Chapter 2

Connor thought he was giving Shannon the best choice available, but she merely looked at him stoically. "Thanks, but no thanks." In the past, she'd learned how to cook, massage, and carve for their sake. She'd also personally made talismans for them and had treated them as well as she could in hopes that they would like her. Ultimately, none of it mattered. They just didn't care about her. They hadn't even spared her a glance when she'd almost died trying to save Rachel. Shannon would no longer hold out hope for the Gray family. Connor's expression turned a little ugly at Shannon's rejection. He felt she was looking a gift horse in the mouth—how good could her life be once she left the Gray family? "Why bother, Connor? We won't keep her around even if she gives up the slot and begs us to let her stay! And no way is she taking a single thing from our family!" Sheila snapped. Rachel stepped forward, looking like she wanted to talk some sense into Shannon. But when she lowered her voice so it was only audible to the two of them, she said smugly, "I forgot to tell you this earlier, Shannon. "Brad confessed his feelings to me a few days ago, and we're getting engaged soon. I know you've always liked him, but I still hope you'll give us your blessing." Shannon took in her smug expression and asked stoically, "Whoever told you that I liked him?" Rachel was taken aback, evidently caught off guard by Shannon's reaction. Shouldn't Shannon have fallen to her knees and burst into tears after hearing that the man she liked was in love with Rachel? Shannon looked at her like she was a fool. "You might be blind, but that won't stop me from giving you my blessing. After all, you two idiots won't be able to harm other people if you're together." It was a good thing, really. Rachel's pupils constricted at her words. She almost lost her composure. Shannon turned away from her to look at the rest of the Gray family. "I'll pay you back for every dime you've spent on me since adopting me. From today onward, I won't have anything to do with you." The Gray family had exploited her astrological house. Once she severed ties with them and got rid of the karma related to this matter, the misfortune that Shannon had shielded Rachel from would be returned to Rachel in twofold. In addition, she would repay the Gray family for raising her by compensating them monetarily. Once everything was settled between them, she wouldn't be ridden with karmic debt if she were to do anything to the Gray family in the future. Shannon glanced at the bangle on Rachel's wrist one last time before saying, "You're incapable of keeping that bangle. It won't be long before I get you to personally return it to me." With that, she turned and strode out of the Gray residence. Sheila watched her leave, so furious that she almost couldn't speak. "Look at her—she's an ingrate! If not because of Rachel, I would've kicked her out long ago!" Rachel linked arms with her and appeased her. "I'm sure Shannon only lashed out like that because she couldn't accept having to move back to such a poor place. Don't get mad at her, Mom." "Oh, you. You're just too kind for words." Sheila looked at her helplessly. Then, she looked in the direction Shannon had left and snarled, "I can't believe she didn't die from the accident. I bet she's been possessed by some monster! It's good that we've gotten rid of her now. Who knows what misfortune she would've brought us?" "Alright. That's enough," Francis said, putting an end to the conversation. Unbeknownst to the Gray family, as soon as Shannon left the Gray residence, the blistering sky above the house became blocked by gray clouds. It even seemed to make the temperature drop a little. In a dark corner, there was a whisper of voices as they discussed cheerily among themselves. "She's gone! She's finally gone!" "This place is ours now!" … The sun in June was scorching, but there wasn't a hint of heat or sweat on Shannon as she walked from the Gray residence's main entrance to the gates. She pulled out her phone. Francis had given her biological parents' number to her, but she'd yet to contact them. She didn't know much about her parents but knew they couldn't be doing too well financially if they lived deep in the mountains. Shannon had just sat for her SATs and was supposed to go to university soon. If her biological parents didn't have enough money to pay for her education, she could think of ways to earn her own fees. As for being forced to marry someone after getting home… Well, she wasn't worried about that at all. She didn't think there was anyone on this Earth who could sell her off to anyone. Shannon pondered the matter as she searched for her parents' numbers. She was about to make a call when she heard some cars approaching. She looked up to see over a dozen black Maybachs driving along the tree-lined road. The neighborhood that the Gray family's villa was located in wasn't the best in the city, but expensive cars were a common sight there. Shannon figured the entourage was some mogul's display of wealth. She was about to step aside so she wouldn't be in the cars' way when they stopped before her, forming two neat rows. Then, the doors opened, and white-gloved drivers got out to stand in another two neat rows before her—they'd obviously been well-trained. One of the drivers respectfully opened the back door of the Maybach in the middle of the entourage. Shannon raised an eyebrow at the sight. She saw a man in a dark gray suit get out of the car. He was tall, and his suit fit him perfectly. It accentuated his handsome figure, lending him a regal air. He fixed his gaze on her and approached her. Then, he asked, "Are you Shannon Gray?" Shannon guessed who he was when she saw his features and found them somewhat familiar. "Yep, that's me." He saw that she was about to dial a number and clicked his tongue. Then, he reached out and helped her dial it. In the next second, his phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out and showed it to Shannon before leaning down so he was eye-to-eye with her. He smiled and said, "I'm Hector Jensen, your brother. Nice to meet you." Shannon didn't say anything. She looked at him before glancing at the cars and drivers behind him. After a beat, she said, "I heard that my parents stay deep in the mountains…" In other words, she was saying that Hector didn't really seem like her family. He thought she was going to say something else. At her words, he said, "Well, our hometown is deep in the mountains. It's just that we own that mountain." Shannon was lost for words. So… her parents weren't poor? In fact, they owned a mountain? How could someone even own a mountain? Would the government allow that?