Isabel followed me into the VIP suite on the second floor. The light refracted through the crystal chandelier, casting an icy glow on her haggard face. “Rose…” Her voice choked with emotion. “Throughout the years… everything at home has changed.” It turned out that while I was expanding my business overseas, our mother had become obsessed with so-called “spiritual devotion”. She spent her days with a group of like-minded “besties”, drifting between wellness retreats and meditation camps. She barely even returned home for Christmas. The massive Jefferson estate was now but an empty shell. Isabel was the only one left behind to guard the silence. “You know what the most ridiculous thing is? Irena Channing,” Isabel sneered, digging her nails deep into her palms. “She’s nothing more than a housekeeper’s daughter. Her mother catered to Dad so well that he acknowledged Irena as his goddaughter.” A mere housekeeper, who used to tremble before me, now had the audacity to let her daughter take over our home. “The DNA report was a fraud. She bribed the doctor to falsify it,” Isabel cried, frustratedly. I pulled her into my arms, gently patting her in an offer of comfort. Moments later, Riley handed me a thick stack of documents. I skimmed over the financial records of Jasper Lowell and Leonard Sullivan from recent years. My pupils contracted sharply. These two men, once raised as potential suitors for my sister, had not only indulged themselves. They had also secretly siphoned off Jefferson Corporation’s assets. “Great. Simply wonderful!” I turned to gaze out the window, where the pitch-black sea roiled beneath the crashing waves. Each surge mirrored the storm raging within me. I stroked Isabel’s brittle hair and whispered into her ear, each word carrying weight, “Your older sister has returned. All those who hurt you—I’ll make them wish they were dead.” I sank lazily into the leather couch, absentmindedly tracing the rim of my crystal glass with my fingertip. With a dull thud, Irena and the two men were unceremoniously shoved into the room. Irena’s meticulously styled hair was now in disarray, her expensive gown soaked in wine. She looked like a peacock that had just lost a fight. “Rosalind Stanford! How dare you treat me like this! Dad will never forgive you!” she threatened. She continued to struggle, but a bodyguard forced her to her knees. “Do you mean Gregory Jefferson?” I let out a low chuckle, swirling the wine in my glass. The deep red liquid glinted like blood under the light. “He can barely save himself right now.” I gracefully set down my glass. “Strip her of everything she’s stolen.” Irena thrashed wildly, but was helpless. She could only watch as her lavish jewelry was taken off piece by piece. I leaned in and gripped her chin, my nails leaving faint red crescents across her skin. “You’ve certainly got an alluring face. No wonder those two fools were wrapped around your finger.” Jasper and Leonard were now cowering in a corner like frightened quails. Neither dared make a sound. A scoff escaped my lips. “So, the mighty backers you found aren’t quite so mighty after all. I heard you’ve been begging my sister for forgiveness every day. Go on, then. Tell me, what exactly are you sorry for?” Irena bit her lip, refusing to speak, her defiant gaze filled with resentment. I raised my hand and struck her across the face. “If you’re guilty, own up to it. This slap should be enough to make a point!” I shot a glance at the bodyguards. “Make sure she fully understands her mistakes. Keep going until she does.” She stubbornly turned her face away. I slapped her again, the crisp sound echoing through the room. “That one was from Isi,” I said coldly. “Keep going.” The bodyguards held her down as a barrage of slaps fell like relentless rain. Then, I turned to the two men huddled together. “As for you two, I wouldn’t dare touch you!” Their eyes instantly lit up with hope. To their horror, I held up their donation agreements. “You don’t belong to me. Go wherever you please!” “Isi!” Leonard suddenly lunged forward, clutching Isabel’s leg. “Considering we grew up together, please ask your sister to spare us! This was all Irena’s idea! We still love you dearly.” Jasper, too, crawled over. “That’s right. You’ve always been the only one in our hearts!” “Exactly! We are your future husbands.” Isabel booted them away indifferently, her gaze colder than polar frost. “Drag them out! The farther, the better!” As their despairing wails faded down the hallway, I smirked in satisfaction. Once Irena had endured one hundred slaps, I specifically ordered for her to be locked up with the two men. Since they cherished their bond so much, it was only fitting for them to stay together, completely united. The cruise ship owner knelt before me, sweating profusely, as I towered over him. “Did you think operating in international waters meant you’d never be caught? You ought to behave and confess when you’re taken in. Maybe you’ll earn some credit to secure an early release.” He collapsed on the ground when he heard that, waiting for his fate. With a wave of my hand, fully armed security officers burst through the doors. Unbeknownst to him, this ship had been under surveillance for a long time. Every corner was crawling with unseen eyes. “Ms. Stanford, thank you for your cooperation,” said the lead officer as he saluted me. “These individuals will face the full force of the law. They will be spending the rest of their lives behind bars.” The once-indulgent tycoons, lost in luxury and vice, were now being escorted away by security. All of them were fully aware that their downfall was inevitable, with justice awaiting them. No matter where one was, the law must always be respected. Games like these should never be played—participation came at a price. At best, financial ruin; at worst, complete destruction. I wrapped an arm around my sister’s shoulders as we stepped onto the deck. The morning sun pierced through the clouds, casting golden sparkles across the ocean. Color slowly returned to her pale face as she grasped my hand tightly. “Rose, let’s go home.” “Yeah. Let’s go home.” I gazed toward the distant sunrise and whispered a promise, “From now on, I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” Behind us, the sirens and yowls dwindled into the salty sea breeze. Ahead, the rising sun illuminated the path back home. … I returned to the country with Isabel and assisted with the investigation. With that out of the way, I immediately headed home. The first thing I did was visit my ailing grandfather. The moment he saw me, his health seemed to improve instantly. Without delay, he passed on the responsibilities of the Stanford family to me. Then, he packed his bag and set off to reunite with Mom. It took me numerous attempts to get through to Mom’s phone. When she finally picked up, she was thrilled to find out that I’d returned. She told me not to worry about her anymore, but rather to focus on taking care of Isabel. Back at the Jeffersons’ estate, Dad still busied himself at work all day. He rarely turned up at home. He liked Irena’s mother’s cooking, so he made her deliver meals to him. When I told him everything, he was completely stunned. The fury soon caught up with him, and he looked ready to storm off and settle the score. I wasn’t having any of that. I gave him a harsh scolding. If Isabel hadn’t made it back alive, I’d never have forgiven him. He slinked off, ashamed, watching me lash out at him with unwavering resolve. In the end, he hastily handed over control and went off to join Mom. Before long, I had Irena’s mother locked away for theft, conspiracy to assault, and fraud. The outside world would become nothing more than a dream for the rest of her life. Upon seeing me, the housekeeper even begged me to plead for her daughter’s release. But really, what did that have to do with me? Afterward, Riley presented me with some footage of Irena. She had filmed countless obscene videos with two of her childhood friends. I felt like I had to bleach my eyes just to get the images out. As for Isabel, she followed my people to different places to gain experience and toughen up. That hopelessly romantic heart of hers needed fixing. She was so clueless that she didn’t even realize she was being taken advantage of! Eventually, curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to find out about the sort of “spiritual devotion” my mother was engaging in, so I set out to see it for myself. It turned out she had built a full-blown wellness retreat deep in the mountains. It boasted clear waters and lush forests. It also offered first-class service and fully equipped facilities. I stayed for a few days and couldn’t bear leaving either. It was no wonder everyone was eager to remain. Before I left, I scanned the lobby and happened to spot Isabel, who was hiding in a corner. I seized her by the arm and dragged her into the light. “Isabel! What are you doing?” She grinned sheepishly. “Rose… I just missed Mom and Dad.” Outside, the sun was shining, the breeze gentle. Everything was just right.