"Finally figured it out?"
There was a three-second silence on the line before a low male voice finally came through.
Dorian Mitchell sounded casual, almost unruly. "Audrey, I told you a long time ago. I'm the only one who's ever truly treated you like family."
Family...
Audrey's eyes instantly turned red.
Her own parents couldn't even compare to a so-called "brother."
She had met Dorian when she was still living on the streets.
Back then, she had just escaped from traffickers, only to collapse from her injuries, barely clinging to life.
Dorian had been the one who saved her.
He told her he once had a younger sister who had been killed by traffickers. So the moment he saw Audrey, she reminded him of her.
She had naturally started regarding him as her brother, and he had truly treated her like one.
Whenever there was something good to eat, he always brought it to her first. When other drifters tried to bully her, he was always the first to step in and shield her.
That was how they survived together for ten years.
It wasn't until Dorian founded Mitchell Group and rose as one of the most powerful new elites that Audrey finally found news of her family.
Back then, Dorian had tried to stop her. "You were missing for ten years. If they truly cared about you, how could they not have found you? Stay with me, Audrey. From now on, I'll be your family."
But at the time, Audrey had only thought he was jealous that she had found her biological parents.
They had a huge fight, and she cut off all contact with him.
She hadn't expected that in just three years, she would prove how foolish she had been.
"Yeah..." Audrey laughed softly, her eyes red. "I really overestimated myself."
Dorian's breathing faltered. The amusement vanished from his voice. "Don't cry. I'll come get you myself in a week."
......
After returning home, Audrey ran a fever for an entire day and night.
In her dreams, she was back at seven years old again. Wearing a birthday hat, she stood before a cake, making a wish, while her parents and Julian surrounded her, singing her a birthday song.
The candlelight danced across her face. Everything looked so warm, so perfect.
But when she woke up, all she saw was a cold, empty house.
When she unlocked her phone, messages from Beatrice Winslow—her mother—flooded in one after another.
"Lillian heard Julian was hurt and rushed over in tears. She's been taking care of him day and night without any rest, and you didn't even show up. Do you have any conscience at all?"
"Your father was so angry he nearly had a heart attack! And Lillian has been pleading for you this whole time, asking us to forgive you. Don't you feel even a shred of guilt?"
"Don't think you can hide from this by playing dead. Get to the hospital and apologize right now!"
When Audrey didn't respond, Beatrice kept sending videos one after another.
Audrey tapped on one at random.
On the screen, Lillian, her cheeks flushed, was feeding Julian. Edward and Beatrice sat beside them, looking pleased. "Lillian is the considerate one. Unlike someone else... nothing but an ungrateful brat."
Audrey said nothing as she watched the messages. She simply began packing her things.
All the things she had once treasured... she didn't want any of them anymore.
The first custom gown her parents had given her, the handmade ornament Julian had crafted, photos from her childhood... even the matching gifts they had also given Lillian—she threw all of them into the trash.
But just as she finished packing everything, the front door burst open. Beatrice and Julian rushed in.
"Audrey!" Beatrice shouted furiously, pointing straight at her. "What did you do this time to make Lillian cry all night?"
