Chapter 1The Trust Fund Diagnosis

As the sole living practitioner of ancient, esoteric holistic medicine.

My medical skills were so absurdly effective that even getting a full night's sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford.

I was utterly exhausted by the relentless demands of global elites treating me like a living miracle worker.

So, when my biological parents finally tracked me down, I immediately faked being mute to avoid any more unwanted attention.

I assumed what would follow was a cliché, soap-opera battle with the "fake" daughter they had raised, full of toxic mansion drama.

Instead, the adopted daughter was incredibly gentle and kind. My parents loved us equally, without a hint of favoritism.

And my seven older brothers spoiled their "disabled" little sister absolutely rotten.

I didn't have to diagnose a single patient or save a single life. My only daily responsibility was to breathe and enjoy extreme, unimaginable wealth.

This soulless, parasitic lifestyle was absolutely fantastic!

Until today, when a syndicate of eight overseas oligarchs coordinated a hostile takeover.

My father’s century-old corporate empire was systematically dismantled. The conglomerate’s billions in liquid assets were frozen internationally, and trading on our four publicly listed companies was maliciously halted.

The heir to one of the oligarchs sauntered into our living room, tossing a contract onto the floor:

"One dollar. I'm buying out 100% of the Sterling family's shares. Sign it, or tomorrow morning, I expect to see your entire family dead."

* * *

As the sole living practitioner of ancient, esoteric holistic medicine.

My medical skills were so absurdly effective that even getting a full night's sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford.

I was utterly exhausted by the relentless demands of global elites treating me like a living miracle worker.

So, when my biological parents finally tracked me down, I immediately faked being mute to avoid any more unwanted attention.

I assumed what would follow was a cliché, soap-opera battle with the "fake" daughter they had raised, full of toxic mansion drama.

Instead, the adopted daughter was incredibly gentle and kind. My parents loved us equally, without a hint of favoritism.

And my seven older brothers spoiled their "disabled" little sister absolutely rotten.

I didn't have to diagnose a single patient or save a single life. My only daily responsibility was to breathe and enjoy extreme, unimaginable wealth.

This soulless, parasitic lifestyle was absolutely fantastic!

Until today, when a syndicate of eight overseas oligarchs coordinated a hostile takeover.

My father’s century-old corporate empire was systematically dismantled. The conglomerate’s billions in liquid assets were frozen internationally, and trading on our four publicly listed companies was maliciously halted.

The heir to one of the oligarchs sauntered into our living room, tossing a contract onto the floor:

"One dollar. I'm buying out 100% of the Sterling family's shares. Sign it, or tomorrow morning, I expect to see your entire family dead."

He smiled faintly, his eyes locking onto my adopted sister, Chloe, who was trembling in terror.

"Oh, except for her. She stays. I need some entertainment."

My parents’ eyes were red with despair, and my seven brothers formed a desperate human shield in front of Chloe and me.

I froze, the bowl of artisan bird’s nest soup still in my hand.

Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to be a lazy, trust-fund baby if you guys kill my family?

I gently nudged past my oldest brother, stepping forward at a sluggish, unbothered pace.

The vocal cords I had kept silent for three years finally produced perfect, unaccented French.

"Go back and ask your grandfather, old man DuPont: Three years ago in Switzerland, that single golden acupuncture needle I sealed over his heart meridian to keep him alive... is it still working well for him?"

"Tell him the three-year term has expired. I am now preparing to pull the needle."

...

"Have you made your decision, my beautiful lady?"

William DuPont’s sapphire blue eyes looked gently at my adopted sister, Chloe Sterling.

"Accompany me back to Europe for a vacation. In exchange for the lives of your entire family."

"It is an incredibly lucrative trade, isn't it?"

My second oldest brother, Liam, known for his explosive temper, roared in fury.

"Bullshit! William, don't push us too far!"

He tried to lunge out of his chair.

But he was instantly pinned down by heavily armed guards, unable to move a muscle.

William didn’t even blink.

He cast a dismissive, contemptuous glance at my red-eyed brother.

Then, he turned back to Chloe with a polite, terrifying smile.

Chloe was shaking so violently she could barely stand.

But in the next second.

She subtly shifted her body, stepping even further in front of me to shield me.

I sat quietly in the shadows of the corner.

Watching the girl who was desperately trying to protect me.

Actually, before the Sterling family found me.

I had just faked my own death and escaped from a remote mountain sanctuary.

As the only person alive capable of performing the 'Nine-Turn Golden Needle' technique.

I was hunted down daily by desperate billionaires and politicians from across the globe, all begging for my services.

I literally didn't have time to sleep a full night.

To get some peace and quiet, I leveraged the influence of an underworld boss I had cured.

I slipped away from the mountain and assumed a completely new identity.

I just wanted to be invisible and enjoy a few days of absolute laziness.

Who knew that the very first time I showed my face in public, the Sterling family would spot me?

Inside a Starbucks, Chloe was the first one to rush up to me.

She hugged me, crying and apologizing profusely.

I looked at her, every hair on my arms standing on end.

After all, there wasn't much entertainment on the mountain.

When I was bored, I read hundreds of trashy, dramatic novels about biological vs. adopted daughters.

Biased parents, a manipulative, two-faced adopted sister.

Plus seven completely oblivious, idiot brothers.

The ultimate, toxic setup for a family drama.

And I had walked right into it.

To prevent myself from being framed or manipulated.

I made the snap decision to pretend I was mute.

If this adopted sister dared to pull any stunts on me.

One well-placed needle, and I'd turn her into a permanent vegetable.

But I was completely wrong.

Those dramatic, toxic plotlines from the novels? They never happened.

The moral compass of the entire Sterling family was absurdly, flawlessly aligned.

When they realized I couldn't speak.

My parents felt nothing but boundless, agonizing guilt and heartbreak for me.

Chloe, the adopted sister, was the very first person to learn sign language just for me.

My seven brothers weren't blind idiots; they spent every day finding new and extravagant ways to spoil me.

Being treated like the most precious, fragile treasure by an entire family every single day.

It was absolutely incredible!

No more midnight helicopter extractions to resuscitate some dying VIP.

No more working myself to the bone trying to save lives.

I was blissfully happy, playing the role of a useless, mute invalid.

Until this exact moment.

When my perfect life was rudely interrupted.

William looked at my father's despairing face and let out a light chuckle.

"Mr. Sterling, you didn't actually think I was a reasonable man, did you?"

"You have repeatedly opposed Western capital interests. My grandfather has been displeased for quite some time."

"Our syndicate of eight European oligarchs shorting your stock is simply to teach you a lesson."

He strolled leisurely over to my father.

"And the reason I flew all this way personally."

"Was to watch how you so-called 'Pride of Wall Street' tear each other apart when faced with true Western aristocracy!"

Chloe, using her body to block me from view, hid her hands behind her back.

With trembling fingers, she frantically signed to me:

[Sister, run! Go upstairs! Hide!]

My hand, holding the bowl of bird's nest soup, paused slightly.

The silver spoon accidentally clinked against the edge of the porcelain bowl.

It made a soft, sharp sound.

William immediately looked over.

His gaze bypassed Chloe's thin shoulders.

And locked directly onto me, the invisible girl in the corner.

He froze for a second.

Then, as if he had just discovered an exquisite new toy.

His eyes lit up, and he laughed out loud:

"Oh, look! You have a little mute girl here too!"