2.Chapter 2 Family Reunion

Jewel didn't hesitate, blurting out her agreement before Calvert could continue. "Sure, I'm in."

Calvert was taken aback. His scrutinizing gaze fell on her face, his brow furrowing. He wondered how this woman could agree so quickly, questioning if she knew his identity.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked.

Jewel shook her head, unfazed. "No, and frankly, I don't care to know." She added, "Whether I'm the Turner family's long-lost girl or not is irrelevant. I'm not interested in you, so I'd be happy to call off the engagement."

She paused before continuing, "But I'm guessing my agreement alone isn't enough to cancel it, right?"

Calvert's eyes narrowed, his gaze icy. He should have known there was a catch to her quick agreement. She had been waiting for this moment.

"I'll explain the situation to both families," he said, his voice laced with disdain. "Just play along when the time comes."

Jewel raised an eyebrow, readily agreeing. "No problem. Now, can you leave?" She was done with his stone-cold stare and frosty demeanor.

Calvert was stunned by her request, instantly thinking she was playing hard to get. 'Typical of a woman from a humble background - always with an ulterior motive,' he thought. As he looked at her, his disgust only deepened.

Seeing that he wasn't budging, Jewel turned her back on him and pulled out her phone. She texted: [Look into the Turner family for me and check on someone named Calvert Snider.]

As she was typing, she heard the door close. She sighed with relief. 'Thank God, that ice-cold man is finally gone,' she thought.

Just then, her phone rang.

"Jewel, are you okay?" came a voice from the other end.

"I'm fine," Jewel replied reassuringly. "Did you find anything?"

"Yeah, I did," the voice said. "The Turner, Snider, Rowse, and Shelton families are known as the four major families of Riverstone. They're not just wealthy, but also incredibly influential. And Calvert is next in line to lead the Snider family."

After listening to the rundown, Jewel asked, "Is there a girl from the Turner family who went missing over twenty years ago?"

"I think there was something like that, but it seems to have been hushed up somehow."

"Alright, got it."

The next morning, the DNA test results confirmed it – Jewel was indeed the Turner family's long-lost girl. Overjoyed, Franklin immediately arranged a grand welcome party, and Jewel was officially renamed Ash Turner.

The day before the party, Ash's birth parents, Josh and Brooke Turner, rushed home, accompanied by a young woman around Ash's age.

"Ash, come meet your father and mother," Franklin said.

Ash walked over and politely greeted them. "Dad, Mom."

As soon as Josh and Brooke saw her, their eyes brimmed with tears.

"Is it really you, Ash?" Brooke asked, her voice trembling. "Oh, my dear, we've finally found you!" She pulled Ash into a tight embrace, her voice choked with emotion.

But Ash didn't know how to react at the moment. Growing up with Lorelei and Dexter Moreno, she wasn't used to such affection. They had never been the huggy type, and Ash had always assumed it was because she wasn't good enough.

So she had pushed herself to excel, only to be met with lukewarm responses like, "Isn't this what you're supposed to do?"

Now, she realized that people without blood ties would never truly be close.

When the tension eased, Jade turned to Ash with a smile. "Ash, don't mind him. Caspian has always been blunt, but he's a good person."

"Oh," Ash said, her expression neutral, before turning to Franklin. "Grandpa, I'd like to go back to my room now."

Franklin nodded. "Go ahead."

After a quick word to her parents, Ash headed straight upstairs.

Franklin tapped his cane on the floor, his voice resolute. "From now on, if anyone in this family dares to pick on Ash, don't blame me for losing my temper!"

*****

Upstairs, Ash was unfazed by the recent events. She sat at her computer, reviewing clothing designs submitted by her designers.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Before Ash could respond, Jade had already pushed it open and walked in. "Ash!"

"Did I say you could come in?" Ash asked, her voice cold.

Jade, startled, quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. I'm just used to that. I..."

Ash saw right through Jade's trick. She stood up, her eyes narrowing. "Drop the act with me, Jade. I'm not interested in whatever game you're playing, got it?"

Ash appeared calm, but there was an undeniable air of authority in her every move.

Embarrassed, Jade pressed her lips together tightly. Just as she was fumbling for words, she spotted the clothing designs on the computer screen. "Ash, do you like Dream Couture's clothes too? I'm a VIP there. I can have some sets sent over for you tomorrow."