In the wilds east of Emerald City, the night was pitch black, and the wind howled through the trees.

Suddenly, a beast’s head emerged from the tall grass.

It looked like a wolf.

Its green-yellow eyes glowed with a sharp, wild light, fixed on a girl lying on the ground—barely alive.

For a starving beast, the scent of blood was an irresistible lure.

It leapt from the grass and viciously attacked the girl, sinking its teeth into her frail wrist.

As the sharp teeth pierced her skin, Isabella’s eyes snapped open, pain flooding her gaze.

Was she…

Dead?

Where was she now?

The agony of her flesh being torn forced her to lift her head.

In the next moment she locked eyes with the beast.

The eye contact brought her to full awareness.

Isabella raised her other hand and gouged at the wolf’s eyes.

The wolf’s scream echoed through the night like a ghostly wail.

Isabella knelt, gripped its neck, and drove the sharp stick she held through its throat.

She held the position, ensuring the beast was lifeless before slowly releasing her grip.

She looked around, seeing wild grass and trees growing unchecked, rocks scattered everywhere, and countless insects and ants.

This was Heather Bluff on the west side of Emerald City.

The scene was eerily identical to a night four years earlier!

Back then, after Bianca fell down the stairs while they were going down together, Olivia punished Isabella by making her kneel in the yard to reflect.

She fainted from exhaustion.

When she woke up, she found herself abandoned in this desolate place…

Isabella pushed herself up from the ground.

At that moment, the repeated events and the familiar surroundings pointed to one fact:

She had come back!

Back to four years earlier.

In her previous life, she had tried her best to please, only to be met with her parents’ and brothers’ disdain and rejection.

This time, she no longer sought the so-called family affection.

To her, the most important thing was herself.

Isabella licked her dry lips, glanced at the gruesome sight of the dead wolf, and pulled the long stick from its body.

Using the stick for support, she limped down the mountain.

——

The Taylor Villa.

Lunchtime.

Bianca sat at the dining table, looking at the distinguished man in a well-fitted black suit across from her. “Chase, Isabella hasn’t come back yet. Should we wait and have lunch together?”

“If she didn’t come back on time, that’s her problem,” Chase said coldly. “We can’t all wait for her, and besides, she’s not worth it.”

“Bianca, eat,” Gabriel said, sounding disgusted at the mention of Isabella. “Don’t bring her up.”

He placed a few slices of beef into Bianca’s bowl. “Your favorite. Eat more; you’ve lost weight recently.”

Bianca smiled sweetly. “Thanks for caring, Gabriel.”

Just then, the door opened.

Isabella stood at the entrance.

She wore a cheap white T-shirt with two rips, faded jeans, and white canvas shoes caked with mud.

Such attire was completely out of place in the luxurious house.

Chase glanced up briefly before looking away, showing no concern.

Tobias, dressed in a tailored white shirt and cutting his steak, frowned, a hint of disdain in his eyes. “How did you end up looking like this?”

Isabella said nothing, walking toward the dining table.

“Go clean up before you eat. Bianca’s immune system is weak; don’t spread germs to her,” Tobias reminded.

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