"Miss, you're returning to the Bennett family, all items have been replaced with new ones, there's no need to bring these scraps."
In a worn-out room, a young girl dressed in simple clothes was packing her things with great care. The items she was gathering weren’t much—just some old copper coins, yellowed papers, and dusty books that looked like something a ghost might use. Despite the state of these belongings, she packed them as if they were treasures.
Watching her from the doorway, the butler couldn’t hide his disdain. He had been sent to retrieve the long-lost daughter of the Bennett family, a girl who had grown up in poverty because of a hospital mistake years ago. The thought crossed his mind: "What if she’s the true daughter of the Bennett family? She’s lived in poverty all her life—she’s bound to be small-minded."
Finally, Ava finished packing her small bundle and looked at Mr. Collins with calm eyes. “Let’s go,” she said quietly before walking out the door and slipping into the back seat of the car.
The butler, feeling uneasy, touched his nose and climbed into the front passenger seat. There was something unsettling about the young miss. The townspeople had mentioned that after the parents who adopted her passed away, she had been living with a geomancer. It made him shiver.
As the driver adjusted the navigation and prepared to set off, a cold, crisp voice came from the back seat. “If you don’t want to die, take the small road on the right.”
The driver hesitated and glanced at the butler. “But the main road is the only way to the highway,” he said uncertainly.
The butler looked at Ava through the rearview mirror. The gloomy girl in the back seat gave him chills. Reluctantly, he nodded. “Listen to the young miss. Let’s take the smaller road.”
The car wound its way through the outskirts of the city and eventually arrived at the Bennett family’s villa. It was situated in the most luxurious neighborhood, but their home was in the outer ring, not quite as grand as the others. As the car came to a stop in front of the courtyard, Ava stepped out, clutching her small bundle. A servant quickly approached to lead her inside. “Miss, Sir and Madam are waiting for you in the living room,” the servant said.
Ava let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. So this was how her biological parents, who she hadn’t seen in years, were welcoming her back. No excitement, no joy—just a servant to show her the way to the living room. The coldness of their reception was telling.
The servant led her to the entrance, and as Ava was changing into indoor shoes, she overheard a woman’s gentle, loving voice from inside the living room.“Olivia, you’re the daughter I’ve raised and loved for over a decade. Even though we’re bringing that girl home, you’re still the one I love the most!” The voice was soft and affectionate.
Ava peered through the gap in the door and saw a girl, Olivia Bennett, sitting inside, looking upset. She was dressed in a delicate gown and wore jewelry that was clearly from a luxury brand. “Now that everyone knows I’m not the real daughter of the Bennett family, how can I hold my head high in society?” she pouted.
Mrs.Grace Bennett, stepped forward and hugged her. “Bringing that girl back was for your sake,” she reassured her.
Daniel Bennett, who had been silently reading a financial newspaper, finally spoke. “Your engagement to the Carter family was arranged years ago. We can’t just cancel it. Your mother is only worried about you. She doesn’t want you to marry Damien Carter, who is sickly and could ruin your life.”
Olivia sniffled. “What does not marrying Damien have to do with bringing her home?”
Grace tapped Olivia’s forehead gently. “The engagement was meant to be between the eldest daughter of the Thompson family and the fifth young master of the Carter family. Now that this girl is back, she’s the real heiress of the Thompson family. It’s only right that she takes on this engagement.”
A smirk crossed Olivia’s face, though she still acted as if she was getting the short end of the stick. “Is this really okay? After all, she is your biological daughter...”
Grace shrugged it off. “Yes, she is, but I’m not mistreating her. She grew up in a small town. Marrying into a wealthy family like the Carters is already a blessing for her.”
Ava stood outside, her hand tightening and then relaxing. The words she overheard were harsh, but her expression remained unreadable, giving nothing away.
She cleared her throat.
All three people in the living room froze, their eyes snapping to Ava as she stepped inside. She was dressed in plain, worn clothes, but they were clean and neatly pressed. Her delicate face, free of any makeup, still drew attention. Despite her humble appearance, there was something about her that didn’t match the image of someone who had grown up in the countryside.
Olivia’s expression shifted quickly, and she forced a warm smile. “Sister? Uncle Harris brought you back. Why didn’t you let us know?”
Grace coughed awkwardly, guilt flashing across her face. She had no idea how much of their conversation Ava had overheard.
It’s good you’re home. Let’s have the kitchen prepare a meal,” Daniel said, folding up his newspaper and heading for the dining room.
At the table, Grace placed a shrimp ball in Ava’s bowl, trying to sound kind. “Now that you’re back, you’ll live with us. Olivia will keep you company, and you won’t have to suffer like you did before.”
Ava calmly put down her chopsticks. “I don’t think I was suffering.”
She thought of her foster parents. They hadn’t been wealthy, but they had loved her deeply. They had passed away when she was thirteen, and after that, she had lived with her mentor, who taught her many valuable skills. If her mentor hadn’t disappeared a year ago, she wasn’t sure she would have returned to the Bennett family at all.
Seeing Grace's discomfort, Olivia quickly changed the subject. “Sister, I heard you didn’t continue your studies after high school?”
Ava responded flatly, “Mm.”
Daniel's tone was indifferent, as if he was doing her a favor. “Take a day to adjust, and then you’ll start attending the Capital International University with Olivia. I had to pull some strings to get you in. I even donated a tennis court to the school.”
He couldn’t help but scrutinize her. The real daughter of the Bennett family only had a high school diploma? It didn’t sit well with him.
"Capital International University?" Ava was stunned.
Olivia mistook her reaction for excitement. “It’s the best university in the country. The admission standards are very high. You should be grateful for the sacrifices our father made to get you in.”
"I don’t need it" , Ava said coolly, her lack of gratitude irritating Daniel.“What did you say? We’re trying to help you, and you’re not even thankful!"
Ava remained calm. She reached into her bag and pulled out a letter. “This is the admission notice I received from Capital International University last year. I took a year off for personal reasons, but the school promised I could start as a sophomore this year.”
The room fell silent. Olivia quickly grabbed the letter, examining it over and over, unable to believe it was real.
"Our department head did mention that this year, there would be a transfer student who is a genius and skipped grades. Could it be you?" Olivia asked stunned.
“I wouldn’t call myself a genius, but I did rank first in the entrance exam that year.”
The shock was palpable. Ava casually tucked her admission letter back into her bag and resumed eating. As she did, she added, “Looks like you wasted your effort donating that tennis court.”