Ms. Olsen.” “Good.” Heidi flipped through the papers. Her brows knitted while skimming through the content, th
Phoenix City’s First Hospital stood proudly in the heart of the city, just a stone’s throw away from StriveStyle Co. Heidi swiftly arrived, making her way through the hospital’s entrance. The staff, familiar with her due to GK Group’s significant ownership, directed her straight to the emergency room. Although Lucas hadn’t publicly declared their marriage, this hospital was one of the few places where Heidi was acknowledged as a member of the Harrison Family. “How is Grandpa’s condition?” Heidi asked, encountering the doctor emerging from the emergency room. Sweaty and out of breath from her hurried arrival, anxiety gripped her as she feared Grandpa Winston’s condition might be more severe this time. “Tell me, Doc. What exactly happened to Grandpa Winston?” “Do you even deserve to know?” a familiar yet cold voice interrupted from behind. Heidi turned to find herself face-to-face with Lucas.“What's wrong with you? You're the one who called me to come to visit your Grandpa!” Hend
Tracy paused, feeling the weight of the tension in the room. The air grew heavy, and the once cheerful expression on Grandpa Winston’s face twisted into a deep scowl.“I asked you, who gave her permission to come here?” Grandpa Winston’s voice cut through the tense silence.“Grandpa Winston, please calm down,” the Young Nurse interjected, her voice trembling with concern. She feared his anger might exacerbate his illness.“Grandpa, don’t you remember her? She’s Tracy,” Lucas said, trying to bridge the connection.“So what!?” Grandpa Winston snapped, his displeasure evident.Seeing the same girl he had seen on the TV with his grandson, was it possible that the news wasn’t fake? Otherwise, why would she also come here? “Before I count to two, I want her out of this place,” Grandpa Winston demanded.“But, Grandpa…” Lucas looked dissatisfied. “Tracy is here to check on you.”“Y-You.” Grandpa Winston’s hand shook. Tracy could sense the brewing conflict between Lucas and his grandfather.
“I don’t know what came over my grandson. In what way is that girl better than you?” Grandpa Winston lamented, shaking his head, his voice heavy with disappointment.His voice, previously firm during the exchange with Lucas, now sounded weak and exhausted. Reaching into his pocket, Grandpa Winston retrieved a small satchel he always carried around. With a gentle hand, he opened it to reveal a necklace nestled inside. “Heidi, I have always wanted to give this to you. I don’t want to delay it any longer. Do you know that a few hours ago, I almost thought I wouldn’t survive?” he confessed softly, taking Heidi’s hand and placing the necklace in her palm.“Grandpa...” Heidi trailed off, blinking at the necklace.The diamonds sparkled and glinted against the light, embraced by finely polished gold links. The simple yet elegant patterns captivated her eyes, casting a spell over her.“You like it, right?” Grandpa Winston smiled, satisfied by her reaction. “It is all yours, Heidi.”Heidi shoo
Tracy’s words left Lucas confused, prompting a glance in the direction Heidi had taken. Tarnishing GK Group’s reputation meant potential destruction for the company. What benefit could Heidi gain from such an act? Even if she were to share such damaging information with the media, what could she possibly stand to gain from such an act?“You’re worrying too much,” Lucas assured Tracy. “I don’t think Heidi is capable of that.”Tracy paused. She fiddled with her hands while her heart burned inside.“B-But, Lucas,” she quickly regained her pitiful look, “Then how do you think the paparazzi got the news that we were going to attend the business dinner together?”Holding his hand, she continued, “The only people who knew you’d bring a female companion to the party were you and your parents. And the name on the party list was supposed to be Heidi’s.”“Doesn’t it make sense that Heidi plans to retaliate out of jealousy? And her only target will be GK Group. That’s the only way she can hurt yo
Heidi’s brow furrowed slightly. She had just left StriveStyle Co. What had transpired in her absence? Could Zach be exaggerating?Slipping her phone into her bag, she shot a glance at Lucas. Her eyes caught the bulge in his pants, and she stifled a gasp before letting out a snicker.“Mr. Harrison, I can see that your impotence is finally cured.”On the excuse that he was in convalescence, the man had never been intimate with her. It was the same excuse he used for his grandfather, who kept demanding great-grandkids.“Shut up,” Lucas retorted, his eyes darting to his arousal. He dared her with his eyes to say more. “Who told you I’m impotent?”“Tsk.” Heidi shook her head and then left.…When she arrived at StriveStyle Co., Zach’s words had almost slipped her mind until she heard the commotion coming from the office.“Master Aiden, please calm down, Ms. Olsen isn’t here.”“Ah! Please don’t break that, Ma’am Lilian. Those are expensive.”The employees were in a frenzy, and Heidi walked