The True Heiress: Legend Mode novel Chapter 1

Juno Mercer had been reborn. Her soul had awakened in the body of a wealthy family's true heiress—one who had just been beaten to death by her imposter replacement shortly after being brought home.

Her nose was instantly assaulted by the harsh, clinical stench of antiseptic. She had always loathed hospitals.

Her body was covered in dark bruises, a vivid testament to the agonizing torment the girl had suffered before her death.

The imposter's venomous words still echoed in her mind.

"You bitch! Every second since they dragged you back from the boondocks has been a reminder that I'm not the Corringtons' biological daughter!"

"Don't even dream of stealing my parents! They only brought you back so you could marry that cripple in my place. They said my hands were meant to hold a Cambridge diploma, not wipe the drool off some paralyzed loser. Do you understand?!"

On the hospital bed, Juno's eyelids twitched.

What a pathetic way for the real heiress to die!

A nurse stood holding a syringe, looking conflicted. "Ms. Corrington ordered us to inject this into her. It’ll turn her into a vegetative toy, completely at their mercy. But she’s already dead. Is it really necessary?"

The other nurse was impatient. "Just do it so we can report back and get paid."

"Fine."

Juno felt someone grab her arm. Her eyelids felt heavy as lead, and it took an immense effort to pry them open. In the next second, her consciousness fully snapped into focus. With a razor-sharp glare, she flipped her wrist and clamped down on the nurse's hand in a vice grip.

"Ah!!"

The icy touch sent a violent shiver down the nurse's spine, making her scream. She looked down to see that Juno was inexplicably awake.

Because Juno had just woken up, her grip lacked its usual strength. The nurse easily yanked her hand free, dropping the syringe to the floor.

"Phone," Juno demanded, propping herself up on the bed.

Still shaken, the nurse snapped back, annoyed that she had been startled. "We don't carry phones while working."

Juno slowly raised her gaze, her pitch-black eyes locking onto the woman. Her icy tone left no room for argument. "Then go get one for me."

The nurse scoffed. "If you're begging for a favor, you should at least have the right attitude."

"I am the Corrington family's true daughter."

Juno delivered the line lightly, like a polite reminder.

But the nurse didn't care. "So what? You still dropped dead just like anyone else, didn't you? Do you even have human rights at this point?"

"Thank you." Juno's face remained completely devoid of emotion. She had already died once.

The sharp cracks of flesh meeting flesh continued. The nurse's face swelled rapidly before their eyes.

Amid the chaos, Gerda spoke. "I just flew back into the country and heard you were in the hospital. What happened?"

Juno lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable as a cold smile touched her lips. "Every single person who hurt me will pay!"

Watching the nurse get beaten, Gerda frowned in anger. "You are the true bloodline of the Corringtons! The staff are getting way out of line."

Juno gave a subtle nod. "I'll handle things here. You just got off a long flight; you should go home and rest."

Gerda hesitated, but finally relented. "Alright. Call me if you need anything."

She left twenty bodyguards behind for her granddaughter and departed.

Juno raised a hand. The bodyguard immediately stopped. The nurse collapsed onto the floor in a dazed, battered heap, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Right at that moment, the door was shoved open violently.

Rhiannon Corrington stormed into the room.