Chapter 5

When I woke up again, I was lying on a cold, large table.

Everyone was gone. Mint leaves, sushi rice, and caviar pearls were scattered haphazardly on my bloodied, naked body.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, replaying the humiliating scenes from not long ago.

Every second I thought about it, my nerves felt like they were being pierced by venomous needles.

The pain was nearly suffocating!

I don't know how long passed. Dressed in a work uniform given to me by a kind server, I returned home.

Seeing my mom, Brenda, there, my numb nerves finally found a moment of solace. Then I noticed she was kneeling on the floor, gently massaging a pair of bare feet.

My gaze slowly moved upward. It was none other than Serena.

Before I could fully process it, I saw my brother, Kevin, running over with a basin of hot water, smiling eagerly. "Miss Serena, I'll draw your foot bath."

Serena looked utterly delighted, then smugly turned her head to glance at me.

"See? You didn't want to be my servant, but plenty of others do."

"I just offered $200,000 a month, and your mom and brother were scrambling to try out. Tsk tsk... the power of money is truly effective!"

I staggered, nearly falling. I couldn't believe my eyes or my ears.

"Mom, Kevin, what have you…"

"Do you even know that I divorced Dax because of her!"

"All these injuries on my body are also thanks to this disgusting couple. They even… they even made me into a human sushi platter!"

Kevin shrugged indifferently. "Yeah, we know. Miss Serena told us everything when she got back."

"You can't blame Miss Serena and Dax for the divorce. They're a perfect match. You should have stepped aside a long time ago."

Brenda even admonished me, "You disobeyed Miss Serena earlier, so it's only right that she taught you a lesson. From now on, you need to serve her diligently."

Then, she handed me a book.

The Premium Domestic Service Handbook.

Brenda continued, "Aria, you're not the rich madam you used to be. You're a nobody now, with no money, no home, no prospects."

"Now Miss Serena is even willing to hire you for $500,000 a month, plus the per-session payment for sleeping with Dax, your monthly income would exceed a million dollars!"

"What more could you want? Hurry up and thank Miss Serena!"

Listening to Serena's grating, mad laughter, I gave a desolate smile. The little color left in my face completely drained away, leaving not a trace.

As I turned to leave, Brenda shouted again, "Stop!"

"If you walk out that door, we're disowning you!"

"Fine."

I replied, and without looking back, I left.

Walking out of the complex, the biting night wind made me tremble uncontrollably, and the tears I had been holding back burst forth like a broken dam.

"Aria…"

"From now on, you have no family."

I murmured to myself, then contacted Lilia, my assistant, to book a flight, flying to Silverwood City overnight.

Two days later.

The ballroom on the top floor of a five-star hotel in Silverwood City was packed with celebrities and wealthy elites.

Serena and Dax were among them, being led by Mr. Davies, weaving through the crowd, toasting.

During this, Serena's gaze kept flicking toward the majestic gilded armchair at the head of the table.

"Dad, that chair is so beautiful. I wish I could sit in it."

Mr. Davies jumped in alarm, rebuking her quietly. "That chair is prepared for your grandfather's boss. It's beyond your reach."

"Oh, come on, I was just saying!"

"But who exactly is grandpa's boss? Must be over a hundred years old, right?"

Mr. Davies's face filled with admiration at her words.

He sighed, "That is a legendary figure in the investment world, the Black Phoenix who once caused countless storms in global finance."

"Your grandpa says she's quite young, probably around your age."

Serena and Dax secretly gasped. When they looked back at the gilded armchair, they saw someone was already sitting in it.

After seeing clearly, both of them gasped in shock.

"Aria?!"

The next second, Mr. Harrison Sr. and the twelve other most powerful moguls in the room approached me, bowing in unison with faces full of reverence.

"Boss!"