Evangeline Castillo arrived home from the hospital to find her birth parents and three brothers throwing a party for Meghan Gallagher's birthday. The irony wasn't lost on her—Meghan was the girl responsible for her hospitalization. Steam practically erupted from Evangeline's ears. She stormed over, grabbed Meghan's hair, and smashed her face into the birthday cake.

"Evangeline Castillo! What the heck! Apologize to Meghan, now!" yelled Edward Gallagher, her eldest brother.

Evangeline slapped him. "Shut up! Dream on!"

Jasper Gallagher, her second brother, asked, "What is wrong with you?" Evangeline slapped him too. "You heard me. Shut up!" Before Samson Gallagher, her third brother, could speak, she slapped him as well. He yelled, "I didn't even say anything! Why did you hit me?"

Evangeline chuckled coldly. "If I want to hit you, I will. Who needs a reason?"

Samson, furious, sputtered, "You…"

George Gallagher, their father, was about to intervene, but Evangeline cut him off. "I said be quiet!" she hissed. She grabbed a cup and threw its contents on Bethany Gallagher, her mother. "I treat everyone the same. I don't play favorites like you do."

They were stunned. This was the same Evangeline who had desperately tried to win their affection just three months prior. Since waking from her coma, she'd become belligerent and abusive.

It turned out Evangeline was the true Gallagher heir, switched at birth with the maid's baby. Nineteen years passed before the family discovered the truth and brought her home. However, they couldn't let go of Meghan, whom they'd raised as their own. Fearful of treating Meghan poorly, they lavished her with attention, neglecting Evangeline.

Meghan, a master manipulator, constantly twisted situations to turn the Gallagher family against Evangeline. Three months earlier, Meghan had pushed Evangeline off a seventeen-foot-high stage. Instead of helping Evangeline, who was severely injured, the family rushed to Meghan, even stepping on Evangeline in their haste, worsening her injuries and resulting in her coma.

Evangeline finally calmed down. Her icy gaze swept the room, settling on Meghan, who trembled and hid behind Edward.

Evangeline sneered, "Keep her. I'm done with this family. If you want me to stay, kick her out and never let her set foot in this house again!"

Evangeline had previously tried to integrate into the family, striving to be kind and accepted. But their favoritism towards Meghan had worn her patience thin. She was finished trying to please them. If they didn't appreciate her, she would ensure they disliked her. They had made her life miserable, and she would reciprocate.

George was enraged. "Meghan is our daughter. As long as we're alive, this is her home."

Samson protested, "Why are you so mean? Meghan is good to you. Why are you always picking on her?"

Evangeline slapped him again.

Samson exploded. "That's it, Evangeline! You've crossed the line! I'm going to teach you a lesson!" He stood to retaliate.

The rest of the family rose, ready to confront Evangeline. They intended to put her in her place, or suffer a blow to their pride. But Evangeline fought back fiercely; the four men couldn't subdue her.

Amid the chaos, Evangeline dashed upstairs, shouting, "If you won't get rid of Meghan, I'm leaving! I'm cutting ties with all of you! I hope we never see each other again! And if you see me in town, don't even speak to me. You all bring nothing but bad luck!"

She ran to her room, grabbed her ID, and jumped out the second-story window. It was an easy feat for someone of her fighting prowess.

Chapter 1

Downstairs, Meghan sobbed dramatically, clinging to Bethany. "I always tried with Evangeline. I never thought she didn't want me around. Dad, Mom, maybe I should leave. Evangeline is your real daughter. I'll even beg her to come back. Just please, let her come home."

The Gallagher family fell for her act. Bethany interjected, "Don't say that. You're my daughter, always."

George added, "Evangeline is nothing like you. She only causes drama and wouldn't help us at all. She even hit us! How rude!"

Samson agreed, "With you here, we see how nice you really are. We're lucky to have you as our sister."

Meghan then expressed concern, "But remember! Grandpa left Evangeline 30% of the company's shares. If she starts messing things up there, what will we do?"

George frowned. "Yeah, that's trouble. She has our company shares, but wants to ditch the Gallagher family? She shouldn't keep what's ours! I'll send some men after her tomorrow to get our shares back."

Evangeline waited outside a hotel, leaning against a pillar. A Maybach arrived, and Arthur Ferdinand, the powerful head of Ferdinand Group, emerged.

Evangeline blocked his path. Arthur stared at her intently. Before he could speak, Evangeline said, "Mr. Ferdinand, I have a business proposition. I have 30 percent of Gallagher Group, and I'm looking to sell it to you."

The Gallagher family, though overshadowed by Ferdinand Group, still held considerable influence. The two companies were rivals. If Arthur acquired those shares, his company would likely swallow Gallagher Group whole.

Arthur's demeanor shifted. Evangeline showed him her ID. "I'm Evangeline Castillo, the legitimate Gallagher heir. Your late father left me 30 percent of Gallagher Group."

Arthur examined the ID. "All right, come with me." He took her to the presidential suite. "How much do you want for the shares?"

"Six million dollars," Evangeline replied.

Arthur was incredulous. "Ms. Castillo, are you sure you're not playing me?"

"I'm serious. Six million dollars is my price," Evangeline insisted.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "You better think twice. I don't have time for games."

"I'm not playing games. As long as you're willing to buy, I can transfer the shares immediately," Evangeline stated.

Arthur lowered his voice. "Do you understand the value of Gallagher Group?"

Evangeline nodded. "Thirty billion dollars."

Arthur was stunned. "You're giving up your share of a thirty-billion-dollar company for six million? You're not messing with me?"

Evangeline met his gaze. "Not at all. But there's a catch. We need a side deal."

Arthur gestured for her to continue.

"The Gallagher family will be furious if this sale goes through. I need your protection. And I want them to lose control of the company within a year. They may not be as wealthy, but they're still powerful. Bringing them down? That's on you, Mr. Ferdinand!"

Arthur, though surprised by her boldness, agreed. He even questioned if she worried about her grandfather's ghost, knowing she'd manipulated him into giving her the shares, but Evangeline was unfazed.

The contracts were drawn up, and Evangeline received the money.

"Mr. Ferdinand, I have one more request," Evangeline said.

"Shoot," Arthur replied, "but no promises."

She hesitated, then decided to speak her mind. "I need you to make sure the Gallagher family can never get back that 30% of shares in their company ever again"

Arthur responded "Speak freely, Ms. Castillo. You never know. I might just agree."