Betrayed, Then Back For Revenge

1.Chapter 1 Like Mother, Like Daughter

It was September in Dasmieca. In the fancy Jennings family mansion in Shoneport, five people sat in the living room, the tension thick enough to choke on.

Briar Jennings, fresh off a flight from abroad, kicked back on a couch, legs crossed like she owned the place. The other four were crammed together on the other couch across from her, clearly uncomfortable.

Gunfire from a phone game kept blasting from Briar's phone, cutting through her father's voice every time he tried to speak.

"Briar, you just got back. You don't even know the first thing about running a company," Edgar Jennings said. "Why don't you hand your shares over to me? You'll still get your annual cut just like before."

Briar didn't even glance up. Her thumbs kept tapping.

Edgar continued, "Your brother's grown now. It's time he started learning the ropes. I could transfer him half your shares so that he doesn't have to start from scratch."

There was still nothing from Briar.

"And about that engagement to the Hargreaves boy," Edgar added. "You've been gone for years. You don't even know him anymore. Why not let your sister take your place?"

No matter what he said, Briar just kept playing, like he wasn't even there.

Edgar's patience wore thin. His face darkened, but before he could explode, Halle Jennings—his ever-graceful wife and longtime expert at playing the good stepmother—gently placed a hand on his chest.

"Edgar, she just got home," she said sweetly. "Let her settle in first."

But her eyes weren't so sweet. They flicked coldly toward her daughter, Beatrice Jennings.

Catching the signal, Beatrice jumped up and snatched the phone from Briar's hands. "Briar, Dad's talking to you! Where are your manners? You're upsetting him."

Briar's face turned stone cold. She shot Beatrice a look sharp enough to kill. "Give it back."

Beatrice froze like a deer caught in the headlights. The overwhelming pressure made a chill run down her spine.

Briar grabbed her phone back. The game was over. Her teammates were cussing her out in the group chat. Her mood soured even more.

She hadn't even had time for a drink since stepping off the plane. Her luggage was still sitting by the stairs. But none of that mattered to Edgar.

He didn't ask how she'd managed all these years alone overseas. He didn't care. All he wanted was her shares—and to dump her fiancé on someone else. Some father he was.

Then again, Edgar had never been much of a father to begin with.

Briar didn't care about that fiancé or the arranged marriage. But that didn't mean she'd let anyone take what was hers.

She wasn't like her mother—Rosalia—who gave up everything, even her life, for a man.

What made it worse was that just three months after Rosalia died, Edgar shamelessly moved his mistress, Halle, and her two kids into the house.

The boy, Camden Jennings, was two years older than Briar, and the girl, Beatrice, was only two months older than Briar. Their sudden appearance was a slap in the face to Rosalia, and it instantly had her father's family boiling with anger.

Even if Briar had been raised overseas by her grandfather, she was still the rightful heir to the Jennings family. Her uncles were so furious that they almost went after Edgar with knives.

Back then, Edgar had built his company with the help of Rosalia's father, Zeke Grant. Rosalia had held 60% of the shares, and before she died, she secretly left them all to Briar.

It was the one thing she'd done right after everything else had fallen apart.

By the time Edgar found out, it was too late. Zeke's family had already taken Briar out of the country. Edgar didn't hear from her again until she got older and started reaching out.

As far as Zeke's family was concerned, Edgar and Halle were the ones who pushed Rosalia to her death. They had wanted revenge, but no matter what they tried, Edgar always slipped away untouched.

The only possible reason was that he had someone powerful backing him. Some of the company's new products didn't even come from their own team—they came through private accounts under Edgar's name.

But the most shocking part was this—Briar found out that her mom hadn't run off because she had broken down. She'd been taken.

When Zeke's people finally tracked her down, she was locked in a mental hospital—either completely out of it or asleep. During the rare times she was clearheaded, she'd cry and ask for a lawyer to make her will.

Snapping out of it, Briar slipped her phone into her pocket and looked straight at Edgar.

Her tone was flat, but every word cut deep. "So all those hundreds of calls, rushing me to come home, were just to trick me into handing over my shares so your idiot son can run the company into the ground, huh?

"You really think the company belongs to you now, huh? Did you forget who the majority shareholder is? That bastard son of yours isn't stepping one foot into my company."

Edgar's face twitched. "You ungrateful brat!"

Camden, who'd been quiet up until now, shot Briar a look like he wanted to tear her apart.

Briar didn't even flinch. She pointed right at Beatrice. "And you want me to break off my engagement just so this homewrecker can take my spot, right? Like mother, like daughter. I've never seen anyone so proud to be the other woman."

She turned her eyes on Beatrice and sneered, "Did your mom teach you that? Was that part of your well upbringing—how to steal someone else's man? Why are you so dead set on taking what's mine?"

Edgar's face went dark. His plan had been laid bare, but he still forced himself to speak calmly. "Briar, don't say things like that. Camden's the only boy in the family. Of course, he's going to take over the company eventually. You don't even want to work there, so what's the point of holding onto those shares?

"And about your engagement to the Hargreaves boy—that was just something your grandfather and Gavin agreed to years ago. Now that Zeke's gone, it doesn't mean anything. Beatrice and that boy love each other. Would you really want to break them up?"

Edgar only dared to pressure Briar now because he'd heard Zeke was dead.

With Zeke gone, the Grant family was like an unguarded pie—every outsider was trying to take a bite. Edgar believed that they were too busy protecting their own company to deal with him.

2.Chapter 2 Do Me A Favor

Soon, Briar's uncles would be too tied up to help her. Once Edgar got her back, she'd have no one left to turn to—and Edgar could do whatever he wanted with her.

He had Rosalia wrapped around his finger back in the day. To him, Briar was just another easy target.

"Briar, I'm your father, your closest family," Edgar said in a gentle voice. "I'd never hurt you. Just be a good girl. I'll have Marcus, the lawyer, come over so you can sign the transfer papers.

"Tomorrow, go call off your engagement with the Hargreaves boy. After that, you can go back abroad. I won't bother you again, I promise."

Briar let out a cold laugh. "Do you even hear yourself? You think I don't see through all this, huh? You're not looking out for me—you just want to use me and toss me aside when you're done."

She knew the moment she gave in, Edgar would cut her off completely. She'd lose everything, and worse, her revenge would be completely out of reach.

"You think I'm easy to push around just because I haven't fought back, huh?" She said, "Let me be clear—I'd rather burn everything down than give you a dime."

She then pointed at Camden and Beatrice. "My mom has only one daughter. I don't have any siblings. These two are your love children with your mistress. They've got no claim to what's mine."

Edgar's face twisted in rage. He suddenly raised his hand to slap Briar. "You ungrateful brat! I'll teach you a lesson!"

But Briar caught his wrist mid-air. Edgar cried out in pain.

Briar might've looked sweet on the outside, but she wasn't weak. Edgar had no idea. He thought she'd been struggling abroad all these years. He believed a kid raised without parents would break at the slightest fake affection.

But Briar didn't lack love or support. In fact, she could destroy Edgar with just one of her many hidden identities.

Over the years, she rarely came back, and her relationship with Edgar was barely more than a formality.

She waited until she turned eighteen to come back because that was when she'd legally inherit her mother's shares.

And there was more to it—she had proof tied to her mom's disappearance. She needed a reason to stay in the country and dig deeper.

As luck would have it, Edgar's desperate power grab gave her the perfect excuse, so Briar returned.

Edgar howled as Briar twisted his wrist, but all the cursing in the world didn't loosen her grip. No one dared step in—Briar's icy aura had everyone frozen in place.

Just then, Briar's phone rang. She frowned, kicked Edgar aside, then gave Halle and her kids another swift kick, sending all four of them rolling into one pathetic pile.

She looked at her phone, hung up the call, and slid it back into her pocket.

Then she stared down at the mess in front of her. "Dad, you were the one who begged me to come back. Did you think you could cheat me out of my shares and toss me out right after? Keep dreaming. I'm not the pushover you were hoping for."

Something in her words must've hit a nerve. Edgar suddenly stood up and lunged at her, hand raised and voice shaking with rage. "I'll kill you, you ungrateful brat!"

Briar calmly stepped back. Edgar missed and crashed straight to the floor, landing hard on his knees.

Halle and the kids rushed over to help him up, all of them glaring at Briar like they wanted her gone—but none of them dared move again.

Good thing for Edgar, he'd already sent the servants and bodyguards away earlier because he didn't want any witnesses to his little scheme. If they'd seen this mess, the embarrassment would've been even worse.

"You really thought you could steal what's mine, huh?" Briar sneered.

Edgar slowly got to his feet, shaking with rage, but this time, there was fear in his eyes. "I'm still your father," he snapped. "You'll do what I say. I'm the head of the Jennings family!"

Briar didn't bother to look back. She walked to the door, then paused. "I've already scheduled a shareholders' meeting for the day after tomorrow," she said coolly. "Let's see how long you last without the company behind you."

"What?" Edgar froze. His face went pale as he rushed to call his secretary. Behind him, Briar walked off without a care.

Outside, her phone rang again. She picked up. "Georgiana? What's up?"

"Briar! Are you in Dasmieca?" Georgiana asked in a cheerful tone. She was Briar's business partner abroad.

"Yeah. What is it?" Briar replied, then warned, "Don't throw me any work. I'm on vacation."

Georgiana laughed. "I know. But it's just a quick job. There's a batch of experimental meds that needs delivering within the hour. Super urgent. The pay is 3 million dollars. Interested?"

Briar raised an eyebrow. "3 million dollars? Who's throwing around that kind of cash?"

"Ashton from Shoneport. His grandfather just had a medical emergency. He needs black market meds to stay alive," Georgiana explained. "You're already there, so it's a local run. Easy money."

"Alright. When will the meds be ready?" Briar didn't exactly need the money, but she wasn't about to say no to it either.

Georgiana hesitated and laughed awkwardly. "That's the thing. It's too last-minute. Even if we shipped it out now, it might not make it in time. But don't you still carry some of those All Miracle Pills? Maybe you could—"

Briar laughed in disbelief. "So that's what you're after, huh?"

Georgiana chuckled nervously. "Come on, Briar, do me a favor?"

3.Chapter 3 What A Joke

Two minutes later, Briar slipped on her black helmet, jumped on a sleek black motorcycle parked in the Jennings family's driveway, and took off humming, ready to make a quick delivery.

Camden and Beatrice only dared to step outside after she was out of sight. They started cussing up a storm—but it was way too late. Briar was already gone.

While riding, Briar's phone pinged with a file on Ashton. She tapped it open and stopped short at the photo.

He was tall with broad shoulders and a sharp jawline. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, masking the sharpness in his gaze. His lips were tight—an expression worn by men used to control and authority.

Briar gave a low whistle. "Perfect," she muttered.

Ashton was built like a dream. A little cold, a little dangerous. Just her type.

Any hesitation Briar had about this job disappeared the second she saw his face. She grinned, twisted the throttle, and sped up.

An hour later, Briar pulled up in front of a massive mansion, skidding her bike to a smooth stop right next to a shiny black SUV. Her motorcycle looked rough, all scratched up and worn, but she didn't care.

As soon as she cut the engine, a tall man in a suit approached, followed by a group of bodyguards.

Briar took off her helmet and eyed Ashton as he got closer. No surprise, he was even better-looking in person.

She stayed seated, one leg on the ground, totally calm. Meeting his stare, she asked, "Ashton?"

Ashton looked a little surprised that the courier was a girl, but he nodded. "Where's the medicine?"

Briar pulled a small, clear plastic bag from her pocket and held it up between two fingers. "Where's the money?"

The bag looked like something off the street—just two tiny black pills inside. It didn't look like anything special.

Ashton's eyes drifted to Briar's wrist, where a simple black hair tie stood out against her skin. Her chill attitude, the way she handled herself—it threw him off for a second.

After a couple of seconds of silent observation, a cold glint flashed behind Ashton's glasses. He suddenly changed his mind. Instead of taking the pills, he pulled out his phone and transferred half the payment. Then he said, "Come with me. I'll pay the rest after the pills are tested."

Briar glanced at the bodyguards, then back at Ashton. She didn't like the vibe, but she wasn't fazed either.

After a short pause, she slipped the pills back into her pocket, got off the bike, and followed Ashton, hands in her jacket, face unreadable.

The Wade family was the oldest and most powerful clan in Shoneport. Their mansion looked more like a museum—fancy and old-school. It had several courtyards, but only one was lit up. A crowd of anxious-looking people stood gathered at the entrance.

In families like this, it was hard to tell who really cared. Nobody knew if all that concern was real or just for show.

When Ashton walked in with a young girl, every head turned. All eyes were on her—curious, suspicious, maybe a little judgmental.

Surrounded by all these political and business heavyweights, most people would've been shaking. But Briar was cool as ever. She didn't even tone down her attitude one bit.

She walked into the courtyard like she owned the place, Ashton right beside her.

With Griffin on his deathbed, the Wade family was staring down a major storm over their wealth and power. So when Ashton brought in a stranger at a time like this, everyone tensed up.

But because Ashton had a reputation for being cold and cutthroat, no one dared stop them. They just kept quiet and followed the two into the courtyard.

Griffin used to run with President Steven back in the day. When he stepped down for health reasons, the higher-ups made sure he got the best military doctors in the country.

Right now, those same doctors were gathered around Griffin's bed, and they looked completely stumped. Griffin had slipped into another coma, with no warning signs and no symptoms.

This was his sixth one this year, and each one lasted longer than the last. This time, he'd been out way past what they thought was safe. His vitals were dropping fast. They'd nearly declared him dead twice.

Word got out, and suddenly the whole Wade family swarmed the house, dragging in lawyers and kicking up drama. They crowded around Griffin's bed, refusing to leave, each one acting like they had the final say.

It took Ashton losing his temper and swearing he'd found an experimental drug to make them clear the room.

So when Ashton walked in now with a young woman at his side, the doctors looked a little anxious. "Did you get the medicine?" one of them asked.

Ashton didn't say anything and turned to Briar.

Without missing a beat, Briar held up the clear plastic bag. Inside were two small black pills that rattled lightly as she handed them over.

The doctors stared at it like she'd just handed them a bag of candy. The packaging was cheap, and the pills didn't look like anything special.

"Miss, has this been clinically tested?" one doctor asked hesitantly, not taking the bag. "What are the side effects? What's in it?"

"No clinical trials," Briar said flatly. "The side effect is drowsiness. And as for what's in it—that's classified."

The doctors didn't look impressed. But Briar ignored them and turned to Ashton. "You asked for one pill. I brought an extra. You can test it if you want. I'll wait thirty minutes.

"But I'll tell you now—these pills work. Combine them with acupuncture, and your grandfather will wake up in half an hour.

"And you don't have time to waste. At the rate he's going, he's got maybe an hour left. You'd better decide fast."

Before Ashton or the doctors could respond, someone scoffed from behind them.

"What a joke. The best military doctors in the country are still working on this, and some random girl shows up acting like she's got all the answers, huh?"

"Ashton, where did you even find her? Experimental drugs are risky enough. If something goes wrong—"

"Yeah, Griffin's pulled through before. Let's stick with what we know. No need to gamble now."

"She's just a kid. What does she even know about Griffin's condition? Giving him an hour to live, huh? She's full of it."

"And acupuncture? What kind of outdated nonsense is that? Isn't that Tristan's thing anyway? If he's not here, what's the point?"

As the crowd kept murmuring, Ashton turned slowly to face them. His voice stayed calm but carried weight. "If you don't want to get kicked out again, shut up."

The room went silent. Then Ashton turned back to Briar. He looked her dead in the eye. "You know traditional medicine?" he asked. "You can do acupuncture?"

It didn't sound like a real question—more like a quiet demand. His tone was cold and steady—and hard to argue with.

Something about the way he looked at her made Briar uneasy. She'd seen that look before, though she couldn't place where. "A little," she replied.

4.Chapter 4 Confident Briar

Briar quickly pulled herself together and met Ashton's gaze. "So, what's it gonna be? If you're not in, I've got better things to do."

Ashton narrowed his eyes, thinking for a second. "How sure are you?"

Hands stuffed in her pockets, Briar glanced at the unconscious Griffin. "One pill and some acupuncture, and he'll be awake in an hour. Keep it up twice a day, and he'll be back on his feet in a week."

She said it like it was a done deal—full of swagger, not a hint of doubt.

Griffin had been sick for years. Every top doctor in Dasmieca had tried and failed to cure him. All they could do was slow things down.

Unless they could somehow track down the legendary Tristan, Griffin wasn't gonna last much longer.

But Tristan had basically vanished off the face of the earth. Ashton had already burned several million dollars trying to find him, but it was all for nothing.

Some folks believed Tristan was dead. They said his only student had taken over—but that person was even harder to find.

Only a handful of people had ever seen Tristan's student. No one even knew if it was a man or a woman.

That was why, with Griffin slipping deeper into another coma, Ashton had no choice but to gamble on experimental drugs from the Dark Net.

They could keep throwing money at finding Tristan, but Griffin couldn't wait.

Ashton's gaze shifted. The curiosity he'd shown at first was still there, but now it was laced with scrutiny and suspicion. "Awake in an hour? Fully recovered in a week?"

Before Briar could answer, a few of the Wade relatives burst out laughing. "Do you even know where you are, Miss?" one sneered. "This isn't some street clinic where you can say whatever you want."

"Yeah, wake up in an hour, cured in a week—who are you trying to fool?" another chimed in.

"Even Dasmieca's best doctors wouldn't dare promise that. Someone get this clown out of here," someone else shouted.

More voices joined in. They looked Briar up and down, already convinced she was a nobody. They'd heard she rode in on some beat-up bike to deliver meds. Her outfit probably cost less than one of their belts.

They didn't bother looking into who she really was. To them, she was just some bold girl trying to chase Ashton.

And in their eyes, Ashton would never go for someone like her. Honestly, they thought they were being generous just by not tossing her out.

The doctors didn't show the same contempt as the Wade relatives, but they tried to talk her down. "Young lady, this isn't the place to take wild chances," one said.

"Yeah," another added. "Forget the pills. We're not even sure if they're safe. And acupuncture is not an option either. You're too young to even have a license, right?"

"Griffin isn't someone you experiment on. Just walk away," someone else said.

Briar didn't react. No flinch, no panic. She didn't even glance at the people trash-talking her. Her focus never left Ashton—like he was the only one whose opinion mattered.

And Ashton noticed. Most people would've cracked by now, but Briar stayed calm, unfazed by all the noise around her. That alone was enough to make an impression.

He raised his hand, and the room instantly quieted down. Everyone expected him to kick Briar out.

Instead, he looked straight at Briar and said, "If you can wake my grandfather in an hour, I'll come thank you in person. What's your name?"

"Briar Jennings," she replied coolly.

Ashton didn't completely buy the whole "fully recovered in a week" thing, but he did believe Briar could wake Griffin up in an hour. That alone earned him a few points in Briar's book.

"Ashton, how can you gamble with your grandfather's life like this?" someone from the crowd shouted, clearly angry. "I won't allow it."

"Me neither," another chimed in. "Griffin's condition is too fragile. We can't just let anyone mess with him."

Ashton shot them a cold glare. "And since when do you make decisions for the Wade family?"

That shut them up fast.

Briar raised an eyebrow, starting to get a clearer picture—Ashton had real authority around here.

Without paying any attention to the sour faces around her, she followed Ashton to Griffin's bedside. She pulled out a small black cloth pouch, unrolled it, and laid out a set of acupuncture needles. After quickly sterilizing everything, she got to work.

Her hands moved fast and steady as she placed eight needles with pinpoint precision. The crowd couldn't believe what they were seeing. Briar didn't just know acupuncture—she was clearly a pro.

It was too late for those Wade relatives to stop her now, so someone started a timer, just waiting to prove Briar wrong when the hour passed with no change. They wanted to see Ashton humiliated.

Briar knew exactly what they were trying to do, but she didn't care. Honestly, the only reason she agreed to help was because Ashton was good-looking—and of course, out of respect for Griffin.

Once the needles were in place, she took out the pill and asked Ashton for a glass of water. She crushed and dissolved the pill in it and carefully gave it to Griffin. Then she plopped down in a chair and pulled out her phone.

[Didn't you say you had an old friend in Dasmieca? What was their name again?] she texted.

A few minutes later, the reply came through. [Griffin Wade, but it's been years since we last talked.]

Briar read it and casually replied: [Got it.]

Inside the room, things were quiet, but outside, people were getting antsy. They didn't know exactly what was happening, but they saw Briar treating Griffin and were losing their minds.

They wanted to barge in and stop Briar, but Ashton's right-hand man, Brandon, was guarding the door. All they could do was stew in their own panic.

When Griffin's oldest son, Sean, and his wife Arlette finally stepped out, the crowd swarmed them. "What's going on in there?" someone demanded. "Why's someone doing acupuncture on Griffin?"

As the eldest, Sean had once been next in line to lead the Wade family—until Griffin decided to hand the reins to his youngest son's branch. Since then, Sean had been at odds with Ashton and the rest of that side of the family.

So now, he didn't hold back. "Ashton's losing it. He let some random girl take over Griffin's treatment."

Arlette added, all dramatic, "She actually claimed Griffin would wake up in an hour and be totally cured in a week!"

"What?" someone gasped. "They're seriously playing with Griffin's life, huh?"

"This girl's gotta be a scammer," another said. "We need to call the cops and get her out of there before something happens!"

5.Chapter 5 Griffin's Awake

The loudest complaints came from a sharp-dressed middle-aged man who clearly had some pull in the Wade family. As soon as he spoke up, the others followed his lead, trying to shove past Brandon at the door to get inside.

Briar might've looked absorbed in her phone game, but she was fully aware of the noise outside.

The noise was getting on her nerves. She paused the game, glanced at Griffin, and noticed his face had more color now. The acupuncture was doing its job.

Even the military doctors who had doubted her at first had gone quiet. They didn't want to get caught in the middle of anything.

Everyone knew Griffin's body was worn out, and his age didn't help either. The best most people could do was keep him alive a little longer.

Briar saw how the crowd was reacting and muttered to Ashton, "It's too noisy. He needs peace."

Ashton wasn't known for his patience to begin with, and the only reason he hadn't exploded already was because he was worried about his grandfather. He didn't know much about medicine, but after dealing with Griffin's condition for so long, even he could tell the treatment was working.

So when Briar said the word, he gave Brandon a nod. Brandon didn't waste a second—he cleared the room and pushed everyone back out into the courtyard. Finally, things went quiet again.

An hour would go by quickly, but Briar had no interest in awkwardly staring at the others. She kept her head down, focusing on her game instead.

The cheerful game music and occasional gunshots helped Briar relax. She leaned into the chair, totally chill.

Ashton couldn't take his eyes off her. In all his years, he'd never met anyone—especially not a teenage girl—who acted this calm and unbothered in front of him. It made him even more curious about who she really was.

Briar could feel his intense stare, but she didn't say anything.

She always kept her work and personal stuff separate. Sure, she'd shown up partly because Ashton was easy on the eyes, but now that she knew Griffin had once been close with Tristan, she had to take it seriously.

After all, Tristan barely called anyone a friend. Briar knew she had to do her best to help, or Tristan would never let her hear the end of it.

About twenty minutes later, she shut off her game and walked over to Griffin. She checked his pulse, looked at his face, and nodded to herself before pulling out the needles.

Then she glanced at her watch. "It's working," she said. "He should wake up in about half an hour."

Honestly, the results were even better than she'd expected. At this rate, Griffin might wake up even earlier.

Ashton didn't say much, but his expression changed. His eyes lit up—this was the best news he'd gotten all day.

Outside the door, the Wade family had been waiting, listening in. When they heard what Briar said, they started laughing again, still thinking she was full of it.

They couldn't wait for the moment Ashton tossed her out. They were convinced she'd made a fool of herself.

The doctors looked uneasy. It was the first time they'd just stood by and done nothing while Griffin was in a coma.

Half an hour later, the people waiting outside couldn't hold back any longer—they pushed past Brandon and stormed in.

When Arlette saw Griffin still lying there, eyes shut, she thought she had her chance. She snapped with a smug tone, "Ashton, it's been thirty minutes, and he's still out cold. What now? Are you finally ready to admit this girl is a fraud and let us have her arrested?"

She acted like she had the moral high ground, but after being kicked out by Brandon earlier, she didn't actually dare lay a finger on Briar.

The whole room tensed up. All eyes were on Briar.

But Briar didn't even flinch. She tapped her phone one last time, finishing her game and beating the final enemy. Then she calmly slid it into her pocket, stood up, met Ashton's gaze, and said, "What's the rush? He's already waking up."

The doctors were closest to the bed. They immediately turned to Griffin, and sure enough, his eyelids started to twitch before slowly opening.

He still looked a little dazed, his old eyes stiff and unfocused, but he was definitely awake, just like Briar had said.

Ashton rushed over, leaned in, and said softly, "Grandpa, you're awake."

Griffin's eyes moved slightly. He gave a faint nod and let out a low hum.

The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone froze.

This girl, even without a license, had done what the top military doctors in all of Dasmieca couldn't.

Ashton finally let out a breath of relief. "Miss Jennings, thank you. I mean it."

Briar stayed as laid-back as ever. Her face didn't show much emotion as she stood there and said casually, "No big deal. But just because he's awake doesn't mean he's in the clear. The pill will only last about a month. Without regular acupuncture, he'll fall back into another coma."

Then she looked at Ashton, her eyes cool and sharp with just a hint of playfulness. "So yeah, you should find a doctor who knows acupuncture. Soon."

Of course, she was being a little dramatic on purpose—just to keep them on their toes.

Ashton gave a small, refined smile. "Miss Jennings, didn't you say you could fully cure my grandfather in a week? Would you consider staying and continuing the treatment?"

Briar glanced at the stunned Wade family, then gave a dry, sarcastic smile. "Me? Aren't I just some shady girl with no license and a sketchy background? You guys should look for someone more qualified. Maybe even try tracking down Tristan."

If Tristan ever found out his old friend had been sick for this long, he'd definitely show up in Shoneport and raise hell.

Ashton shot a cold look at the Wade relatives. One by one, they lowered their heads, too scared to speak.

Ashton's anger cooled a little. He turned back to Briar. "Miss Jennings, please stay and treat my grandfather. I'll add another 3 million dollars to your payment. And take this as a personal favor—I owe you one. If you ever need anything, just say the word."

As for finding Tristan, Ashton would keep looking. But he was like a ghost, and Griffin's condition couldn't afford to wait.

Right now, the best choice was standing right in front of him, and Ashton wasn't about to let her go.

6.Chapter 6 A New Bounty

Ashton's offer was hard to turn down—especially the part about owing Briar a favor. That one hit differently.

Getting a favor from the Wade family might not mean much now, but Ashton's promise carried real weight.

His influence had already outgrown the Wade family's name. Thinking about her own reasons for coming back to the country, Briar paused.

Noticing her hesitation, Ashton leaned in. "Miss Jennings, you're still in college, right? With your talent in traditional medicine, it'd be a shame not to study at Shoneport University. I've got some pull there—if you're interested, I can help."

He was sharp. In the short time since learning Briar's name, Ashton had already looked into her background. And this offer just hit the mark.

Briar smiled, her voice clear and calm. "Deal."

Ashton pulled out his phone right away. "Let's exchange contact info."

Briar glanced up, catching the friendly look in his eyes. She casually opened WhatsApp and added him.

Right after, Ashton transferred 3 million dollars to her, along with the remaining payment for the pills.

Once the money hit her account, Briar's mood lightened even more. "Today's treatment's done. I'll be back tomorrow for another session."

When Ashton heard she was leaving, he nodded, then looked over at Griffin, who was slowly coming around. He turned back to Briar and said politely, "Let me walk you out."

So the girl who'd swaggered in beside Ashton was now being respectfully escorted out by him.

The Wade family members who'd been eyeing her like a stray off the street could only look away, too embarrassed to say a word.

Now that Griffin had woken up, all their little plans had gone up in smoke.

"See you," Briar called out as she swung a leg over her bike. She balanced on one foot, gave the engine a little rev, and waved with the other hand, flashing a surprisingly sweet smile.

Ashton's face softened. He backed up to make way and replied, "See you tomorrow, Miss Jennings."

It wasn't lost on him—ever since he paid her, Briar had been way more polite. Even her smile felt more genuine.

Ashton quickly figured out what had changed her attitude. He couldn't help but smile to himself.

Briar rode off cool as ever on her black motorcycle, leaving Ashton with nothing but the sharp, stylish image of her disappearing down the road.

As Ashton kept staring in the direction she'd gone, Morton came over and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Wade, want me to have someone follow her?"

Ashton glanced at Briar's WhatsApp profile pic—a little black kitten with a fierce look that was more bark than bite. It was just like her.

"No need," Ashton said. "She'll be back tomorrow." He'd already figured out what made Briar tick. As long as he kept that in mind, she wasn't going anywhere.

Morton looked a little puzzled but nodded. "Got it."

Out on the busy street, Briar cruised behind a stretch limo on her bike.

It was rush hour, so she didn't bother cutting through traffic. After all, there was no need to rush.

Just then, her phone rang with Tristan's custom ringtone. She answered through her Bluetooth. "What's up?"

"There's a new bounty on the Dark Net," Tristan said. "Some Wade guy is offering big money to track me down. The address they left is in Shoneport, Dasmieca. Is that the same Wade family you mentioned?"

Briar squinted. "Probably."

"Probably?" Tristan snapped. "Get on the Dark Net and check who posted it!"

Briar chuckled. "I'm on vacation, and you want me to mess with the Dark Net, huh? Do you realize how much influence they hold in Dasmieca? Sounds like you're trying to get me arrested."

That place was crawling with elite hackers. Digging around without a good reason was asking for trouble.

"I don't care," Tristan grumbled. "Just find out who it is. If it's Griffin, maybe I'll think about coming out of hiding." He hung up before Briar could shoot him down.

Briar stared at her phone, speechless.

Tristan was a legend in the medical world, known for his rare and insane Golden Eighty-One Technique. Every rich and powerful person wanted him, but he had just dropped off the face of the earth for some reason.

Money could buy almost anything—except more time. So people never stopped looking for Tristan. On the Dark Net, even a scrap of info about him could go for about 3 million dollars.

If Briar weren't already loaded, she might've cashed in on his location herself.

She sighed, pulled over into an empty spot, and hacked into the Dark Net anyway. It only took a few minutes to pull the data Tristan wanted. She shot it over to him, telling herself it was just a random act of kindness.

Two hours later, Briar rolled back into the Jennings family's driveway.

It was past 8 PM. Dinner was long over. Inside, the whole family—Edgar, Camden, Beatrice, and Halle—were sitting around whispering in the living room.

The second they heard the motorcycle, they all clammed up and turned toward the door. When Briar walked in like she owned the place, their faces immediately dropped.

Briar sneered and ignored them. Her eyes flicked to the spotless dining table before she called to a nearby servant, "Make me some pasta."

The servant hadn't met her before, but everyone knew the real heir had come back today. She glanced at Edgar. When Edgar didn't object, the servant nodded and headed to the kitchen.

Soon, the servant brought out some cut fruit and set it on the table.

Briar didn't even glance at the fancy sofa. She dropped into a chair at the dining table, one leg crossed lazily over the other. Chin resting on one hand, she forked a piece of fruit into her mouth with the other, completely ignoring the four people glaring at her from the living room.

Watching Briar act like this, Edgar could almost feel his bruises flaring back up. But he forced a smile and walked over.

"Briar, since you're not going back to Qathana, why don't you stay here a while?" he said. "You're a college freshman, right? I know the president of Traegow University. If you're interested, I could make a donation and pull some strings to get you transferred."

7.Chapter 7 I'll Handle It Myself

Briar's pretty eyes sparkled with mischief as she glanced at Beatrice, who was looking at her. "No. I'm going to Shoneport University."

"Shoneport University?" Edgar nearly choked. "Do you even know what kind of students they take? They're all from top-tier families. With your grades from that no-name school in Qathana, even if I tripled my donation, it wouldn't cut it."

Briar's relaxed smile turned cold. "Then donate more. Isn't that how Beatrice got in?"

Actually, Briar had finished all her classes by the time she was fourteen. She was now the top-tier professor, Ms. Bree, at the famous Atrington University, teaching high-level finance to global elites.

But she'd kept all that quiet, known only to those closest to her. Edgar only knew she skipped school a lot to race cars, so he assumed she was just an underachiever who couldn't get into a real college.

Since Briar wouldn't hand over her shares in the company, Edgar figured he'd just keep her busy by tossing her into some random college.

As for the shareholders' meeting she wanted to call tomorrow, Edgar had already moved fast while she was gone. He'd pulled strings, made calls, and locked things down.

Even if Briar tried to remove him as CEO, the big shareholders wouldn't go for it. He'd hold on to the Jennings Group no matter what.

But now, hearing Briar's comeback, Edgar almost lost it. "You ungrateful—"

Briar seemed to expect this reaction. She didn't even flinch. The sly look in her eyes made Edgar's skin crawl.

He forced a calm voice and explained stiffly, "Shoneport University is the best in the city. My donations alone aren't enough. Beatrice only got in because I donated five buildings, and Javier pulled some strings."

Beatrice added softly, "Yeah, Briar. Even with Dad and Javier helping, I missed it by two points. With your grades, Shoneport University probably won't take you."

They all thought Briar had just fooled around overseas and ended up at some random school. Her talk of getting into Shoneport University felt like a total joke.

Briar looked bored. She leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, and sneered, "If you won't help, I'll handle it myself. If I want to get into Shoneport University, I'll get in."

Edgar and Beatrice were stunned by how cocky she was. They didn't even know how to respond.

From the sofa, Camden nearly spat out his coffee. He coughed, then sneered, "You? Get into Shoneport University? That's a dream."

Briar's smile faded as she glanced over at him. There was no real threat in her gaze—just a wicked glint—but it still made Camden tense up.

Still, he pushed on, not wanting to look weak. "The president at Shoneport University is from the Goodwin family. That's one of the top four families in the city. Even the Hargreaves family members have to wait in line to talk to him. Who the hell do you think you are?"

Camden was sure of himself. In his mind, Briar was just some clueless girl from Qathana, totally cut off from Shoneport's inner circles.

Halle, sitting beside him, let out a smug laugh. "Come on, Briar. You've got to know your limits. Shoneport University isn't for people like you to play around in."

Sure, Briar had the title of Jennings heir—but in Halle's eyes, without the right background or support, it didn't mean anything.

Briar took it all in, her grin turning colder. "If you can't help, then shut up and stay out of it."

Just then, the servant brought over a steaming plate of pasta. Briar took it, didn't even glance at the others, and dug in like she owned the place.

The Jennings family wasn't in the same league as the city's wealthiest, but Edgar still loved to show off. The house was bright and flashy, full of expensive decor and glittering chandeliers.

Under the lights, Briar's face looked even more striking as she ate.

Her skin was flawless, her neck slender, and her fingers long and delicate as she held the fork. Even sitting there alone, she gave off a quiet, commanding vibe—distant, but impossible to ignore.

Edgar had never liked Briar, but even he had to admit—she outshone Camden and Beatrice in a lot of ways.

Briar ate fast but neatly, finishing the pasta in under ten minutes. Then she wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. Her eyes met Edgar's as he returned to the sofa.

Her look was casual, even lazy, but cold enough to make Edgar feel uneasy.

"My room ready?" she asked as she headed for the stairs and grabbed her suitcase.

It wasn't clear if she was talking to Edgar or the servant.

The servant looked at Edgar first. Seeing no answer, she bowed slightly. "Yes, Miss. It's the last room on the second floor. I'll show you."

Once Briar was out of sight, Beatrice finally snapped, "Dad, are we really just letting her walk all over us? What if she causes problems at Shoneport University?"

What she really wanted to say was that she was scared her classmates would find out she had a half-sister like Briar—one who didn't go to a fancy school, didn't have a polished background, and didn't care what anyone thought.

Even if they were half-sisters, Briar still carried the Jennings name. That alone was enough to cause Beatrice stress. Briar might not care about her reputation, but Beatrice sure did.

Besides, the way the servant treated Briar with such respect made Beatrice burn inside. Briar had only just gotten back, and already she was taking over.

"Relax. She can talk big all she wants, but she's not getting into Shoneport University," Edgar said. "You saw how hard Javier had to pull strings just to get you in."

He didn't believe Briar could manage anything on her own.

The Grant family might've had power, but most of it was overseas. They didn't have any real pull at Shoneport University.

Beatrice blinked. "Dad, shouldn't we at least pretend to help her? What if she fails and drags our name through the mud?"

"With her attitude, if she actually got into Shoneport University, that would be the real embarrassment," Edgar scoffed. He sounded authoritative now that Briar was gone. "Let her try. I want to see what she thinks she can actually pull off."

Of course, what he didn't say was that he was still scared of Briar. The way she'd roughed him up earlier had shaken him more than he cared to admit.

If anyone found out his own daughter had laid hands on him, he'd never live it down.

8.Chapter 8 Ashton's Threat

Upstairs in her room, Briar took a long bath and slipped into a loose, ankle-length nightgown covered in cute cartoon prints.

Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying her hair, her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp message.

Holding her damp hair over one shoulder, she dried it with one hand while checking her phone with the other.

It was from Ashton. The message was short. [Fill this out.]

Briar raised an eyebrow. She had a feeling she knew what it was. Sure enough, when she opened the attachment, it was an application form for Shoneport University.

She was surprised that he worked so fast.

With her hair nearly dry, she tossed the towel aside and pulled an old, bulky laptop from her suitcase. Sitting at the desk, she opened a folder, copied over her academic records and test scores, and filled out the form.

The whole thing took less than two minutes. She sent it back without a second thought.

Ashton accepted the file in no time, probably just waiting for her to respond.

After a short pause, he sent a brief message: [Got it.]

Then, weirdly, he sent an eye-roll emoji right after.

But as expected of him, he didn't ask any questions. He simply forwarded Briar's application straight to Marvin.

Marvin Goodwin—the president of Shoneport University—was from one of Shoneport's four major families. The Goodwin family carried weight in both politics and business. Their influence was something most upper-class families wouldn't even dare challenge.

Even the kids from Shoneport's richest families tread carefully around Marvin, knowing he had the power to make or break their academic futures.

Besides, he was also the most well-liked principal among the upper crust.

However, usually cool and collected, Marvin lost his composure the moment he saw Briar's application. Less than three minutes later, he video-called Ashton.

He looked upset, but still forced a smile when Ashton picked up. "Ashton, who exactly is this girl?"

Just an hour ago, Marvin had been thrilled when Ashton said he'd found a traditional medicine prodigy for the university.

The medical school of Shoneport University was already prestigious, but it had a big gap in traditional medicine. In Dasmieca, traditional medicine wasn't exactly mainstream—modern medicine was more popular.

But to these century-old elite families, no matter how advanced modern medicine was, it still couldn't compare to the steady, time-tested ways of traditional medicine.

And then there was the legend: Tristan. The world-renowned doctor who had once saved lives using the Golden Eighty-One Technique—his fame had practically made him a ghost story in elite medical circles.

As the president of Shoneport University, Marvin had been trying for years to recruit real talent in traditional medicine. So when Ashton said he'd found someone, Marvin had high hopes.

But the moment he saw the application, those hopes crashed.

Briar's grades were awful—possibly the worst he'd ever seen. Her photo showed a pretty but wild-looking girl who clearly didn't take things seriously.

From Marvin's years of experience, she didn't look like someone who had the discipline or patience to study traditional medicine. To him, she looked like trouble.

Marvin figured Ashton wasn't interested in her brains—he probably just thought she was cute.

"She's the traditional medicine prodigy I told you about," Ashton said plainly, not at all acknowledging Marvin's near-breakdown on the video screen.

Marvin tried to keep his cool. "Ashton, you know Shoneport University only takes top students. I'm just worried this pretty girl might not be able to keep up."

Ashton's eyes narrowed. "Wait a moment. You're saying you're rejecting someone I personally recommended, huh?"

Marvin froze at Ashton's sharp tone. His hand trembled a little as he held his phone. "No, that's not what I meant. I just think if she stands out too much, she might get picked on."

Ashton locked his gaze on Marvin, that cocky, sharp look in his eyes hinting at just how dangerous he could be.

"Are you saying students at the top university in Dasmieca are out here bullying people, and you can't even stop it?" He said, "Maybe I've been wasting my donation money on your school."

"No, no! I've put every cent of your donations to good use!" Marvin panicked at Ashton's aggressive, rich-guy pressure and backpedaled fast. "Since you're the one backing her, I'm sure she's got something special. Fine, I'll make an exception and approve her admission."

Ashton nodded and didn't let up. "When's her acceptance letter going out?"

Marvin gritted his teeth but smiled through it. "I'll have my staff write it up now. We'll deliver it in the morning. She'll have it by tomorrow afternoon."

Ashton thought for a second, then said, "She's stopping by to see me tomorrow. Just have someone bring it to Wade Mansion."

Marvin was speechless. At this point, he was convinced Ashton was just taken with a pretty face.

He let out a long sigh. Ashton had too much power in Shoneport to argue with, and now the girl he forced into the school would probably be just as untouchable.

Marvin would have to choose her professors carefully—he didn't want any blowback if she caused trouble.

Briar had no idea the president of Shoneport University now saw her as just as scary as Ashton.

Later, whenever she stirred up drama on campus, Marvin pushed all the problems onto Ashton. He even gave Ashton a fake librarian title just to keep an eye on her.

But Briar didn't know any of that. She was lying in bed, trying to calm down a panicked Tristan over video chat. "I get that you're worried," she said, rubbing her forehead. "But can you chill out for two seconds?"

Tristan was pacing on the screen, clearly freaking out. "Chill? One of the last brothers I've got left is on his deathbed! I should've been back in Dasmieca yesterday!"

Briar raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? Are you not afraid of being hunted down? And I'm guessing none of those bodyguards on your little private island can fly a plane, right?"

Tristan went quiet.

9.Chapter 9 It Ruins My Appetite

"So what am I supposed to do?" Tristan had calmed down a little. "I don't have many old friends left, and who knows how much time I've got. You can't let me die with regrets."

"Guilt-tripping me won't get you anywhere," Briar said flatly. "You do remember people are still hunting you down on the Dark Net, right? There are hitmen after your head. You really wanna test how fast they can find you, huh?"

Tristan sighed, totally deflated. "How sure are you that you can help?"

Briar's eyes sparkled with mischief. "About fifty-fifty. I don't have the good stuff with me right now, you know."

Tristan asked immediately, "What do you need? Just make a list. I'll send it all over."

"Don't regret saying that." Briar grinned and immediately sent over a massive list detailing over a thousand rare and costly medicinal herbs.

Tristan stared at the list in silence, and his voice trembled. "Briar, can we talk? Maybe cut back on a few of these, okay? I'm down to my last few rare herbs as well, you know."

Briar shrugged. "Sure, but I'll have to skip a couple of treatments for him. And as for how effective that'll be—"

"Fine, fine! I'll get everything," Tristan muttered, clutching his heart like she'd just robbed him blind. His years of carefully hoarded herbs were gone, just like that.

Briar looked satisfied. "Good. Once I've got the herbs, Griffin will start getting better. I'll wait for your delivery. Good night."

She hung up before Tristan could yell at her.

The whole world was still looking for Tristan, but no one had guessed he'd been hiding on an island in North Bofloria for over a decade, dodging assassins.

Briar's expression darkened a little. When she became Tristan's student, she learned that the same people hunting him had also been involved in her mother's disappearance.

To protect him—and herself—she helped Tristan vanish. Since then, Tristan had stayed off the grid completely.

Feeling pretty pleased about scoring those herbs, Briar shut her laptop and got ready for bed.

She'd been taking on tough gigs nonstop to prep for this trip home. A good night's sleep was overdue.

She drifted off quickly, completely missing the text that lit up her phone screen.

[I'll send someone to pick you up at 2 PM tomorrow. We'll meet at Wade Mansion.]

When Briar woke up at 6 AM the next morning and saw Ashton's message, she just replied with a simple "Okay."

She wasn't the least bit surprised he knew where she lived. If Ashton couldn't even track her down, the Wade family would've been eaten alive by their rivals years ago.

Briar got up, freshened up, changed into workout clothes, and tied her hair into a high ponytail. She headed downstairs for her morning run.

The house was still quiet. Only the servants were moving around. Briar jogged out onto the tree-lined paths of the fancy neighborhood.

She didn't bother greeting any of the neighbors she passed. She wasn't planning to stay here long anyway. Her goal was to find a place of her own near Shoneport University soon.

Briar always went for a run whenever she wasn't working. She kept a steady pace, knocking out 6 miles in just 40 minutes.

Out of habit, she never wore headphones because she liked to stay alert. It helped her keep an eye on her surroundings and spot trouble before it got too close.

On her third lap, she noticed someone tailing her. Her eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in them.

She didn't speed up or slow down. Instead, she casually changed her route, leading the follower into the wooded trail. They took the bait and followed her in.

A few minutes later, Briar strolled out of the woods like nothing had happened. Not even a strand of hair was out of place.

She dusted off her hands—more out of habit than need—and kept running. She ran the full 6 miles and headed home with a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Nothing looked out of place—aside from the unconscious man with twisted limbs now lying deep in the woods.

By the time Briar got home, the Jennings family was already up and eating. Edgar was sitting at the table, reading the paper and chewing his food. Halle sat beside him, looking as graceful and polished as ever.

Across from them sat Camden and Beatrice. It all looked picture-perfect—four people eating breakfast, laughing, acting like the perfect family.

But whatever they were talking about left Briar deeply irritated.

"Dad, why isn't Briar up yet?" Beatrice said with a smug look. "If she sleeps in like this after transferring schools, she's gonna be late all the time."

Camden scoffed, "She was always skipping class or picking fights when she was abroad. You really think she'll wake up early now, huh?"

"Hey, don't talk about Briar like that. She just got back. Maybe she's still jet-lagged," Halle chimed in, sounding sweet but clearly fake. "Besides, the Grant family probably didn't teach her properly. But don't worry. I'll help her adjust and teach her how to act like a real lady."

Edgar snorted, not looking up from his paper. "Tell Sara to wake her up for breakfast," he said. "If she can't even get out of bed, what makes her think she'll ever get into Shoneport University?"

None of them noticed the girl standing quietly in the doorway, arms crossed, listening to every word.

Halle turned to the maid. "Sara, go wake Briar. She can go back to bed after she eats."

Sara glanced at Briar, who was still leaning against the doorway, smirking like she'd just watched something funny. Then she looked at Halle, who was smiling sweetly but clearly fuming inside. She hesitated.

Halle frowned. "Why are you just standing there? Go!"

Sara pointed toward the doorway. "Briar's been up since six. She just got back from her morning run."

All four turned to look—and froze. Briar stood there, calm and distant, arms still crossed. Nobody knew how long she'd been standing there or how much she'd heard.

But from the smug, untouchable look on her face, they figured it was probably everything.

Edgar cleared his throat and forced a smile. "Briar, go get changed so you don't catch a cold. We were just waiting for you to eat breakfast together."

It sounded nice, but their half-empty plates told a different story.

Briar raised an eyebrow and gave them a crooked smile—sharp, sarcastic, and a little mean. "No, thanks. I don't eat with trash. It ruins my appetite."

Without another word, she turned and headed upstairs, not bothering to look back at their stunned faces.