Chapter 1

On the day I turned eighteen, I was kidnapped.

The kidnappers called Theo, demanding 60 million as ransom.

"The notable second son of the Taylor family, surely you wouldn't hesitate to spare 60 million for a young girlfriend? Such a pretty girl, it'd be a shame if she were to end up a mess!"

I lay there with a dislocated shoulder, crying and begging Theo on the phone to save me.

But he just asked the kidnappers with chilling indifference, "What makes her worth 60 million?"

Enraged, the kidnappers broke three of my fingers. I could never play the piano I loved again.

When I saw him again later, I addressed him politely and distantly as "Mr. Theo."

He cornered me in a room, gently caressed my face, and softly coaxed, "Sound, be good. Call me Third Brother like before, okay?"

"Sound, we're in Seaside City now."

As the plane landed with a slight jolt, the nightmare dragged me into an even darker abyss.

Thankfully, my assistant woke me up just in time. I seemed to have dreamt about what happened six years ago again.

That feeling of fear, helplessness, and despair brought tears to my eyes once more.

Seaside City. A place of decadence, filled with schemes and devoid of warmth.

If it weren't for helping Asher secure resources for his new movie, I wouldn't have returned here.

After leaving the airport, the car my assistant arranged hadn't arrived yet.

Just as I was about to hail a taxi, I heard a hesitant voice behind me, "Miss Fiona?"

I turned around, freezing in place. It was Uncle Nolan, Theo's driver since he was fifteen. Behind him was a Phantom. I immediately noticed the familiar license plate: 1108, November 8th, Theo's birthday. My heart gave a slight tremor.

As the car window slowly lowered, that familiar face appeared before me.

"Sound?" Theo sat inside, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a perfectly sculpted collarbone.

He no longer had the sharp arrogance from six years ago but seemed more cool and reserved.

Under his slanting brows were deep, captivating eyes. Six years had passed, yet he still looked like a delicate ink painting, sending chills through my body.

I never expected to run into him on such an ordinary afternoon.

"You're back?" His expression was appropriate and natural, as if I had just been on a trip.

He seemed to forget that six years ago, I was in that cold, damp, filthy room, my arms dislocated, crying and begging him to save me.

He used the same indifferent tone to tell those kidnappers, "What makes her worth 60 million?"

"Little girlfriend? You're overthinking it. I, Theo, wouldn't bother to spend 60 million on someone irrelevant. If you want it, ask the Lewis family." He knew perfectly well how difficult my situation was with the Lewis family.

I yelled into the phone, "Third Brother! Consider this 60 million a loan from you. I'll pay it back! Please, don't abandon me!"

A few seconds later, I heard him sneer, "You've been calling me Third Brother for years, and you really think of yourself as part of the Taylor family? Know your place. Stop bothering me, do as you wish."

The last sentence was directed at the kidnappers. I stared blankly as the call ended. It was my only hope. Theo personally snuffed it out. Later, the furious kidnappers broke three of my finger bones.

They even considered assaulting me and sending the video to Theo. Fortunately, the leader remembered Theo mentioning I was from the Lewis family.

They hesitated, not daring to offend both the Taylor and Lewis families. In the end, it was Phoebe, whom I always looked down on, who, under Mr. Lewis's orders, paid to have me released.

She untied me, then slapped me hard. "Fiona! You're such a curse!"

In the past, I would've hit back. Theo would always stand behind me, calmly telling me to retaliate against anyone who bullied me. He was always my biggest support. But now, I owed the Lewis family 60 million. The person who once said he'd be my support for life didn't even show up.

Phoebe mocked me then, "Just an abandoned child the Lewis family doesn't want, yet you dare to think you can have the Taylor family's prince? Who gave you the face?!" I calmly retorted, "Just because I can call him Third Brother, and you can't."

But Phoebe sneered, "You're just a diversion in Theo's boring life. Do you really think you're that important?"

She didn't know that someone as proud as Theo once knelt on one knee to massage my sprained ankle. Thinking back, the confidence I had then only made me feel more ridiculous now.