Chapter 1

It was March in Katran, the heart of winter. The biting cold made it feel like being trapped in a walk-in freezer.

Inside the women's prison workshop, Calista Steele, dressed in prison clothes, was sewing shoes. Her hands were swollen and red, covered in frostbite and blisters so painful that she could barely bear it.

Just then, a prison guard walked over and shouted, "Calista Steele! The Grants posted bail. You're free to go."

The moment she heard the Grant family name, a wave of fear hit her out of nowhere. For a moment, she couldn't even process what the prison guard was saying.

Four years ago was a turning point in her life. On her 18th birthday, she went from being a rich heiress to a thief.

Her birth mother, Margie Goss, had been a housekeeper. She was the one who secretly swapped Calista with the real Grant family's daughter.

It all came to light when Margie showed up asking Calista for money. From that moment on, Calista's life took a dark turn.

She watched as three members of the Grant family cried and hugged each other. Her parents had expressed their longing for their lost daughter, Cindy Grant.

Calista had stood to a side, all awkward and lost.

At that moment, she had no choice but to accept that the "Mommy" and "Daddy" she had called her whole life were no longer hers.

It was a long while before Charles Grant, Calista's adoptive father, noticed her standing to the side.

He pondered for a long moment, then said, "Callie, even though Cindy is back, you'll still always be our daughter. From now on, Cindy will be your younger sister."

It was only then that Barbara Sands, her adoptive mother, realized she had ignored Calista. Barbara quickly comforted her, "Callie, I'll still love you like my own daughter."

Calista had naively believed them back then, but the reality hit her almost too soon.

…

The Grants had been invited to the birthday party of Margot Lynch, the heiress to the most powerful family in Katran, the Lynches.

At the party, the Grants witnessed Cindy stealing Margot's priceless necklace. They also watched on as Cindy's best friend called her out as a thief right there.

Everyone was there to see Margot fly into a rage. She had threatened to call the cops and throw Cindy in jail.

But none of them said a word. All of them had silently chosen to have Calista take the fall for Cindy.

Calista had been naive. She begged and struggled, but it was as if the whole world had turned its back on her in a split second.

In the end, she was still thrown in prison. That was when she knew she no longer had parents.

"Well, look who's heading out to live the good life! Hey, ladies, do you think Calista's going to forget all about us once she's out of here?" The ringleader in prison sneered as she teased Calista.

Calista dropped to her knees before she could even think and begged, "Sorry! I'm sorry! It's all my fault! Please don't hit me!"

The prison guard frowned impatiently and yelled, "Get out here, Calista!"

Only then did it hit her—she was getting out of prison. The ringleader could never bully her again.

Calista shrunk back and kept her head down. She moved slowly under the ringleader's watchful eye.

She completed her release paperwork and changed into thin, worn-out civilian clothes. After that, a guard escorted her out to the prison gates.

In the distance, she saw a tall, lean figure leaning against a luxury car. The man wore a black satin shirt that was partly unbuttoned. His sharp, dark eyes carried the commanding presence of someone used to power.

As Calista stared at the figure, she felt no joy in seeing family. Instead, the lingering fear washed over her, and her disabled leg began to ache once more.

It was Tyler Grant. She had called him her brother for 18 years.

He had arranged for the prison's ringleader to give her "special attention", all to appease Margot's mother, Whitney Lane. He was the source of all the suffering Calista had endured in prison.

The icy winds were biting, but colder than winter itself was the disappointment in her heart.

Four years had passed. Yet Calista still felt an ache in her chest, despite thinking she had long gone numb.

She fought back her tears. By the time she managed to suppress the negative emotions within her, Tyler was already walking toward her.

Fear and terror gripped her, but she didn't dare to hide. Doing so would only lead to harsher treatment. Even though she was out of prison, this conditioned reflex was already etched into her.

She respectfully lowered her head. Her voice trembled with fear, but it sounded distant as well as she said, "It's been a long while. I'm sorry."

Tyler was momentarily stunned.

They hadn't seen each other for four years. He never expected the once-proud Calista, who had thought herself above everyone else, to apologize when they met again.

He had prepared for Calista to make a scene, demanding justice like she had four years ago. Instead, she had set aside the pride she once so fiercely defended.

Her expression was tinged with fear.

What was she afraid of?

But wasn't this what he had hoped she would do four years ago?

Four years later, not only had she achieved it, but she had done it with such sincerity, too.

At that moment, Tyler found himself unable to face or accept it. A wave of bitter sadness instantly washed over him. He felt defeated and alone, uncertain of what to do next as everything seemed so bleak.

He took a deep breath and finally spoke. "Grandma misses you a lot. Mrs. Lynch signed the statement of forgiveness out of pity for her age and health. That played a part in your early release."

As the words fell, Tyler felt his tone hadn't been gentle enough. He stepped forward and tried to give Calista a hug, but she recoiled.

Tyler was surprised. After thinking for a moment, he tried to be gentler in his words. "It's all in the past now. Come with me, okay?"

Calista's chest tightened.

Did he just ask her to leave with him?

She didn't know how long she had waited for those words.

On her first few days in prison, she waited for him day after day to take her away. She refused to believe the brother who had loved her for 18 years could be so cruel.

But the greater the hope, the deeper the hurt. Her hope had turned into disappointment and, eventually, utter despair.

The harsh reality reminded her that all of this was real. She had no family left.

Calista had long given up on the idea of Tyler saving her. So, when he finally showed up and said he was here to take her home, she felt absolutely nothing.

She took a step back and lowered her head again. She said flatly, "Please thank Mrs. Lynch for signing the statement of forgiveness.

"I'm also very grateful to Mrs. Grant Senior for remembering a convict like me."

Calista was overly polite and deferential. She showed no signs of the closeness they once shared as a family.

Tyler was getting frustrated by the overwhelming distance between them.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. With some impatience, he said, "You might have been in jail for four years, but Dad said you're still his daughter. So don't take your time in prison too much to heart."

How could the little sister he had spoiled since childhood be a convict?

Yet, his words stung her deeply.

Her four years in prison had been an ordeal. Calista spent every day in a humiliating prison uniform, doing hard labor as part of her sentence. She went hungry and had to endure sickness.

Each small mistake brought on the wrath of the prison guards. The ringleader of the prison humiliated her in many ways and had come up with new methods to torment her.

Her days serving her sentence had been a living hell, which was worse than death itself.

Was she a daughter of the Grant family? What had this so-called identity brought her other than even more violent beatings?

Seeing the sadness on Calista's face, Tyler patted her on the shoulder. His tone softened a little as he coaxed, "Let's visit Grandma at the hospital. We shouldn't keep her waiting."

He turned and walked toward the car. After a moment, he looked back to see Calista trailing behind, keeping her distance from him.

What, was he some kind of monster now? Did she really have to stay that far away from him?

Tyler remembered the times when Calista used to cling to him and act sweet. The memory of it made his frustration even worse.

He quickened his pace toward the car.

The four years of torment had taught Calista a lesson. She must never dare to anger the Grants, or there would be consequences she couldn't bear.

So, even with the excruciating pain from her old leg injury, she didn't dare delay for a second. She stumbled as she rushed but quickly picked herself up and hurried to catch up.

When she reached the car, Tyler was already inside.

The Grant family's driver was still Robert White. He got out and greeted her, "Hello, Ms. Grant."

He opened the door to the backseat for her, but Calista didn't get in. Instead, she opened the front passenger door and got in.

Robert was caught by surprise.

Tyler suddenly got out, pulled open the passenger door, and yanked Calista out of the car. He threw her roughly to the ground like an old piece of rag.

He shouted furiously, "If you dislike me so much, then don't even call me your brother!"

Calista bit her lip. Her calf was sprained again, and her face twisted in pain.

Tyler didn't notice her discomfort and kept berating her, yelling, "Calista Grant! I thought you would have grown up, but you're just as childish! Did you think sitting in the front seat would offend anyone?

"All it does is show how pathetic and hopeless you really are!"

He added, "You dare show me attitude? You clearly don't know your place! Forget about riding in this car. You can walk back by yourself!

"I'm warning you. Don't you dare show that long face when we visit Grandma. I don't want her to be upset!"

With that, Tyler ordered Robert, "Start driving!"

Although Robert was worried about Calista, he didn't dare defy Tyler and quickly drove off.

As she watched the car slowly disappear into the distance, Calista felt no emotion. She had already tasted the bitterness of betrayal from everyone four years ago.

It wasn't that she hadn't recognized her place. Tyler was the one who had forgotten.

The Grants were the ones who forced her back to where she belonged. Yet, he still blamed her for not knowing where she stood.

Calista clenched her fists and slowly stood up. She needed to hurry to catch up, or the Grants might get angry. And she wasn't sure she could take it anymore.

She had only walked a short distance when the car suddenly turned back and stopped in front of her.

The window rolled down, and Tyler glared at her with eyes full of anger.

"Get in!" he snapped.

Chapter 2

Calista didn't say a word and got into the front passenger seat.

Tyler was livid. "You have really got some nerve, Calista!"

No one spoke for the rest of the ride.

…

The car pulled up to the hospital half an hour later.

Outside the inpatient wing, Calista stepped out of the car carefully. She almost fell as her leg hurt badly, and someone rushed over to catch her.

It was Barbara, the woman who used to love her the most.

Cindy followed closely. She was in a custom Chanel-style dress and wore flawless makeup. Compared to her thin, malnourished appearance from four years ago, Cindy looked healthy. She was smiling brightly, and her cheeks had a rosy glow.

"Callie, I missed you so much!" Barbara's voice trembled with emotion.

Calista pushed her away and lowered her head politely. "How do you do, Mrs. Grant? I'm Calista Steele."

Barbara froze for a moment. "Callie, you…"

Calista remained silent.

On the fifth day of her imprisonment, Charles disowned her in front of the Lynches. He sent her the formal document severing their parental relationship and had her sign it in prison. Afterward, she was made to change her name to Calista Steele.

No one else knew about this, but Barbara did. Maybe the guilt drove her to tears.

Her voice was gentle and filled with pity as she spoke, "Callie, it's all in the past. Let's not bring it up anymore. Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling sick?"

Calista shook her head, her expression indifferent.

Cindy comforted Barbara gently, "Mommy, Callie must have had a rough time in prison. Don't be upset. It's enough that she came back safe."

Barbara nodded in relief. "You're right. As long as she's safe and sound, nothing else matters."

Cindy pulled a box of pastries from her handbag.

"Callie, are you hungry? Nathan gave these to me. You can have them."

Her eyes were bright, but whenever she looked at Calista, there was a trace of fearful submission in her gaze. She looked teary and heartbreakingly fragile. It was enough to stir anyone's urge to protect her, just like she had four years ago.

But when Cindy said Nathan's name, there was a quiet smugness in her voice.

Nathan Cahill. He gave Calista a wound she could never heal from.

Calista merely shot Cindy a glance in silence. She didn't take the pastries, either.

Seeing Calista's indifference, Tyler shouted at her, "Cindy kindly brought you some pastries! Why aren't you eating them? Those are her favorites, too!

"Have you lost even the most basic of manners after a few years in prison?"

Barbara shot Tyler a glare when she saw how angry he was. "Don't yell at your sister!"

She hooked her arm around Calista's and comforted her, "Calista, don't listen to Tyler. As long as I'm here, no one can bully you."

Her eyes were red-rimmed. Barbara was filled with genuine guilt and sympathy for Calista.

Calista numbly pulled her hand away and took a step back, keeping her distance from Barbara.

That set Tyler off again. "Calista, don't take it too far!"

"Tyler, that's enough! Calista just got out. Why are you taking it out on her?" Barbara yelled.

"Mom, you can't keep spoiling her!" Tyler's anger flared again as he snapped at Calista. "It's one thing for you to show attitude toward me and Cindy, but Mom's been losing sleep and her appetite because of you! What gives you the right to treat her like that?

"We raised you like a princess for 18 years and gave you everything you ever wanted. We owe you nothing! Drop that behavior right now, or go back to prison!"

Calista was bitterly amused.

Everything she did was wrong in their eyes. She was like a punching bag for them to take out their frustrations on. Emotions were not something she was allowed to have.

Barbara grew a little annoyed at Calista's persistent silence.

But she still reprimanded Tyler, "Calista had suffered for four years. She's not in the right state of mind yet, so stop yelling at her!"

Then, she turned to Calista and said gently, "Your grandmother is in much better spirits after she heard you'll be back today. Go get a room at the hotel next door and take a shower. You should freshen up before seeing her in the ward.

"Don't worry. You're still my precious Callie, and I'll always love you just the same."

Would Barbara always love her just the same? Could broken relationships ever be mended?

Calista felt nothing for Barbara's caring words. She nodded expressionlessly and turned around to leave.

When she arrived at the hotel next to the hospital, she was dismayed to realize she didn't have a single cent to her name. There was no way she could book a room.

As she turned to leave, she ran straight into a wall of solid muscle. Pain shot through her forehead.

"Ms. Grant?" came a voice, calm and distant.

When Calista heard the familiar voice, her heart jolted sharply. She was already freezing from the cold, but an even deeper chill swept over her.

She looked up and saw the handsome face she remembered so clearly.

It was Nathan.

He was the oldest son of the Cahill family, the third most powerful family in Katran. And he was once her fiancé.

Calista lowered her head respectfully and said blandly, "Hello, Mr. Cahill."

Nathan noticed her thin clothes and how sickly she looked. He asked, "Ms. Grant, did you get released today?"

"Yes." Calista gave a small nod.

The air went still, and a few long seconds passed.

She didn't say another word, and Nathan was utterly confused.

Calista used to be extremely talkative, constantly buzzing in his ear. He hated chatty women, but he never distanced himself from her because of it.

Still, he never bothered to hide his disgust, and when she got too annoying, he would tell her to be quiet.

When she noticed he was upset, she would sing to cheer him up. She sang beautifully with a soft and sweet voice. But once the song was over, she would go right back to her never-ending chatter.

They hadn't seen each other in four years, and her only reply to him was a single "yes"?

Neither of them said another word, and the atmosphere turned awkward.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on Calista's calf. He had noticed her limping earlier and suspected she had an injury.

He said coolly, "I'll book you a room."

Calista shook her head. Just as she was about to reject his offer, Nathan cut her off.

His voice was stern as he said, "With a limp like that and no money to pay for a room, can you stop pretending you're fine?

"Mrs. Grant Senior is still in the hospital. Don't you want to clean up quickly and meet her?"

Calista looked up at Nathan. His eyes were dark, and his handsome face carried an expression of undeniable authority.

She didn't care about him. But the moment she thought about Martha Price, she felt an ache in her otherwise numbed heart. Martha must have tried everything in her power to get Calista an early release from jail.

She hadn't seen Martha in four years and truly missed her. She wanted to see her right away.

"I'm sorry for the trouble, Mr. Cahill. Thank you," Calista replied.

Nathan paid for a room and led her to it.

She followed him from behind.

His tall and imposing figure stood straight and rigid. The faint smell of his cologne drifted to her nose, and she froze for a moment.

Calista hadn't seen him in four years. He had shed his youthful charm, now exuding a mature presence.

She had seen him on the news while in prison. The report said he was young and accomplished, having become the CEO of Cahill Group's Elia-Oceanese region at a young age. He had a future full of promise ahead of him.

Nathan, with both good looks and capability, had once driven Calista wild with obsession. Even now, seeing him made her heart race uncontrollably.

Yet, he didn't love her. Not even a little.

Calista used to think Nathan was cold and distant to everyone, unable to warm up to any person. She had believed that if she just kept loving him, one day her feelings would be reciprocated.

It wasn't until Cindy's return that Calista learned—one couldn't hide the way they looked at someone they loved.

Nathan's gaze had been filled with an intense warmth and affection for Cindy.

Calista finally realized then that Nathan wasn't an aloof person. He was simply cold only toward her.

Cindy didn't need to put in any effort. Her mere presence was enough to win Nathan's favor.

Barbara could also see that the feelings between them were mutual. A few months after Cindy's return, she openly asked Calista to give up her engagement to Nathan. She wanted Cindy to marry him instead.

Since it was a childhood engagement, it was meant for the biological children of both the Cahill and Grant families to marry.

At the time, Calista had envied Cindy and even resented her. She was unwilling to give up the engagement. But Barbara had been adamant about it, and no amount of resistance from Calista made a difference.

Four years had passed since. Not long ago, Calista had seen a report that said Nathan was still one of the most eligible bachelors.

Did the marriage between Nathan and Cindy not happen?

Chapter 3

Calista felt a dull ache in her chest, and her emotions were a tangled mess.

Was she still unwilling to let go? Or was it longing? None of it mattered anymore.

At the door of the room, Nathan took out a box of pastries and said to her, "I've ordered you some food. If you're hungry, you can have some of this first."

Calista's gaze fell on the box. They were the same pastries Cindy had given her at the hospital earlier.

"I don't like them. You can give it to Cindy," she said quietly, her eyes dim.

She didn't need these hollow gestures.

Because she could never forget the day at the Lynch family's birthday party when they accused her of stealing the necklace.

Nathan had sided with Cindy. He gave her a warning look filled with resentment as he insisted she was the one who stole it.

Her parents, Tyler, and her beloved Nathan—all of them had stood firmly behind Cindy as they forced Calista to take the blame.

Maybe Tyler had been right. She had taken Cindy's place as the family's heiress for 18 years, so what right did she have to complain?

Her four years in prison could be considered compensation. But Calista still felt she was wronged.

There was never a lack of excuse to condemn a scapegoat, after all. Every single person who was the most important in her life had a hand in destroying her.

Nathan, still holding the pastries, was about to speak when he suddenly received a call. He then left in a hurry.

Calista went into the room and took a shower. Her eyes stung with tears at the sight of the scars crisscrossing her body. Every one of them was a reminder of the humiliation she suffered during her four years in prison.

Although she had reclaimed her freedom, the scars were like brands burned into her. They were destined to stay with her for the rest of her life.

After drying her hair, she looked a little more alert and refreshed.

With no new clothes, she had no choice but to put on the same old, thin sweater. She wore gloves to hide the frostbite and blisters on her hands.

…

At the inpatient wing, Calista asked a nurse for directions and made her way to the operating room.

At that moment, members of the Grant family were anxiously waiting outside the door.

It turned out that Martha, who had been resting in her hospital room, suddenly fell ill and had to be rushed into surgery.

Calista stared at the red light above the operating room door, and her eyes welled up with tears. Her chest tightened with a crushing sense of suffocation.

Martha was the one person in the world who loved her the most. What was Calista to do if something happened to her?

When Cindy noticed Calista, she raised a hand and waved it, showing off the bracelet on her wrist.

"Callie, Grandma said this was for you before she went into surgery. But I really like it. Can I have it?"

Calista glanced up at the emerald bracelet and said nothing.

She thought back to four years ago. Cindy had been snatching her things just like this back then. Cindy had taken Calista's room, clothes, bags, and shoes. Even Calista's pet cat wasn't spared, and Cindy caused its death.

Calista had been furious then, but now, she didn't care anymore.

Every single thing that the Grant family owned rightfully belonged to Cindy, the real daughter. Calista was just an impostor, an outsider who spent 18 years living a life meant for someone else.

Cindy looked disappointed. "If you're unwilling, I'll give it back to you."

Tyler saw what happened and snapped at Calista as he walked over, "Enough, Calista! It's just a bracelet. Can you let Cindy have it? If you want one, I'll buy you a dozen later!"

Calista remained silent and quietly sat down on a chair. She clearly had not said a word or done anything, but just standing there was already a mistake. Maybe she herself was the original sin.

"Tyler, I really like this bracelet. Did Grandma not give it to me because she doesn't like me?" Tears clung to Cindy's lashes as she stared pitifully at Tyler.

Tyler acted like he had lost his mind. He yanked Calista up and scolded her angrily, "You're fighting with Cindy over a bracelet? How petty can you be?

"And you dare give us an attitude? Calista, did you think just because you have Grandma's protection, I can't do anything to you?"

Before she could speak, Tyler yanked her toward the operating room.

"Grandma is in there undergoing surgery, and her condition is uncertain. Yet here you are, arguing with Cindy over a bracelet!" He snarled. "Can't you be more considerate? Are you trying to drive Grandma to her grave?"

Calista's damaged leg had already been sprained. The way Tyler dragged her away so roughly made the pain so unbearable that she gasped. She lost her balance and fell hard onto the floor.

Barbara was walking back from the restroom when she witnessed the scene before her. She rushed over, helped Calista up, and snapped at Tyler, "Why are you picking on your sister again?"

Tyler gritted his teeth in anger. "Mom, she's the one bullying Cindy! She's still causing trouble, even though Grandma's still in surgery. She made Cindy cry!

"Grandma can't handle stress. If she sees this when she wakes up, she might need another round of surgery!"

Barbara turned to look at Cindy, who still had tears in her eyes.

Once she learned what had happened, she couldn't help but reprimand Calista, saying, "Your grandmother's health has been terrible these last two years. She can't handle any stress, so just let Cindy have the bracelet."

"I never once said I wasn't willing to," Calista answered with a blank expression.

Barbara frowned. "Then, why did Tyler get so mad? And why is Cindy crying because of you?"

She continued, "Alright, it doesn't matter who was right or wrong. It's just a bracelet. I'll get you another one later."

Calista merely nodded. She didn't say anything else. After all, no matter what she said, it would be wrong to them.

The rough treatment by Tyler and her earlier fall made her leg hurt so badly that she could barely stand.

On top of being rushed out of prison today, she hadn't eaten a thing. At that moment, she looked haggard and weak, her body already at its limit.

She was stick-thin, her face pale and near-lifeless. Calista looked like a terminally ill patient on the brink of death.

Suddenly, everything went black. A strong wave of dizziness made her collapse to the ground.

Tyler sneered. "Now that you're not fighting over the bracelet, you're pretending to be pitiful? Get up now! Stop acting like you're dying! You'll be in trouble if Grandma sees you like this and gets upset!"

Calista's head tilted back, and she collapsed.

…

It was unclear how much time had passed when Calista woke up in a hospital bed. The sound of Barbara's sobs echoed loudly around the room.

Calista looked at the hospital gown she was wearing and figured they had seen the scars on her body.

Barbara walked over and gently held Calista's hand. She asked through sobs, "Callie, why are there so many frostbite and blisters on your hands? And there are too many scars to count on your body.

"The doctor said you were beaten with sticks, whipped, and burned with cigarettes…"

Tyler walked over and patted Barbara's shoulder. His voice was grim as he comforted her, "Mom, don't be too upset."

He couldn't imagine what Calista had gone through. The guilt weighed heavily on him, and he couldn't even look her in the eye. He wanted to apologize, but the words got stuck in his throat.

Barbara wiped her tears. "I thought you just had to spend four years in prison doing hard labor as part of your sentence. I didn't know you would suffer like this! Who would be so cruel to hurt my Callie like this?"

Cindy stood by the bed with red-rimmed eyes. "Callie, I feel so awful! You're the one who's hurt, but it feels like my heart is breaking! What on earth did you go through?"

Calista looked up at Cindy as the latter made the mocking remarks. All that talk about how Calista's pain was Cindy's heartbreak was nothing but an insincere act.

A surge of anger rose within Calista, and she said slowly, "What did I go through? I'll tell you."

"There's not a day I didn't go through without bullying. Whose fault is it that I stole Margot's necklace and offended important people?" Calista snarled. "Frostbite, blisters, having my hair pulled, and being punched and kicked.

"I was burned with cigarette butts, doused with boiling water, and slapped across the face. Those were nothing."

She continued, "They jammed a toothpick into my left ear and punctured my eardrum. I'm almost deaf now. They also beat me with iron rods covered in nails, leaving bloody puncture wounds in my legs.

"I've been through all sorts of torture you can think of in a prison. All of it."

Cindy's eyes widened in terror as she listened. She cast Calista an aggrieved look.

Tears immediately began to fall, streaming down her face. She sobbed so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. Barely able to stand, Cindy collapsed into Tyler's arms.

"What are you crying for? You're not the one who spent four years in prison!" Calista said mockingly.

She looked around at all the people in the room. Some were grieving, and some were crying.

Calista merely found it all ironic.

Chapter 4

Cindy froze mid-sob at Calista's words. Looking like she had been deeply wronged, she said, "I failed Callie! It's all my fault."

She continued crying.

Tyler still had some sympathy for Calista, but most of it faded when he saw Cindy so distressed.

He immediately stood up for Cindy, ready to defend her. He snarled, "Your injuries weren't caused by Cindy. Why are you blaming her? You're being unreasonable!"

Suddenly, a deep voice came from the doorway, "She's not being unreasonable!"

Nathan stood there. He had heard everything, including what Calista had suffered over the past four years in prison.

"Nathan? Why are you here?" Tyler asked, surprised.

"He paid for my hotel room," Calista said softly.

"The two of you!" Tyler roared. "Nathan, you're engaged to Cindy. It's inappropriate for you to be this close to another woman!"

"You're focused on the wrong thing," Nathan said with a frown. "Ms. Calista just got out of prison. Did any of you ask if she was hungry or if she had eaten?

"And she looks terrible. Did none of you immediately think of arranging a medical exam for her?"

Nathan's words made Tyler pause to think. After a long moment, Tyler sighed and said, "It's my oversight."

Calista laughed bitterly. She looked toward Nathan, and there was no gratitude or resentment in her gaze.

She hadn't expected the first person to care about her after her release was not her family. It was the former fiancé she had loved the most—the one who had once hurt her so deeply.

Barbara wiped away her tears with a tissue and said with a pained expression, "Tyler, order some food for your sister quickly!"

Tyler nodded belatedly. He quickly took out his phone and started selecting a nutritious meal for Calista. Perhaps out of guilt, he chose to order from an expensive, high-end restaurant.

"I've placed the order and paid extra to expedite the delivery. It should be here in half an hour," he said softly.

"Thank you, Mr. Grant," Calista said, sounding distant.

Hearing her call him by that made Tyler freeze. Since she left the prison, she had not called him by name once. Her attitude was more distant than a stranger's.

Anger rose within him, and he stormed over to Calista.

His expression turned icy as he questioned her, "Are you sure you really got those injuries in prison? What's all the nonsense about the abuse you went through? You were just in prison, not in some concentration camp!

"This is a lawful society. I don't believe anyone could torture you like that!"

"What are you trying to say, Mr. Grant?" Calista's expression turned grim. "Are you saying I did this to myself?

"Did you know that I spent the first three years in Sector Nine? I was only transferred to the Katran Women's Prison last year."

Did Calista say Sector Nine? When they heard the name, the room went completely silent.

Sector Nine was built on an island, surrounded by an endless ocean. The atmosphere was eerie and terrifying, and it housed the most dangerous criminals. The security there was extremely tight.

The prisoners had no freedom. Their meals were meager, and any mistake would lead to punishments that were harsh and bone-chilling.

Sector Nine was also known as one of the most terrifying prisons in the world. Just hearing its name made people think of hell on earth. There was no difference from being sent to a concentration camp.

To think Calista had to spend three years there…

"From your reactions, it seems you're familiar with Sector Nine. Do you want me to describe exactly what I went through there? I promise you'll remember it for the rest of your lives."

Calista's expression was blank, her eyes empty and soulless. She spoke as though she was remarking on the weather, "On my first day, they drove long metal spikes into my fingertips. I screamed until I passed out. Then, they threw water on me to wake me up and filled both my hands with more spikes."

"On the second day, they lashed me with whips soaked in salt water. My whole body was torn and covered in blood," Calista added as if she were narrating a story. "On the tenth day, they locked me in a water cell. The water was filthy and filled with leeches, rats, and all sorts of insects.

"They bit me all over, and I was in so much pain that I couldn't even scream for help."

"Okay! Enough!" Tyler shouted, unable to listen anymore.

Cindy trembled in fear and covered her ears.

Calista suddenly looked up. She glared at them icily. "What, you can't even bear to listen? Then, how did you think I survived it?"

"Why didn't you tell us you were sent to Sector Nine? We had no idea!" Tyler growled.

"You're asking why I didn't say anything?" Calista laughed deliriously. "Did you think I had a way to contact anyone outside? What did you think happened the one time I asked a guard to borrow his phone? They hung me up and beat me all night!"

Tyler turned pale, like he had gone into shock.

Calista continued talking as if there was no one around her.

"Perhaps fate decided I shouldn't die, letting me survive long enough to be transferred back to Katran. Even then, I didn't escape the abuse from the prison's ringleader. I spent every day being bullied," she said.

She continued, "After hearing all these, aren't you relieved that it was me who went to prison and not your dear sister, Cindy?"

Tyler tightly clenched his fists. His eyes were dull and lifeless, and pain lined his face, making him look older. He looked as though he had come to his senses.

Tyler opened his mouth, wanting to say something to comfort her. But anything he said now would sound empty, so he stayed silent.

"Callie, you have suffered so much," Barbara said haltingly, too heartbroken to speak.

Every word Calista spoke hurt deeply, leaving her disoriented with the pain.

"Mrs. Grant, I deserved all this. After all, I lived 18 good years as a Grant," Calista said calmly.

The more indifferent and unaffected she seemed, the more it broke Barbara's heart.

Barbara sobbed uncontrollably as she stammered, "I-It's all my fault. I'll make it up to you, I promise!"

"You'll make it up to me?" Calista said, shaking her head. "Mrs. Grant, you should be making it up to Cindy. She's your real daughter, the one you lost for 18 years."

"Calista, can't you see that Mom feels guilty? Do you have to keep talking in that tone?" Tyler snapped.

He felt sorry for Calista, but he was also truly angry.

With a stern look, he said, "Whatever happened, it's over now. You're out of prison, so can't you just move on and live with us like before?

"Are you holding a grudge against us? Will insisting on making everyone miserable make you happy?"

Move on and forget? Did he think a few words could erase everything she went through?

They didn't suffer a day of it, yet they wanted her to forgive them like it never happened. They were clearly the ones who hurt her, yet they stood on the moral high ground, trying to guilt-trip her.

Calista wanted to curse them out. But when the words were on the tip of her tongue, she no longer wanted to say a thing.

Nathan remained unsettled for a long time. Even a stranger would have felt sorry for her after hearing Calista describe her miserable life in prison.

He couldn't help but speak up for her. "Tyler, Calista wasn't making a scene. She was just telling the truth!

"You didn't even try to comfort her, and now you're scolding her? You're a sorry excuse for a brother!"

Chapter 5

Tyler's anger boiled up from deep within him. He roared, "Nathan, there's something seriously wrong with you today. You keep siding with Calista right in front of Cindy! If anyone's a sorry excuse, it's you, as Cindy's fiancé!"

After he finished, he turned to Calista with a look of disgust. "You're quite something! First day out of prison, and you've already got Nathan paying attention to you. I see you're limping. Are you faking it to get his sympathy?

"And you had him book you a hotel room, too? A man and a woman alone in a room. Did you two do something inappropriate?"

Calista shot back furiously, "Mr. Grant, just because you're filthy-minded doesn't mean everyone else is too! You all told me to get a room and clean up before visiting Grandma, but did any of you give me money to do that?

"If Nathan hadn't paid for it, where would I even get the money? And of course, I'm limping. Didn't the medical report say that my leg is crippled?"

She continued, "I just got out of prison today, and you yanked me out of the car so roughly that you twisted my leg again. Or did you already forget that, Mr. Grant?

"Of course, you did. You've already found your real sister, so why would you care about an outsider like me?"

She vented all the resentment she had been holding in. She was out of prison now, no longer a worthless mess. Why should she put up with the abuse and let them trample over her?

"Callie, I apologize on Tyler's behalf," Cindy choked out as she lowered her head. "Please don't be mad at him, okay? He doesn't mean it. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come back to this family."

Her gentle, obedient, and understanding demeanor nearly melted Tyler's heart.

He immediately patted her on the back and comforted her gently, "Cindy, it's not your fault. She's just trying to drive a wedge between us, so don't listen to anything she says.

"I forgot to point out that not only is Calista arrogant, but she's also good at acting. She tends to exaggerate her stories, so take everything she says with a grain of salt. I've lived with her for 18 years, so I know her better than anyone!"

Barbara stopped crying and comforted Cindy as well, "Just listen to Tyler. None of this is your fault, so you don't have to blame yourself."

Barbara was implying that Tyler was telling the truth and Calista was half-lying.

Calista watched their warm little family scene and let out a sudden, bitter laugh.

Did she love acting and twisting the truth?

These were the people she used to call family, and they had turned a blind eye to the four years she spent fighting to survive. She was denied the chance to defend herself, and they assumed the worst about her.

Every second she spent here felt like a betrayal of the freedom she had fought so hard to win back.

"I'm sorry. I'll head back to the hotel to rest. I'll visit Grandma when she's awake," Calista said before getting out of bed. She gave them a firm, polite nod before leaving the hospital room.

Her crippled, unsteady legs carried her slowly out of the room. Her body swayed with every step, each movement looking painfully difficult.

Barbara covered her mouth as she sobbed, overwhelmed with grief. She tried to run after Calista, but Tyler stopped her.

"Mom, I'll go."

…

Calista had just returned to her hotel room to lie down when there was a knock at the door.

A familiar voice came from the other side, "Ms. Grant, it's me, Nathan."

After a brief hesitation, Calista went to open the door.

Nathan stood there holding two large bags, clearly wanting to come inside.

Calista stopped him and said coldly, "Mr. Cahill, I don't think that's appropriate."

If the Grants found out, they would definitely start another round of nasty rumors about the two of them being alone in a room. She could ignore what they said about her, but she wasn't going to give them any more ammunition to attack her with.

Nathan froze for a moment. An indescribable frustration welled up within him when he looked at her expressionless face.

She had called him "Mr. Cahill" all day. The happy and innocent young woman who used to chirp around him endlessly and loved to call him "Nate" seemed to have disappeared from this world.

The Calista standing before him now was like a completely different person. She was so unfamiliar he barely knew who she was.

"Well, alright. I brought you some medicine and food," Nathan said as he handed her the bags.

Just then, someone came rushing over. It was Tyler.

He was surprised to see Nathan. "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to drop some things off to your sister," Nathan explained.

"Since she's my sister, then you don't need to bother," Tyler said coldly.

His eyes swept over Nathan with open disdain, clearly implying that Nathan had ulterior motives. Then, he turned to Calista, his tone sharp and scolding.

"Didn't I tell you Nathan is Cindy's fiancé now? Don't you know how to respect boundaries? Or are you getting close to Nathan now because you're angry about spending four years in prison? Did you want to upset Cindy?"

Tyler added, "You're such a scheming bitch!"

Getting yelled at for no reason made Calista's face flush with anger. She glared at Tyler, wishing she could gouge his eyes out.

She snapped, "Mr. Grant, do you enjoy picking on people like this just to make sure everyone knows you're an asshole?"

Tyler was furious. "How dare you insult me like that?"

Nathan stood by Calista's side. "Tyler, that's enough. Ms. Grant didn't try to get close to me on purpose. Please don't use such malicious words to attack her!"

Calista snapped at Nathan, her fury evident. "You shut up, too! I don't need your false sympathy and protection! You two are just as bad as each other!"

Tyler was stunned at her reaction. Not only did Calista not try to win Nathan's pity, but she actually yelled at him, too?

"Get lost! Both of you, get out!" Calista shouted and slammed the door in their faces.

The two men stood in stunned silence outside the door.

Tyler banged on the door for a while, but Calista never opened it. He was so furious that he almost lost it.

Nathan sighed in resignation. "Let's go. If I were her, I would be angry, too. If you have nothing nice to say, you should just stay quiet. No one would think you're mute."

Tyler glared at Nathan. He said condescendingly, "Nathan, it's funny how you just happened to bump into Calista at the hotel. And you even paid for her room?

"This so-called coincidence absolutely makes no sense! I saw a familiar car on the way back from prison. It must have been yours! Were you planning to pick her up all along?"

Nathan didn't deny it.

Tyler demanded angrily, "You're still into her, aren't you?"

Nathan still didn't refute it.

Tyler grabbed him by the collar and snarled, "You greedy, two-timing bastard! How could you do this to Cindy?"

"Calista is your sister, too, but your favoritism is glaring! If you don't care about her, that doesn't mean no one else can!" Nathan shot back.

"And what good is your pity? Did she even look at you? Did she accept anything you brought her?" Tyler sneered.

He added, "With the way you treated her four years ago, did you really think she would forgive you that easily? Don't be naive!"

"If she won't forgive me, she sure as hell won't forgive you! All of us wronged her four years ago, especially you!" Nathan growled angrily.

"Not only did you ignore her during her four years in prison, but you even went around telling people Calista had nothing to do with the Grants anymore!" Nathan continued, "You had a hand in everything she suffered through!"

Chapter 6

Tyler was at a loss for words.

Everything Nathan said was true.

Four years ago, to protect the Grant family's interests and to keep Calista from dragging them down, he had gone out of his way to tell the Lynch family that Calista no longer had anything to do with the Grants and that they wouldn't care whether she lived or died.

Without the Grants, Calista lost her protection.

Calista had suffered because of Tyler, and he felt a crushing tightness in his heart, as though he couldn't breathe.

Nathan patted him on the shoulder.

"She's lucky to be back in one piece. Stop being biased and think about how to make it up to her," he said, sighing.

He was one of the people who had hurt Calista, so he would need to make it up to her as well.

"She's been calling me 'Mr. Cahill' today," he murmured, almost to himself, as his eyes dimmed.

Tyler's eyes showed a rare trace of vulnerability. "Same. She kept calling me by my last name as well."

The two of them let out deep sighs, looking miserable.

When their eyes met, they instantly scowled at each other.

"How I make it up to her is my business. You stay away from Calista!"

"If you hurt Cindy, I swear I'll deal with you myself. Don't think I'm scared of you just because you're a Cahill!"

Nathan let out a mocking laugh, the corner of his lips curling into a cold smirk. Then, he turned around and walked away without looking back, acting as though he didn't hear Tyler.

Tyler was about to explode.

He had grown up with Nathan, so he knew how stubborn the latter could be. Once Nathan set his mind on someone or something, there was no talking him out of it.

What now?

He couldn't interfere with Nathan, so the only option was to keep a close eye on Calista and make sure she didn't end up as the third wheel.

After leaving the hotel, Tyler suddenly caught up with Nathan and stopped him, speaking in a much calmer tone, "You have a childhood friend named Bobby, right? He's an internationally renowned medical professor, and he's got serious skills."

Nathan frowned. "Yeah. Why?"

"Can you help me get in touch with him? I want him to treat Callie."

Nathan shook his head. "That's going to be tough. We haven't spoken in years. He's overseas and super busy. He probably wouldn't even bother to answer my call. But I do know other specialists. Do you want me to refer to someone else?"

"Forget it. I'll find other doctors."

As Tyler walked off, Nathan smiled to himself before getting into his car and making a call.

"Hey, I called you an hour ago. Why the hell didn't you pick up? Where are you right now?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"I'm in Katran, and I was in the middle of surgery! What is it, Mr. Cahill? What do you want?"

Nathan ignored Bobby Saunder's exhausted tone. "Go to Room 8302 of Seagull Hotel right now. There's a woman who needs a checkup."

"Is she someone important?" Bobby asked.

"She's my ex-fiancée. She got into some trouble a few years ago. She just got released, and she has quite a few injuries. Go take a look."

There was a long silence on the other end.

"Mr. Cahill, I'm one of the most sought-after doctors in the world. Do you know how many big shots are trying to meet me? And now you want me to drop everything and make a house call for someone who just got out of prison?" Bobby shot back.

"You're not going? Alright, then. I'll delay the next round of funding for your lab in Virelia. Bye."

Upon hearing that, Bobby immediately changed his tone. "Wait, Mr. Cahill! Alright, I'll go. We're childhood friends. If you're in trouble, I'd die before turning you down!"

Fresh off the operating table, Bobby didn't dare waste a second and rushed over to the hotel where Calista was staying.

…

Calista was resting at the hotel when a woman claiming to be a nurse knocked on her door.

"Hi, are you Ms. Grant? Mr. Grant assigned me to take care of you. I'm Rosalind Turner."

"Mr. Grant? Tyler?" Calista frowned.

Rosalind nodded and walked in as if she owned the place.

Calista couldn't help but feel the whole thing was a joke.

What did Tyler take her for? He hurt her so badly, and now he wanted to take care of her? Did he really think a little sweetness could make up for four years of hell in prison?

Calista didn't need this fake charity.

Out of the entire Grant family, Martha was the only one who cared about her sincerely. Because she hated the Grants, she naturally hated anything or anyone they arranged.

Calista pointed toward the door, about to kick Rosalind out.

But just then, a man in a white coat showed up.

"Hi, Ms. Grant. I'm Bobby Saunder, a friend of Mr. Cahill's and a dermatologist. He asked me to come check on you."

Calista went quiet.

How interesting.

Tyler sent a nurse over, and Nathan a doctor. They were scrambling to butter her up.

Were they really trying to make up for the pain they caused, or were they just trying to patch over their selfish guilt?

"I have no interest in that, not even if it kills me," Calista thought.

Rosalind recognized Bobby right away, and her face brightened. "Are you the famous professor? Oh, my God! I can't believe such a big-shot doctor is making house calls!"

Bobby nodded in embarrassment.

He figured Calista would feel honored and grateful. However, what he heard next nearly made him question his entire existence.

"Leave. I'd rather die than let you treat me." Calista's tone was flat, her eyes full of scorn.

Bobby completely froze.

Before he could even react, Calista shoved Rosalind out as well. "Both of you, get out. Tell Tyler and Nathan to stay as far away from me as possible. And never bother me again!"

The door slammed shut. Both Rosalind and Bobby stood there, stunned.

Bobby was especially dumbfounded. He was an elite medical expert. He lowered himself to make a house call for an ex-convict, only to get treated like this.

This was unacceptable. He immediately called Nathan to complain.

Rosalind also phoned Tyler to explain what had happened.

Inside the room, among the things Rosalind and Bobby had brought were a phone, a bank card, and a little cash. Calista only took the phone.

Martha was still in the hospital. Thus, Calista needed a phone to stay in touch with them at all times.

Hearing that Martha was still unconscious after surgery—with no one from the Grant family there to take care of her—Calista rushed straight to the hospital.

Only a nurse was left to take care of Martha.

Four years had passed, and Martha's face was still as kind as ever, though she looked much older. Her hair had turned completely white, and her face was lined with countless wrinkles.

When she was a kid, Charles and Barbara were always busy, and Tyler was swamped with schoolwork. So, Martha had been the one to raise her.

Calista was deeply attached to Martha. During her time in prison, there wasn't a single day she didn't miss Martha. She had been terrified she wouldn't survive long enough to see Martha again.

After keeping watch by Martha's bedside for three hours, Calista reminded the nurse to take good care of Martha before leaving the hospital.

Now that she was out, she wanted nothing more to do with the Grant family, except for Martha. She also had no intention of touching a single cent of the Grants' money.

As for the phone, once she earned enough, she'd pay it back.

First things first, she had to find a job to support herself. But she had no skills and was fresh out of prison. No decent company would take her.

She looked everywhere.

Calista was limping, sickly thin, and looked as though she was seriously ill. People only took one look at her before turning her down without a second thought.