Chapter 1 Airplane Accident

In the pitch-black room, young Bella Grey watched the sky outside flickering with lightning, and a sense of panic crept into her heart.

"The weather's awful today. Dad shouldn't have to go to work, right?" Bella muttered to herself.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside the door, followed by a rough knock.

"Bella, open up! Your dad's plane crashed! He killed a bunch of people, and they're definitely coming for you!"

Bella recognized the voice through the peephole; it was her dad Lucas Grey's friend, Dwayne Larson.

She opened the door, and Dwayne, drenched from head to toe, had obviously run through the rain.

"Bella, we gotta go, now. I'll get you out of here." Dwayne picked Bella up and was about to leave.

She cried and asked, "Mr. Larson, what happened to my dad?"

Dwayne couldn't answer, but when they reached the stairway, he froze.

Bella looked towards the stairway, where a group of cold men dressed in black stood.

"Bella, run!" Dwayne put her down and blocked the stairway with his body.

The men in black started beating Dwayne, and Bella, terrified, ran back to her room and hid under the bed, trembling.

Until she heard footsteps, and then a hand reached under the bed and pulled her out.

Bella bit the hand, but the boy just frowned and didn't say anything.

"My name is Sterling Windsor. I'm here to take you to your father." He spoke calmly and then took young Bella away.

Under the black rain curtain, lightning streaked across the night sky, bringing a moment of brightness.

As Bella was being put into the car, she saw Dwayne's face filled with despair.

Bella's mother, Mira Morris, had abandoned her when she was very young, and with Lucas's death, Bella became an orphan.

The Windsor family had hired Lucas as a private jet pilot. Sterling's parents were among those who perished in the plane crash.

"Come with me. From now on, you'll live with me, and I'll cover all your expenses as you grow up."

Sterling took Bella to the funeral, and he extended his hand to her.

Bella placed her hand in Sterling's palm, and the two of them walked towards the door.

Everyone thought Sterling took Bella in because they shared the same tragic fate.

At first, Bella thought so too.

But when she arrived at the Windsor family, she realized that Sterling's true purpose in taking her in was for revenge.

Rumors had spread from somewhere.

It was said that Lucas had drunk alcohol and performed a series of violations before flying, which led to the crash.

Bella didn't believe Lucas was that kind of person.

But Sterling clearly believed the rumor and kept her by his side, constantly tormenting her.

"Get out of my study, and don't come in again without my permission!"

Sterling grabbed Bella's clothes like he was picking up a cat and threw her out of the room.

Bella wiped her tears and left the study; she had only brought Sterling coffee because he looked tired.

Her life was filled with caution, like Cinderella. Even the slightest mistake could make Sterling angry. His actions had left deep psychological scars on Bella.

Ten years passed.

Eighteen-year-old Bella, in the cold winter, rode a shabby bicycle and bid farewell to her good friend Anna Powell.

Bella's face was pale from the cold wind, and Anna felt sorry for her. She wanted to invite Bella to ride with her and take her home, but Bella refused.

Sterling had once warned Bella not to reveal their relationship, and she didn't want to cause trouble and face punishment again.

Anna could only sigh as she watched Bella's thin figure.

Bella was very beautiful, but her only flaw was that she was too strong-willed.

Braving the cold wind, Bella finally rode her bicycle back to the Windsor family's villa.

After parking the bike, she slipped through the back door into the damp and dark storage room, which was her bedroom.

However, just as Bella was about to put down her bag and rest for a while, her hand was grabbed by the servant, Zoey Smith.