Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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In the dazzling heart of Hallon City, the Dalton family was throwing a massive celebration. The star of the night? Selena Dalton, who just snagged the Best Author Award.
Guests were dressed to the nines, sparkling under the lights, as laughter and chatter filled the air, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and festivity.
But behind all the glitz and glam lay a dark secret. In a cold, damp basement, Hailey Dalton, the family’s forgotten heiress, had been locked away for seven years.
At twenty–seven, she should’ve been living her best life, but instead, she’d been stuck in this hellhole for the past seven years,
The heavy basement door slammed open, and a thin shaft of light cut through the dark. Hailey’s heart jumped.
She looked up, eyes wide with the smallest spark of hope. ‘Is it Mateo? Is he finally here to rescue me?”
Her heart dared to believe it, though the hope flickered weakly–she didn’t dare believe too much, but she couldn’t help. herself. Maybe just maybe–this nightmare was finally over.
The sound of sharp high heels clicking on the concrete floor drew closer, and a figure stepped into view.
Hailey squinted, trying to make out the face, and then it hit her: it was Selena. Her half–sister. The very same person who had locked her away here in the first place.
At that moment, Hailey couldn’t bring herself to hate Selena anymore. Her legs were shattered, and she could barely move, the pain unbearable as she dragged her broken body off the bed.
With every ounce of strength, she crawled toward Selena, finally collapsing at her feet.
Her voice was raw with agony, filled with nothing but pleading, “Selena, please… I’m begging you. Let me go. Just let me see Mateo one last time, even if it’s from afar. Please, just give me a moment with my family…”
Selena stepped into the light, wearing a nude–colored gown, her red lips parting in a cold, calculated smile. “Alright, I’ll let you out,” she said in a voice that was sweet but absolutely frigid.
For a second, hope flickered in Hailey’s chest, but Selena quickly dashed it to pieces with her next words.
“Too bad… your adoptive parents are both dead. Now what?” Selena’s tone was a sickening mix of fake sympathy and cruel
amusement.
Hailey froze. Her heart sank. “No… that’s not possible.”
Selena smirked, pulling out her phone, and Hailey watched as she showed her a news article with the headline: [Family Tragedy Strikes–Parents and Sister Dead.]
“You didn’t see the news, did you? Your parents died in a car crash three years ago. And your sister? Yeah, she killed herself six months ago.” Selena glanced at the laptop in the comer, her smile turning wicked.
She paused, then added, “I almost forgot. While I was out there making my future, you were stuck working on that manuscript. The signal here was so spot–on, wasn’t it? Too bad no one would ever see it.
“Your work could only exist in this house. So, thanks for all your effort, sis.”
Hailey’s blood ran cold. “You! You killed my family!” she hissed, fury burning in her chest.
Selena played the victim, dramatically throwing her hands up. “Mateo, look at her! She’s glaring at me like she’s going to murder me. I’m so scared, she mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm
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Before Hailey could even process what was happening, Mateo Stafford, the man she had thought might save her, stepped into the room like a shadow, his face cold and feeling
Wasitation, be kicked her–hard. Her already fragile body couldn’t handle the blow. She felt the impact slam
through her ribs, and she crashed into the bedframe. Blood poured from her forehead, staining her face.
Her face, already scarred from years ago, was now even worse. The blood mixed with her tears, making her look like something straight out of a nightmare.
Mateo pulled Selena into his arms, pretending to be all concerned. “You okay, babe?” he asked, his voice dripping with fake
tenderness.
Hailey watched them, her heart breaking. The perfect couple, so full of love and light. And then, suddenly, she burst out laughing a harsh, bitter laugh.
Tears fell down her face as she laughed at the absurdity of it all. She felt so stupid, so pathetic. All this pain, all for him. Her work, her soul poured into her writing, stolen.
And her sister, the one she had thought was innocent? Just a monster feeding off her. All the love she had believed in? It was poison–the kind of poison that killed her, and everyone she loved.
Selena, clearly pissed off by Hailey’s laughter, marched over and drove her high heel into Hailey’s stomach, twisting it with a sick smile. “Bitch. You’ve done your part. You wanted to be with your family? Well, here’s your reunion–death.”
The pain was so intense Hailey could barely breathe. Blood mixed with her tears as she glared at both Selena and Mateo.
Through gritted teeth, she forced out a hoarse, deadly whisper. “Selena Dalton, Mateo Stafford… I swore, even as a ghost, I would make sure you both suffered.
Mateo, now completely fed up, grabbed a handful of Hailey’s hair and slammed her head into the ground with a vicious snarl. “Die already, you bitch.”
Hailey’s vision started to go blurry, her body weakening with every passing second. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she saw Mateo’s face one last time, his grin twisted with malice.
Then, out of nowhere, a soft, familiar voice called through the darkness: “Hailey.. you little goose.”
Hailey’s heart skipped a beat. “Who is calling me? That voice… it sounds so familiar. So gentle.
“Wake up. Breakfast is ready.”
Hailey’s eyes snapped open, her body jerking upright, gasping for air.
Suddenly, a girl’s face filled her vision. She was slim, with tanned skin that couldn’t hide her striking beauty. Her heart- shaped face had sharp, defined features, and her whole appearance was full of that youthful energy and vitality.
“Lydia?” Hailey murmured without thinking.
Lydia Brown, seeing the dazed look on Hailey’s face, waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Bad dream or something?”
Hailey didn’t answer. She just quietly tossed off the blanket, slid out of bed, and glanced around the room, full of memor This was the place–the one she’d grown up in until she turned eighteen.
Is it true that people go back to their happiest place before they die? she thought to herself.
Lydia noticed she was spaced out and rolled her eyes. “Come on, dummy. Mom’s calling us to eat.”
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Hailey snapped back to reality and looked at Lydia, confused. “Lydia, how old am I now Then, de pouched the polis of her hand, hard. The sharp pain reminded her that this wasn’t a dream.
Lydia gave her a look like she was crazy. “Are you for real right now? You’re been adior
shoes,
Hailey’s eyes went wide, like a jolt of electricity had hit her. Without even bothering to put on choro, de droed open the door and ran outside, standing in the middle of the dirt path.
The sun was blazing, but she didn’t even care.
This was Densborough–her hometown, the place she loved more than anything. And in that moment le far bep the hud somehow traveled back in time.
Three years later, Densborough was still the same–quiet, isolated, surrounded by mountains and rivers
The air was peaceful, but the people here had that small–town stubbornness mixed with a sweet, naise charm
Right now, in the Brown family’s tiny kitchen, things were anything but peaceful.
“I am not okay with this!” Lydia snapped, her voice shaking with emotion as she slammed her fork onto the the “Finley’s part of the Brown family–she’s my sister!
“What the hell do the Daltons think they’re doing? Just waltzing in and taking her away? What the hell are wie, dipped liver What’s she, a damn possession?”
Lucia Brown, Hailey’s adoptive mom, was just as torn. She didn’t want to let Hailey go either, but she knew deep down t the Daltons were Hailey’s true family. She couldn’t make this decision for her
“Hailey.” Lucia said softly, her voice full of care, “this is your decision to make”
Hailey set down her fork, blinking back tears. She stood up, walked over to her adoptive parents, and bowed derph and Lucia Brown.
“Hey, darling, what’s wrong?” Lucia asked, her heart aching.
Hailey’s face was set in stone, calm and steady, as she spoke “Mom, Dad, thank you for everything. But I have to go back t
the Daltons.”
There were enemies there, but also family. The anger had festered in her heart for three long years:
Before Hailey could say anything else. Lydia stormed out of the kitchen, fuming with anger.
“Lydia,” Hailey called quietly.
Lydia stopped at the door, turned, and with a cold stare said. “I don’t have a sister like
A single tear slid down Hailey’s cheek.
Three days later, the Daltons arrived, just like they promised, to take her home.
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Hailey snapped back to reality and looked at Lydia, confused. “Lydin, how old am I now?” Then, she pinched the palm of her hand, hard. The sharp pain reminded her that this wasn’t a dream.
Lydia gave her a look like she was crazy. “Are you for real right now? You’re fifteen, idiot.”
Hailey’s eyes went wide, like a jolt of electricity had hit her. Without even bothering to put on shoes, she shoved open the door and ran outside, standing in the middle of the dirt path.
The sun was blazing, but she didn’t even care.
This was Densborough–her hometown, the place she loved more than anything. And in that moment, it hit her: she had somehow traveled back in time.
Three years later, Densborough was still the same–quiet, isolated, surrounded by mountains and rivers.
The air was peaceful, but the people here had that small–town stubbornness mixed with a sweet, naive charm. Right now, in the Brown family’s tiny kitchen, things were anything but peaceful
“I am not okay with this!” Lydia snapped, her voice shaking with emotion as she slammed her fork onto the table. “Hailey’s part of the Brown family–she’s my sister!
“What the hell do the Daltons think they’re doing? Just waltzing in and taking her away? What the hell are we, chopped liver? What’s she, a damn possession?”
Lucia Brown, Hailey’s adoptive mom, was just as tom. She didn’t want to let Hailey go either, but she knew deep down that the Daltons were Hailey’s true family. She couldn’t make this decision for her
“Hailey, Lucia said softly, her voice full of care, “this is your decision to make.”
Hailey set down her fork, blinking back tears. She stood up, walked over to her adoptive parents, and bowed deeply to Greg and Lucia Brown.
“Hey, darling, what’s wrong?” Lucia asked, her heart aching.
Hailey’s face was set in stone, calm and steady, as she spoke. “Mom, Dad, thank you for everything. But I have to go back to the Daltons.”
There were enemies there, but also family. The anger had festered in her heart for three long years.
Before Hailey could say anything else, Lydia stormed out of the kitchen, fuming with anger.
“Lydia,”
– called quietly.
Lydia stopped at the door, turned, and with a cold stare said, “I don’t have a sister like you anymore.”
A single tear slid down Hailey’s cheek.
Three days later, the Daltons arrived, just like they promised, to take her home.
