Cecilia’s thin lips pressed together, a trace of sadness flashed in her beautiful almond eyes...

She couldn’t even remember how long it had been since she last saw Gregory Vaughn.

Actually, when she was young, she really admired him.

Her father was tall and handsome, and very capable in the business world, but from the day her mother died in a maritime accident, Gregory Vaughn tore off the facade he had always worn.

Before going to prison, Gregory Vaughn’s furious scolding seemed to still echo in her ears.

...

"Sis, how about I go with you to see Dad?"

Evan Vaughn’s heart ached as he saw Cecilia looking like this.

Cecilia forced a smile and shook her head at her brother.

"No need, you just focus on getting better, I’ll handle him myself."

From the moment Gregory Vaughn abandoned her when he went to prison, Cecilia could no longer call him Dad.

He was just the person who gave birth to her by blood.

He hadn’t come to visit for three years, and now this visit was clearly for Florence Warner’s sake.

However, whatever comes, she feared nothing!

...

Cecilia’s eyes flashed with cold determination, then she resolutely strode out.

Soon, she saw that familiar yet estranged figure outside the hospital corridor.

Gregory Vaughn noticed her immediately as well; after three years, his eldest daughter had indeed grown much thinner...

He didn’t know what she had gone through in prison, but the once vibrant girl now seemed reserved and quiet...

After all, she was his biological daughter; a trace of guilt flashed through his heart, but thinking of Florence Warner’s tragic state immediately made him storm towards Cecilia, full of rage.

"Cecilia Vaughn! Are you even human? Do you know what your mother looks like now, her face is completely disfigured!"

Cecilia coldly glanced over Gregory Vaughn’s furious face, her expression indifferent.

"I only have one mother, and she’s in heaven."

Gregory Vaughn swallowed his words, quickly erupting in indignation.

"A stepmother is also a mother. Florence has always treated you like her own daughter, when has she ever mistreated you!"

"Her own daughter?"

Cecilia gave Gregory Vaughn a mocking glance, her contemptuous eyes making even this middle-aged man uncomfortable.

"Isn’t that so? Florence and Fiona always gave you the best of everything first!"

At this, Cecilia could only chuckle!

"What a nice ’giving the best to me first’!"

"Yes, they always put those expensive and unsuitable cosmetics and clothes in my room without my consent, yet Fiona wore tattered clothes!"

"Do you think Radiant Group cares about the money? Do you know what neighbors and classmates say about me?"

...

Everyone whispered behind her back, saying how Cecilia, the original wife’s daughter, was really spoiled and selfish!

Living lavishly while Fiona wore ragged clothes, not even sparing her gentle sister Fiona!

Some even said she cut up Fiona’s school uniform and bullied her!

But all of this was orchestrated by Florence Warner and her daughter, yet no one knew, and Gregory Vaughn only thought Fiona was pitiful, disapproving of his eldest daughter even more!

...

Gregory Vaughn would never understand Cecelia’s difficulties, he looked at her angrily, utterly disappointed.

"Your stepmother and sister have been so good to you, yet you still maliciously suspect them!"

"You don’t appreciate them, and now you even dare to pour hot water on Florence, you truly belong in prison for life!"

Speaking, Gregory Vaughn assumed the posture of a patriarch, raising his hand to slap Cecilia!

However, his hand stopped midway, suddenly unable to move.

Gregory Vaughn looked closely, only to find at some point, Cecilia had caught his hand!

"You... dare resist! I’m your father!"

Gregory Vaughn’s expression shifted, boiling with anger, but after struggling twice, he found himself unable to break free!

It was unbelievable!

...

Cecilia laughed coldly, looking Gregory Vaughn in the eye, her voice clear and powerful as she spoke one word at a time.

"For the sake of the food you once provided for Evan and me, it’s already good enough that I’m not hitting back!"

"Gregory Vaughn, you’d better watch your back!"

With that, Cecilia released his hand.

...

Forgetting to call him Dad was one thing, but now addressing him directly by name!

Anger surged within Gregory Vaughn, feeling utterly disgraced that he couldn’t even control a little girl today, he raised his hand once again to hit Cecilia.

However, Cecilia directly grabbed his hand this time, and she was not polite, quickly causing sharp pain in Gregory Vaughn’s thumb.

"Ouch! You unfilial daughter! How dare you hit me!"

Cecilia paid no attention to Gregory Vaughn, with a wave of her hand, hospital security quickly approached.

"Throw this man out! Don’t allow him to enter again!"

Gregory Vaughn’s eyes widened, shocked that Cecilia would disregard her father’s face like this.

"Cecilia Vaughn, how dare you! —"

"What wouldn’t I dare?"

The girl looked at him coldly, slowly rolling up her sleeves to reveal her injuries in front of Gregory Vaughn.

"See this? This is your so-called good stepmother’s doing!"

"She acted without humanity, what right does she have to blame others for being unrighteous?"

Although most of it was covered with bandages, some traces of blood had seeped through, indicating how severe the injuries were.

When Gregory Vaughn took a closer look, he was momentarily speechless.

Fiona hadn’t told him that Cecilia was hurt too!

...

Yet even as the guards held him, Gregory Vaughn’s mind was clouded with indignation, quickly refuting.

"It’s only your hand that’s hurt, but Florence’s face is injured!"

"Besides, you’re the younger one, even if the elder did something wrong, who are you to retaliate tenfold?!"

...

Upon hearing Gregory Vaughn still defending those treacherous women, Cecilia’s breathing grew slightly unstable.

"Throw him out now!"

The security swiftly escorted Gregory Vaughn out, yet Cecilia’s heart felt pierced by pins.

In this world, who wouldn’t want a father’s love?

She was human too, with feelings, not a machine running on code, much less a heartless stone.

...

Cecilia felt utterly exhausted, leaving the hospital without even saying goodbye to Evan Vaughn.

She was a failure abandoned by her father and fiancé together.

In this vast world, no one truly understood her inner pain. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

...

Unbeknownst to her, rain started to fall from the sky, growing heavier and heavier.

Alone, Cecilia wandered the streets, soaked through without an umbrella, in utter disarray.

She wanted to hail a cab home, only to realize she had left in such a hurry she had no wallet.

She then thought of taking out her phone, realizing her pocket was empty...

Cecilia chuckled bitterly, the weariness consuming her completely.

She was homeless.

In the downpour, Cecilia finally crouched by the roadside, a tear rolling down with the rain.

...

Suddenly, a large black umbrella tilted towards her, shielding her from the wind and rain.

Cecilia was startled, instantly lifting her head —