Chapter 2

Four years later.

In the intensive care unit of a hospital.

"I'm sorry," the doctor said, "we tried everything, but Raymond isn't improving. You should go in and say goodbye."

Shaun Haynes frowned worriedly. "Doc, please, try something else! If my father dies, the Haynes family properties will go to the government. What are we going to do? We haven't seen Joanna in years. Damn it! My father… he ignored his grandsons, who were with him every day, caring only for that wretched daughter of mine!"

The Haynes family was miserable. Raymond, Shaun's father, had drafted a strange will on his deathbed, leaving 51% of the Haynes Group to his eldest granddaughter, Joanna, and only 10% to other family members. Joanna would become the majority shareholder, but a condition stipulated that if she didn't appear before Raymond's death, everything would go to the government. Desperately, the family searched for Joanna, but she had vanished. No one had heard from her since her divorce from Bruce.

"That girl's deliberately defying us!" Shaun's second wife, Ingrid Haynes, fumed, her face twisting. "No one knows where she's been for all these years!" Years ago, Ingrid, pregnant with twins, had thrown Joanna and her mother out of the family. She’d then had a third son, believing her position secure. She never expected this outcome; Raymond had always favored Joanna.

"Dad, Mom, Grandpa's awake!"

"Joanna… my Joanna…" Raymond, comatose for over two weeks, was nearing death, his only concern his granddaughter. Her absence worried him; he even suspected Ingrid's involvement.

"Dad," Shaun protested, "Rick, Ryan, and Roxy are your grandchildren! Your will is unfair! You're leaving them nothing! They'll be on the streets if you donate everything to the government!"

Chapter 2

"Joanna… let me see Joanna. You won't get a penny otherwise…"

Ingrid hissed, "It's been four years, Raymond! Who knows where she is? If she cared, she'd be here!"

Roxanne, impatient, asked Bruce, "Do you know where my sister is?"

Bruce hesitated. After their divorce, he'd expected Joanna to cause trouble. Instead, she'd left the next day, taking only her identification, not even her bank card containing $100 million. There'd been no word from her in four years. And, proud as he was, he hadn't contacted her.

Four years! Still, Bruce doubted she'd let go so easily. He'd planned to get rid of her, but she'd simply vanished.

"Joanna! Joanna!"

"Grandpa's dying! Get the doctors!"

The ECG showed Raymond's heartbeat fading. His family wept, not for him, but for the lost inheritance.

Tap, tap, tap… The sound of high heels echoed from the corridor.

Creak. The ward door opened. A woman in a custom-made white suit, carrying a designer bag, entered. Oversized sunglasses obscured most of her face, but her long legs and high heels were striking. She exuded an icy aura.

"Who is she? Do we know her?"

"It's me. I'm here to see my grandpa!" Joanna slowly removed her sunglasses and approached the bed.

"Joanna!" Gasps filled the room. She'd changed dramatically. Her long, straight dark hair was now curly brown, cut to shoulder length. The sweet girl had transformed into a mature, sophisticated woman. She was fitter, and her eyes held a newfound depth.

"Joanna? Finally! The Haynes family will be ruined if you hadn't shown up…"

For the first time, the family was relieved to see her.

"I'm sorry, Grandpa. I'm sorry I'm late!"

"Joanna," Raymond rasped, his eyes barely open, "I'm glad you're safe… I can finally rest…"

He reached out, then his hand fell limp, his head tilted, his eyes closed.

Beep. The ECG declared Raymond dead.

"Grandpa? Grandpa!" Joanna cried. She knew he was the only one who'd ever cared for her.

"Fake tears!" Derick, Shaun's eldest son, sneered. "You only came because of the inheritance!" He'd never considered Joanna his sister, and resented her newfound position.

Shaun, reasonably grieving, patted Joanna's shoulder. "Joanna, now you're back, move home."

Ingrid's lips curled, but she said smoothly, "That's right! Your grandfather left you 51% of the Haynes Group. He must have been confused. You're young and inexperienced. Let your father run the business." She intended to control Joanna, believing her as foolish as her mother.

Joanna remained impassive. "I want to take care of Grandpa first."

"Right. Raymond's funeral is the priority."