Chapter 1

"Creak…"

The scraping of the opening door was loud in the silent basement.

Mildred Ginger forced her head up as the iron collar dug into her neck and broke her blisters. Blood mixed with pus seeped from the wound on her forehead and slipped into her eyes, turning her world a smear of red.

She saw a few figures approach—her brothers, whose warmth and approval she'd once wanted so badly. But now, they were the executioners sending her on her way to hell.

"Talk! Where have you sold Tamara off to?"

Her second brother, Kieran Ginger, slammed his custom leather shoe into the side of her head like a hammer. The blow rang through her skull until her veins threatened to erupt.

Mildred curled up tighter on the floor as blood frothed from her lips.

Her clothes were in tatters while bruises and scars mapped every inch of her skin. Every breath she took was like a mouthful of needles.

"It wasn't me… I never took Tamara or sold her off…" she croaked.

"Still lying?" Her eldest brother, Gavin Ginger, crouched down and yanked her head back, forcing her to look up at him.

Then, he continued, "The security cameras caught you meeting Tamara, and you were the last person she saw!

"She kindly took care of you ever since you came back, yet you were jealous of her taking your place, so you sold her out!"

Mildred couldn't hold back a laugh as the twitch of her lips tore the split at the corners wider.

Kind?

Tamara Ginger, the foster daughter of the Gingers, who'd grown up taking everything that should have been Mildred's. The same Tamara, who'd framed her over and over again since her return to the Ginger family.

And Tamara, who'd feigned pity and run crying to the brothers every time Mildred tried to warn her off.

It was true that Mildred hated Tamara, but a kidnapping had never crossed her mind.

Her third brother, Nox Ginger, twirled an electric baton with an icy, merciless expression. "Enough talk. Just hand over the passcodes to the lab."

So, that was it. They'd spent half a month torturing her for access to her newly developed

pharmaceutical formula, not just for Tamara.

Over the past six months, she'd poured her heart into refining the core pharmaceutical technology of Ginger Corporation, and that was what her hypocrite brothers were truly after.

"If I give it to you… You'll kill me anyway…" she said with great difficulty.

Her fourth brother, Adrian Ginger, let out a short laugh. "You're not gonna survive anyway. Give us the passcode, and maybe we'll make it quick for Al."

Mildred's eyes widened. "What does he have to do with this?"

Immediately after, her little brother, Alphonse Ginger, was kicked toward her and hit her so hard she felt her ribs shift.

Kieran coldly said, "That idiot ran to Dad and babbled that Tamara staged her own kidnapping, even saying he had proof. He's born mentally retarded, and no one would believe his crazy talk.

"The Gingers have always been dignified and respectable, yet you two turned out to be a pair of disgraceful twins!"

Mildred grabbed Alphonse's hands and could feel them trembling from the drugs. "Al… Look, it's me, Milly…"

He squeezed her fingers back, stumbling through his words yet determinedly forcing them out. "Don't be afraid, Milly… I have… proof. I'll save you…"

Alphonse was born with an intellectual impairment and could never tell the many Ginger siblings apart. He never knew Mildred as his older sister and stubbornly stuck to "Milly."

Tracing Alphonse's gaunt face, the ache in Mildred's chest hurt sharper than any wound on her body. Then, she finally gave in.

"Fine… I'll tell you…"

Kieran immediately leaned in. "What's the passcode?"

Trembling, Mildred pushed herself up and suddenly sank her teeth into his ear with every last ounce of her strength.

"Ah! Grab her! Kill her!"

"Bitch!"

Nox's electric baton smashed into her side and drowned her in waves of agonizing pain. Just before her world slipped away, she saw the basement door swing open, and a slender figure stepped in.

Her brothers gasped in unison, "Tamara!

"The show's not over yet, so why are you back? You must be bored hiding out in the suburban villa all week, huh?"

In a pure-white dress that reminded Mildred of an innocent lily, she watched as Tamara knelt in front of her with feigned pity and triumph brimming in her eyes.

"How could you be so naive, Mildred? I've lived with the brothers for over 20 years, and they raised me to be exactly how they want. I know what their goals are better than anyone, so did you really think they'd choose you just because you share their blood?

"And you were always so ambitious and starting to look like a threat to their place in the Ginger family. They'd never let you stay.

"As for Alphonse, he could've stayed blissfully dumb, but he had to play hero for you. Did he think a half-wit like him could outsmart us? He's better off snuffed out, meaning one less stain on the Ginger family name."

Mildred tried to speak, but all she could manage were gurgles. Her insides felt like they were gushing blood as her life was rapidly slipping away.

"Stop the nonsense. Burn the place and make sure there are no loose ends." Kieran barked a cold order.

Laughing, Tamara got up and clapped her hands. "Finally! No more dealing with these two!

"One's a slum stray, and the other's a half-wit… Trash like them don't deserve to carry the Ginger family name at all."

The brothers burst out laughing.

Kieran wrapped around Tamara's shoulders and dotingly booped her nose. "You're the best, Tamara.

"I'll take over as CEO of Ginger Corporation tomorrow, and to make up for all you've suffered, I'll transfer Mildred and Alphonse's shares to you. From now on, you're our one and only princess."

"Thank you, Kieran!"

They left amidst the billowing smoke in the basement.

When Mildred was devoured by the raging flames, Alphonse clung to her. "Don't be scared, Milly… I'll protect you…"

Tears mixed with blood streamed down her cheeks and steamed away in the heat.

Memories flickered through her mind like a film reel—the first giddy joy when the Gingers found her, confusion from countless times she'd exposed Tamara's schemes only to be punished, and those naive nights she'd believed they'd love her back if she just gave enough…

Well, she did find love; the only family she'd ever had was right here in her arms. It was absurd that her initial moment of mercy toward the Gingers could result in endless regret.

Mildred clenched the scorching string of rosary beads around her wrist and silently vowed.

"Hear me, heavens! If this death goes unavenged, my soul will never rest! I'd pay any price for vengeance!"

…

Torrential rain in Riverdale put out the fire and revealed two charred bodies locked in one last embrace.

Mildred's soul drifted above the skies, just to see the Ginger siblings in a downtown villa, raising glasses to toast her death.

Through the dazzling lights, a figure in black appeared. She couldn't see his face but could feel an extraordinary nobility in the cold, lonely way he moved.

Holding a black umbrella, he stopped in the storm and sighed. "So, you're Mildred Ginger. If only I'd found you sooner."

He laid a single white rose on her body, and in that moment, a surge of force crashed through her…

…

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to break it! How much is it? I'll pay double for it, alright?" A soft, sickly sweet voice rang in Mildred's ears.

Her eyes flew open as she scanned her surroundings in clear vision. Not a single part of her body ached.

She was reborn!

Her gaze swept past the expensive furniture, white leather couch, shattered flowerpot on the polished marble tiles, scattered soil, and the seedling crushed underfoot…

The familiar scene hit Mildred like a lightning strike, and she knew exactly when it was—seven years ago on her first day back with the Gingers!

Right now, she was still a stranger to the family and kept her powers hidden. So, the Gingers had yet to break into new markets and secure their place as the top family, while Ginger Corporation's research lab hadn't cracked that pharmaceutical breakthrough.

As for Kieran, who'd kicked and beaten her half to death in her previous life, and inherited Ginger Corporation… He was still stuck in that wheelchair and was a helpless cripple who could only run his mouth.

"It's just a flowerpot, Mildred. Tamara didn't mean it," she heard him say.

She'd brought a pot of ambrosia yarrow the day she returned to the Gingers. In six months, that pot would bear fruit that healed his legs.

In her previous life, that had been her first step down the path that saved this family of ingrates.

Chapter 2

"I just wanted to help you carry your bags, and I swear it wasn't on purpose, Mildred. Shall I plant it back for you?"

Tamara bent down to pick up the broken shards of the flowerpot before letting out a soft cry. "Ouch! It hurts!"

Bright red beads of blood dripped from her fingertip and into the soil.

"Enough, don't touch it. Tamara has apologized, Mildred. Can't you just buy another plant?

"I'll pay for it. Is 100 dollars enough?" Kieran stepped in as he handed Mildred a banknote he'd just pulled from his wallet. Then, he anxiously turned to stop the bleeding.

Before she could take it over, the note fluttered from his hand and landed in the soil. For a moment, it seemed to play in slow motion, and memories of her previous life crashed into her mind.

The coldness in Mildred's eyes faded away and was replaced by thick pity.

"Kieran, do you really think this plant… does… nothing?" she said syllable by syllable. Her voice was unused to speaking without the suffocation of the iron collar around her neck, and each word carried undeniable formidability.

Kieran froze, and a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes. "Of course. You grew up in the slums and never saw anything good. But to the Gingers, a single plant is nothing compared to peace between you sisters…"

"Perfect. Since it isn't important, there's no point saving it." Mildred looked forward to the day when Kieran would beg her to grow the ambrosia yarrow again.

Then, she turned to a maid. "Cut it up, separate the soil, and sort it properly for trash."

"Got it, Ms. Mildred."

Kieran stared after her as she dragged her suitcase up the stairs, and it took him some time to pull himself back to the present.

In the records, Mildred was described as a street rat who grew up among thieves and outcasts, socially eccentric and slow-witted. But standing there just now, she'd felt… dangerous.

The Gingers prided themselves on a rich lineage, and every child reaped great success. There was no telling if Mildred had great promise, too.

"Susan, make some pear crumble. I'll take it to Mildred myself and talk to her."

"Got it, Mr. Ginger."

Tamara petulantly said, "Mildred's so lucky, while I'm just an adopted daughter of the Gingers."

He took her hand and comfortingly said, "Don't say that. You're what matters most to me. She's new, and I just need time to understand her."

Tamara finally giggled. "You're right, Kieran."

…

The maid led Mildred to the fourth floor.

Ginger residence sprawled over 4000 square feet of living space, with total grounds nearing 20,000 square feet, including gardens, fountains, and all. It was a stunning real-life palace.

Mildred recalled what the Ginger family was at this point in her previous life. They claimed to be one of the few standing noble families in Riverdale, but by the time it reached her dad's generation, they were on the verge of a total decline.

Like a hollow shell, they were grand and polished but emptied out inside. Just like the pine tree outside her window, its leaves had withered before autumn, and its branches were bare without a single decent fruit.

A fitting sight indeed.

"This is your room, Ms. Mildred."

The room was large with a small bedroom lounge, and an empty walk-in closet.

"Mr. Alphonse's room is next door. Across the landing is Mr. Gavin's room. He rarely stays here, but no one's allowed in that room. Don't break the rules, Ms. Mildred."

Even the Ginger family maid carried herself like nobility as her eyes flickered over to Mildred's faded jeans with open disdain.

"Mr. and Mrs. Ginger's suite is on the third floor, though Mrs. Ginger is away abroad. Also…"

"I know. Enough," Mildred said, coldly cutting off her raucous voice.

The maid jumped at the chance to start lecturing her. "You grew up in the slums and have long been accustomed to acting wild. But after returning to the Ginger family, you should learn how to act in the house. The Gingers aren't a flashy, nouveau riche family.

"The first rule is to watch your mouth, keep your head down, and don't wander. I'm explaining the floors and rooms for your own good…"

Her words trailed off in fright under Mildred's sharp stare.

"Mom and Dad's rooms are on the third floor, and Tamara's up there too. Nox and Adrian are on the second, and Kieran's legs keep him on the first floor by the study. Am I right?"

"...Correct."

"So I said, I know. Now, get out," Mildred snapped.

When the maid, Pippa Sewell, snapped out of her shock, her face twisted with resentment.

She'd worked efficiently for the Gingers for over two decades. She'd never received a single lecture for her work and even won a respectful address from the Gingers.

And as a slum stray who'd just returned to the family, Mildred was already talking like she owned the place!

Kieran had just arrived at the door and quietly listened in on their conversation. Then, he said, "You may leave, Pippa. I'd like to have a private word with Mildred."

"Got it, Mr. Ginger."

He stepped inside and studied Mildred, who'd just been brought home. Unlike Tamara, who was raised to be polished, she just wore a worn knit sweater, washed-out jeans, and a pair of old sneakers yellowing at the soles.

She was thin with visible bones and a pointy chin, but her eyes shone cold like the winter sun.

"Ah, a wary wolf pup, huh?" Kieran thought, pinning her down with a single glance. He was excellent at reading people.

A breeze lifted a few strands of her untamed hair, and the shifting light fell across the wooden tray resting on his knees like a perfect painting.

"Mildred, here's some pear crumble. Tamara had Susan make it for you just to please you. Since she was afraid that you'd be upset, she sent me here.

"Here, try it."

Mildred studied Kieran's deceptively gentle, innocent expression and was thrown into memories of her previous life.

Back then, she'd seen through Tamara's viciousness and hollow apologies and believed Kieran was a soft peacemaker who only wanted the family to stay together.

Now, she knew better. There was no way a den of cunning wolves could ever raise an innocent lamb.

As the oaty crumbles coating the pears slowly melted in her mouth, she heard him go on.

"Tamara's parents died saving ours. She was spoiled growing up, so she's a little delicate. But that's going to be your life too, and we're all going to treat you well.

"You have a home now, Mildred. You don't have to fight anymore. We're your family, so don't feud with Tamara over a pot of flowers, alright?

"Now that we've settled everything with the flowerpot, let's put the past behind us. And since Tamara made the first move and gave you a sweet treat, shouldn't you show your appreciation too?"

Everything was exactly as he'd said in her previous life.

The metal spoon clinked softly on the wooden tray as Mildred wiped her mouth. "Fine. I'll do it."

"Good job, Mildred." A trace of a smile flashed in Kieran's eyes. Just as he predicted, this wary wolf pup could be tamed and easily manipulated with just a few honeyed words.

…

Before dinner, Mildred knocked on Tamara's door on the third floor.

"Come in."

Tamara was on the balcony, painting. The sunset cast its light on her like some fairy-tale princess and set her aglow. On the easel, her unfinished old painting of the twilight skyline was stunningly beautiful, showing her talent.

"Are you here to apologize, Mildred? Did you draft it out? I hate it when people stammer.

"Kieran told you, right? Play nice with me so that the Gingers will accept you, or you can crawl back to your slums and eat stale bread out of tin cans.

"Don't think being biologically related makes you special because the Ginger family has rules. Stray slums will just bring shame, and they might still be debating whether you're presentable in public.

"What, cat got your tongue? You're no different from that defective twin brother of yours; did you split a single brain cell in the womb?"

Mildred strode toward the balcony. Under Tamara's ceaseless mockery and taunting, she picked up the half-finished canvas on the easel and slapped it right onto Tamara's face.

"Ah!"

As the canvas hit the floor, its loud slap was drowned by Tamara's shriek. With her face smeared in oil paint, she wailed, and the sound tore through all four floors of the house.

It sounded almost like a death knell for the Ginger family's decaying nobility, or perhaps, a war horn for the new path Mildred would carve in her present life.

Chapter 3

In the living room on the first floor, Tamara finally washed off the oil paint after scrubbing furiously at her face until her skin turned pink.

Lying sprawled over Kieran's knee, she sobbed breathlessly. "It's all my fault. I broke the flowerpot, and Mildred must've lashed out because she got so mad.

"I'll be more careful and promise not to touch her stuff again…"

Standing to the side, Nox had eye-catching blonde hair and a pair of charming eyes full of disdain and arrogance. Like the electric baton he'd wielded in the previous life, he was ruthless and reckless.

"First day back and she's already lashing out, huh? No doubt she's from the slums.

"Kieran, now that Dad and Gavin aren't here, what do you say we do with her? Tamara's never suffered this way, and we can't just let it slide."

Adrian pushed the silver-rimmed glasses higher on his nose bridge and looked politely bored as always. "Family business is your call, Kieran. I don't have any objections, and since I'm busy with the lab, can I leave now?"

"Adrian, you should care about what happens at home too. Don't bury yourself in the lab all day," Kieran patiently remarked.

Adrian's eyes flicked to the culprit, Mildred, and flashed with a hint of annoyance. "Do you realize that your causing trouble is a waste of my time? I'm busy."

Nox chimed in, "I say we do it by the house rules. Three strikes with the rod, and that'll serve as a lesson reminding her to mind her hands next time."

A flicker of delight crossed Tamara's eyes before she quickly put on a worried look. "No, how could we hit her? She'd just gotten home."

Nox lazily replied, "That didn't stop her from hitting you, did it? What do you think, Kieran?"

Kieran stroked Tamara's hair in distress before disappointedly turning to Mildred. "Why did you do it? Give me one good reason."

Mildred blinked at him. "Didn't you tell me to?"

"When did I ever tell you to hit her?" Kieran snapped back, stunned.

"You said she broke my flowerpot and brought me a treat, so I should show her my appreciation." She plopped the half-eaten pear crumble in front of Tarama with a loud clunk.

"I did, and after she eats this, we're square just like you said."

A dead silence fell over the room.

Jabbing a finger at Mildred, Tamara sputtered but failed to form a single coherent retort. In the end, she turned her pleading eyes toward Kieran.

Nox snorted. "Seems like the slums taught you brawling and shamelessness. Or do you simply don't understand human speech? Like Al, did you leave your brain in the womb when you were born?"

Mildred's eyes went cold at the mention of Alphonese as she snapped, "As for you, do you understand human speech?"

"Of course…"

"So, you heard her say she broke my flowerpot, didn't you?"

"It's just a cheap pot, so who cares if it broke? These are two different issues altogether."

"What if that pot of flowers can cure Kieran's legs?"

Nox's words caught in his throat, while Mildred let out an icy laugh and continued, "See? Some things matter only if they're important to you, so don't pretend this is about a flowerpot. All things hold equal value, so no matter what it is, you should pay for what you broke.

"As self-claimed nobles, the Gingers pride themselves on strict family rules, and I thought you'd be born knowing such a simple lesson. Turns out I have to spell it out for you, Nox."

Nox flared into embarrassed rage. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to? Kieran, are you just going to let her get away with that?"

Seated in his wheelchair, Kieran's dark eyes fixed on Mildred with sharp, intense scrutiny. "She's right. This ends here."

Mildred gave him a smile edged with frost. "Good to see that you're pretty understanding, Kieran."

…

Later that night, Mildred lay in bed for a rest while Kieran's soft, harmless expression surfaced in her mind.

He wasn't a lamb or a wolf. In both previous and present lives, he'd always been a cunning fox who'd never make a move unless certain the trap would spring shut. With her understanding of Kieran, he was never one to act recklessly, unlike the rest of the Ginger fools.

In her previous life, though confined to a wheelchair, it was Kieran who'd quietly masterminded her death. Under his strings, every Ginger was unleashed to their full potential.

Gavin's trained men were tasked to hunt her down, Nox's electric baton lashed on her, Adrian's lab ran countless tests on her, and Tamara's last spark lit up the final match.

And in the end, Kieran inherited Ginger Corporation.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Right on cue," Mildred murmured as she opened her eyes.

When she opened the door, she was met with a familiar face. "It's late, Kieran. What's up?"

There was a flowerpot on Kieran's knee as he said, "What you said earlier makes sense. It might just be a pot of flowers, but all things hold equal value.

"So, I went and brought you a new pot. I hope it makes up for what happened today.

"Nox and Adrain grew up with Tamara, so they're used to protecting her. But it doesn't mean they don't care about you. We're a family, so learning to get along and understand each other takes time."

She looked down at the pot. "This isn't the same."

He warmly smiled and replied, "I know, but yours was thrown out, and I couldn't compare. You could tell me its name, and I'll find the exact one for you."

If Mildred weren't living her second life, she might have fallen for his harmless look.

"It doesn't have a name."

"Family lets each other off the hook, Mildred. I'm in a wheelchair and asking you nicely for a way out, alright?"

She looked him dead in the eye, past the feigned gentleness as a slight smile curled at her lips. "If you're so concerned, you could check the trash before it's hauled out tomorrow. Who knows, you might find a whole leaf."

Kieran's smile never wavered, but his eyes darkened with a venomous chill that escalated into a silent standoff with Mildred.

Unfazed, she said, "Well then, I won't keep you from your treasure hunt, Kieran. I'll get some sleep now."

With that, the door slammed shut.

Kieran's gentle composure finally cracked as his fingers tightened around the seedling before violently yanking it from the soil.

It seemed he'd underestimated her. As a slum stray, there was no way she'd know anything about curing paralysis. All her words must have just been empty promises.

He was almost certain that Mildred was just starved for affection and a fool reckless enough to challenge him on her very first day home.

And since that was the case, he'd give her a lesson on ways of survival within the Ginger family!

…

When Mildred descended the stairs the next morning, she found Pippa walking toward the backyard and shouting, "Keep looking! It's been hours; find me one whole leaf!"

As she stepped out through the back door, she found a dozen maids wearing masks and gloves on the empty field. They were combing through heaps of trash—bottles, napkins, leaves, leftover food—as sweltering heat mixed with the rank stench of rot in the air.

Pippa lifted her brows when she saw Mildred and called out in a shrill voice, "Oh, you're finally awake, Ms. Mildred. What are you doing here? Be careful not to faint from the smell!"

Mildred scanned the scene in disgust. "What's going on here?"

Tamara's sweet voice came from behind her. "Didn't you tell Kieran last night you had to have a single perfect leaf so he could buy you a new plant? They're all just following your orders!

"Also, don't worry, Pippa. Mildred grew up among garbage heaps in the slums, and she must've long gotten used to it."

Pippa practically scampered to Tamara's side with a fawning smile. "Yes, you're absolutely right! But it stinks so much, so please don't stand here any longer.

"Leave this to me, and I'll make sure they don't slack off for a second!"

Tamara shot Mildred a smug look. "You've never had so many people at your beck and call, have you? These old folks have worked for the Gingers for years, and today, they're all yours to boss around.

"Take your time getting used to it. Here in this house, no one would ever dare refuse your requests."

Forced to dig through garbage for hours, the maids all looked up at Mildred, the culprit behind their misery. Their eyes brimmed with barely concealed hatred and resentment.

A flicker of emotion stirred behind Mildred's calm expression.

If these dozen maids, who managed every aspect of the Ginger family's daily life, started loathing her, all it would take was a small retaliation from each of them to leave her broken and bleeding.

Sure enough, manipulating hearts and minds was second nature to Kieran.

Chapter 4

Mildred grabbed a worn feed sack from her room and slung it over her shoulder before heading for the backyard.

Tamara was momentarily stunned by her naivety.

Was Mildred going to dig through garbage with the maids? Did she think this would earn their loyalty?

"You can't dig through trash yourself, Mildred. You're the Ginger heiress, so how could you do something so lowly? They're aware you want that plant, so, of course, they'll find it for you.

"The Gingers pay them well, and they're more than willing to do this for you."

Pippa held back her disgust as she stepped forward to stop Mildred. "Just throw that bag away, Ms. Mildred. How could you bring something like that into the clean, noble Ginger residence?"

If she'd seen the filthy feed sack when she helped carry Mildred's suitcase yesterday, she would have thrown it out on the spot.

As expected of a kid raised in the slums, Mildred hoarded scraps like a stray dog!

"Move." Mildred looked up and shot Pippa with a calm look. Her voice was low and cold, carrying a hint of unspoken authority.

Pippa instinctively stepped aside. When she realized what she'd done, fury flickered in her eyes.

How could she have been intimidated by a slum stray?

Mildred sat down a few feet from the trash piles and opened the feed sack. With a flip and a sharp shake, golden bars clattered onto the grass, gleaming under the summer sun.

"Gold bars? Are those gold?"

"Gosh… Isn't she from the slums? Where did she get so much gold?"

On the steps, Tamara and Pippa both stared with their jaws dropped in shock. The scene of a glittering mountain of gold sitting in front of the little mountains of trash was so absurd.

Before they could react, Mildred announced in a lazy, pointed tone, "I'm new here, and I didn't realize someone breaking my stuff would bring you all so much trouble.

"If any of you had been present yesterday, you would have recalled me saying the plant wasn't important, so there was no point saving it.

"But since you were all put through all the trouble today, I should at least offer an apology…"

Under their burning stares, she picked up one of the shining gold bars.

"Finding a complete leaf isn't important now, and what matters is your hard work. So, here's your reward."

The maid exchanged glances as a dead silence fell over the scene.

Then, a young maid finally gathered her courage to step forward and crouch down before Mildred. "Ms. Mildred, are you saying that we'll get a gold bar if we do the work?"

Mildred smiled. "Hold out your hand."

As the maid obeyed, a heavy gold bar landed on her palm. A grin broke out across her face as she thanked Mildred profusely. "Thank you, Ms. Mildred!"

One after another, the rest started lining up for the gold bars.

"Thank you, Ms. Mildred!"

"Thank you, Ms. Mildred!"

Amid the chorus of gratitude, whispers of doubt began just as Mildred had hoped.

"I carried Ms. Mildred's suitcase yesterday and saw with my own eyes that it was Ms. Tamara who smashed the flowerpot. It seemed like she did it on purpose to slap the real daughter down a peg…"

"Exactly. When I cleaned up the pot yesterday, Ms. Mildred said herself it wasn't important. Why would she demand leave today?"

"No way a girl who grew up in the slums could come up with stunts to put us through so much trouble. Plus, this order didn't come from Ms. Mildred either…"

"It was from Pippa. Everyone knows who she sucks up to in this house."

All eyes of contempt turned to Pippa. Her face paled as she turned desperately to Tamara for help. "Ms. Tamara…"

Tamara glared daggers at Mildred. "You'd better explain to the family where all these gold bars came from!"

With the feed sack slung over her shoulder, Mildred still held three or four gold bars as she walked up to Pippa. The latter snorted and rolled her eyes up at the sky, refusing to look at the glinting gold.

"Pippa, since this whole mess started with your order, you can finish it and clean up every last piece of this trash. If you don't get it done today, don't bother coming back to work tomorrow."

"How dare you!" Pippa could only watch Mildred leave as her eyes gleamed with dark, venomous hate.

How dare a filthy stray threaten to fire her, a maid of 20 years with the Gingers, just after her first day in the house! Over her dead body!

…

Mildred tucked the feed sack away and stepped into the dining hall, where the family had gathered.

The head of the table and the first seat on either side were empty, reserved for her parents and Gavin.

Tamara sat in the second seat down the left row, with Nox and Adrian beside her. On the right, Kieran was seated in the second place, followed by Mildred.

Nox's blonde hair glinted and almost blinded her eyes, yet he still leaned in and said, "I heard the slums are a real mess with all sorts of people and trades. So, what did you do to get your hands on all that gold?"

Tamara blinked innocently. "Mildred, I heard you never entered college, yet you had your own yard and so many gold bars. How did you make a living? Or did someone fund you?"

Nox scoffed. "If that's the case, you'd better have Adrian run a full test. We can't have you bringing diseases home."

"I don't have time for that. Get a checkup at a hospital and bring the report tonight so we can all take a look. If you're sick, move out and don't tarnish Tamara's name," Adrian coolly said as he adjusted his glasses.

Kieran watched the three close in around Mildred, and when she didn't react, he started growing restless too.

So, he cleared his throat and said, "Mildred, they asked you questions. Where did the gold bars come from?"

Mildred lazily looked up and let the silence stretch for a whole minute before saying, "The slaughterhouse."

"What?" Kieran frowned.

Mildred took one bite of her omelet and continued, "One gold bar per limb. Two per head. Three for the organs. Skinning jobs cost extra."

Tamara paled. "W-Whose limbs are we talking about?"

Mildred gave her a thoughtful look as she lazily replied, "Do you really think butchering livestock pays that well?"

Her knife sliced through the sausage on her plate just then, and the spilling juices had Tamara picturing a bloody scene. Disgusted, she rushed out of the room before her gagging sounds were soon heard from the hallway.

Mildred twitched a smile and pressed. "Do you need more details, Kieran?"

Kieran's gaze darkened. "We're only asking because we care, Mildred. It's fine if you don't want to tell us, but you shouldn't have scared Tamara like that."

"You asked and I answered, and it's not my problem that you don't trust me. I'm done here," she calmly announced before setting down her utensils and leaving the table.

Nox finally snapped out of it. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment upon realizing that he'd been intimidated by her nonsense.

"Kieran, will you look at that! Either she's throwing slaps or running her mouth like a lunatic, and now she acts like some starved dog!

"That shouldn't be how a Ginger heiress behaves! Aren't you going to discipline her?"

Adrian's glasses flashed with a cold glint as he chimed in. "Kieran, if Mildred picks on Tamara again and you won't handle it, I will."

Kieran nodded. "She does need some teaching. In fact, the Luzons sent us an invitation for the banquet and made sure to ask us to bring Mildred along."

Nox instantly perked up. "Are they going to have Mildred take Tamara's place in that engagement? If that's the case, Tamara won't have to marry that sick Luzon boy, right?"

Kieran blandly replied, "The Luzons are fine with the switch. From now on, we'd just say it's always been Mildred's engagement to the Luzons. Quit it with the replacement stuff."

There was a trace of a smile in Nox's eyes as he raised an eyebrow. "Word is Arthur's been so sick he couldn't get out of bed, and the family even got his funeral hall ready. If she marries him now, she'll be a widow before the year's out."

"Maybe they're hoping for a miracle. Either way, it doesn't matter as long as Tamara doesn't suffer.

"We've been acquainted with the Luzons for generations, and both our families are among Riverdale's nobles. As a slum stray like Mildred, marrying into such a distinguished family is quite a stroke of luck," Adrian commented.

Outside the dining hall, a smile tugged at Tamara's lips.

The fact that the Gingers reclaimed Mildred at the perfect time to take the fall meant that even the heavens were looking out for her!

Chapter 5

Mildred made a quick trip back to Westbury, the old towns of Riverdale, and what the rich now called the slums.

Once, Riverdale had been a tiny city, and this had been the whole of it. People had just been concerned about staying fed and warm.

Then came the economic bloom, when land reclamation spread out Riverdale to the sea, and wealth started funneling in through ports and runways.

The gap between the wealthy and poor grew so vast that those who rose to power forgot that they, too, once came from humble beginnings.

Mildred had just stepped off the bus when someone bumped into her from behind. She turned around to see a middle-aged lady, Ava Kinsella, toppling over at her feet with a loud thud and drawing a small crowd.

"Hey, must be a scam, huh? Poor girl's going to have to cough up a fortune to compensate."

"Maybe she did knock her down. Look at the blood on her head!"

Mildred glanced down at Ava's ashen face, purple-tinged lips, and limbs twitching uncontrollably. It was clearly not a scam.

Crouching down, she pressed two fingers to Ava's wrist. Her pulse was tight and thready—classic signs of a swollen liver.

She lifted Ava's eyelids to find that the pupils were slightly dilated.

"A stroke's coming on…" Mildred murmured and swiftly made her diagnosis. If no one did anything, Ava might not make it.

She reached into her bag for her thin silver needle, only to be snapped at by a man behind her. "Don't you dare mess around! Do you even understand the consequences if something goes wrong?"

"Seriously, can such a young kid actually know what she's doing? Or is this just a scam?"

"How are we supposed to know if we can count on her? Just wait for the ambulance!"

Mildred ignored them all as she steadied the thin silver needle and pressed it into Ava's GV 26. Her movements were practiced and fluid, and her fingers never faltered.

As the silver needle was embedded, Ava's tremors slowed, and her breathing evened out.

Just then, a girl in a flowing dress, Zoey Sheppard, rushed forward, flanked by black-suited bodyguards. She anxiously called out, "Mom! Wake up!"

As if on cue, Ava's eyelids fluttered open. Mildred pressed down on her shoulder and gently said, "Don't talk yet. Stay calm."

She carefully slipped the first needle out and left one more on LI 4 to keep Ava stable before looking up at Zoey. "She needs a CT scan. There might be a minor bleeding in the brain."

Tears welled up in Zoey's eyes as she pleaded. "Can you come with me? Please tell the doctors what's happening!"

"Sure."

…

At the hospital, Mildred waited quietly in the hall when leather shoes clinked loudly against the floor behind her. She turned around and froze.

A man in a black suit approached, whose sharp facial features and chiseled jawline gave off a cold, aristocratic air.

It was him…

"Are you Mildred Ginger?"

The familiar force she'd felt washed through her as she warily stepped back. "Who are you?"

The man narrowed his dark eyes as shadows flickered across his expression. "Dorian Sheppard. The lady you helped is my mother, and I rushed over after receiving my sister's call."

Just then, Zoey emerged from the examination room and threw herself into Dorian's arms. "You're finally here, Dorian! I was so terrified!"

"How's Mom?"

"She's fine now. The doctor said Ms. Ginger saved her in time, and if she hadn't stepped in, Mom might not have made it."

Zoey turned to Mildred with a deep bow. "Thank you so much, Ms. Ginger. Oh, and I'm Zoey Sheppard.

"Where do you live? Once Mom's better, we'll pay a visit and thank you properly."

"No need. It was nothing."

Even as Mildred turned to leave, that figure in black lingered in her mind.

When she stepped outside, thunder cracked overhead, followed by torrential rain pouring down. She hurriedly stepped back, but her newly cleaned sneakers still caught a few drops.

A warm hand landed on her back, and she instantly sensed that familiar force again. "What's up, Mr. Sheppard?"

He steadied her, raising his eyebrows slightly. "How did you know it was me without turning around?"

"Is everything all right with Mrs. Sheppard?"

"Her condition's stabilized, and Zoey's waiting for her to wake up."

"Then why—"

"It's raining, so let me take you home."

Before Mildred could reject, a black Maybach rolled up in front of her. Dorian opened a huge, black umbrella, blocking out the gray sky above her.

"Let's go."

…

They drove in silence as the rain drummed on the roof.

From time to time, Mildred turned to steal glances at Dorian. She was certain she hadn't met him in her previous life, but the Sheppards were a household name.

Among the nouveau riche of recent decades, the Sheppards stood unchallenged and claimed the throne.

Walter Sheppard was legendary in the business world, and his heir was rumored to be a sharp, ruthless strategist with uncanny foresight. He was a man the old-money nobles feared and couldn't afford to cross.

"What are you looking at, Ms. Ginger?"

Though caught red-handed, Mildred didn't bother hiding anything. "You. I was wondering if we've met before."

In the passenger seat, the assistant, Miguel Penworth, nearly choked after hearing her words. He'd seen countless women trying to hit on Dorian, but that was seriously an outdated line.

Dorian's eyes gleamed with a trace of a barely noticeable smile as he leaned in and said, "Well, take a good look. Have we?"

His dark eyes held a glimmer of amusement and were completely devoid of sharpness, almost like a deliberate display of harmlessness.

Mildred studied him before disappointedly shaking her head. "I have a terrible memory. Even if we had, I wouldn't remember."

Something flickered behind his eyes and was gone in a blink. Then, he smiled and replied, "Maybe I just have an average face."

Miguel choked for real this time.

Dorian's face could contend against half the male actors in the entertainment industry, yet he claimed to be average.

But Mildred shook her head and truthfully remarked, "No way. You're good-looking."

"Thanks, I guess."

Miguel finally caught on that Dorian seemed to be humoring her.

…

They turned off the main roads and snaked through the maze-like alleys of Westbury before stopping at the end of Elmwell Lane. A run-down house that might collapse with the next gust of wind entered their sight.

Dorian stepped out and circled around to open Mildred's door, holding an umbrella. She walked under it, dry to the last step, until she reached the faded front door.

"Thanks, but I've arrived."

The rain continued pouring. Even as he stood a step below her, he still seemed taller. "Do you still remember my name, Ms. Ginger?"

"Dorian Sheppard."

A faint smile curled at his lips as he said, "Good. Now get inside before you get wet."

The Maybach had barely turned out of Elmwell Lane when an elderly man in slippers splashed through a puddle and ran into the alley, holding a half-broken umbrella over his head.

"Mr. Sheppard, that's the old traditional medicine practitioner Mrs. Sheppard wanted to see today. Shall we bring him to the hospital for another look?"

Through the window, Dorian watched the old man pound on Mildred's door and grin as he rushed in.

"No need. Mom found the wrong person, and he can't cure her."

…

Mildred's lips twitched helplessly as she watched the elderly man flop onto the floor after barely stepping through the door. Then, he flailed his arms and legs as if he were throwing a tantrum.

"You're 73, not three, Mr. Quirke. That trick doesn't work anymore.

"Plus, I never said I wouldn't go to the Luzon residence."

Hermes Quirke hopped up onto his feet. "Really? You're not lying, are you? You've been treating patients at my clinic for a year now, but you've never shown your face."

She shot him a look. "So, why are you here then?"

He just grinned. "The Luzon boy's had it rough. He's been sick half his life, and now that he's getting better, he just wants to thank you himself.

"He doesn't even care if he could see you in person, and he's been here three times just to give you a gift. He's weak, and at this rate, I'm worried he'll drop dead in the clinic."

"...Tell him to leave it by the northwest corner of the Luzon residence. I'll pick it up tomorrow night."

"Got it! And here, my wife made truffle garlic bread. Make sure to eat up; you're skin and bones!"

Once Hermes opened the door, wind and rain howled through the rattled house.

He suddenly looked back at her and asked, "Oh, and one more thing. Congratulations on finding your family. Has it brought back any memories yet?"