Chapter 1 The Reunion

Just above the rooftop of Moore Group's Riversdale subsidiary, a helicopter hovered, descending with deliberate slowness. As it approached the landing, the door slid open, and a tall, striking woman sprang lightly onto the roof. Close behind her came Hannah Hawking, her assistant. A man in a suit hurried forward, his voice taut with nervousness. "Welcome, Ms. Moore. It's been a long journey. Would you like something to eat before we move on?" "No. Take me straight to the office," Nancy Moore replied with a detached calm. Her sculpted, striking face held no expression. Her eyes seemed distant, but the effortless poise of a high-born lady remained, impossible to hide. But the truth was, the Moores had adopted Nancy from an orphanage when she was still a child. The first few families who had adopted her despised her once they found out she couldn't speak. So, they had her returned to the orphanage soon enough. The other children in the orphanage were jealous of her due to the fact that she was adopted multiple times. Hence, they'd bully and push her around even more. But Lady Luck smiled on Nancy when she accidentally saved Freya Lindt, the lady of the Moore family, leading to the Moores adopting her. In order to repay the Moores for their benevolence, Nancy worked hard in her studies. While the other children played, Nancy spent her days learning various skills for fear that she might get abandoned by the Moores again. Thankfully, the Moores were really nice to her, allowing her to grow into a confident young woman who carried herself well. A year ago, the Moores had tracked down Nancy's birth parents for her. Her journey to Riversdale was about more than just nurturing the subsidiary. She had come to meet her birth parents. As that thought took hold, a sudden, unexpected nervousness began to stir. "Is everything ready?" Nancy asked. Hannah answered promptly, "Don't worry, Ms. Moore. Everything is prepared. When would you like us to leave?" After hesitating for a moment, Nancy said, "We'll set off after I freshen up." "Understood," Hannah replied. Once showered and changed into fresh clothes, Nancy emerged to find the company's files and project documents already laid out on the desk. Her eyes caught a familiar name, and she murmured, "Lidell Group..." It was a project from her birth parents' company, seeking to form a partnership with Moore Group's subsidiary. Nancy leafed through the documents swiftly. Lidell Group didn't meet the criteria for partnership by any usual standard. Yet after some thought, she approved the project and handed it to the executive manager. Soon, she was ready to set off toward the Lidell household. When it came to choosing a car, she paused and weighed her options before deciding on the plainest one. The Lidells were a relatively insignificant family next to the Moores, and Nancy feared that arriving in a flashy vehicle might make her birth parents uneasy. … As one of the five great families of Riversdale, the Lidell residence was undeniably grand. Today, it was adorned with sumptuous decorations, honoring Raine Lidell, the family's heiress. She'd been crowned first in Riversdale Piano Competition and was now preparing to compete nationally. Warmth lingered in the living room, soft and inviting. Regina Olcott, Raine's adoptive mother, spoke with admiration, her eyes bright with love. "You're amazing, Raine." Raine's lips curled into a faint smile, but it vanished almost at once, her brows drawing together as a shadow of worry darkened her features. Regina's voice softened with genuine concern. "Raine, what's troubling you?" Fergus Lidell, Raine's adoptive brother, said nothing. But his gaze was heavy, filled with silent worry as he watched her intently. Raine bit her lip, caught in a hesitation before she finally spoke. "I'm worried about Nancy's return. What if we can't get along? I've held her place for so many years. What if she ends up hating me?" Her eyes glistened with tears, the weight of her fear plain to see, and both Regina and Fergus were struck by a poignant wave of sympathy. With a calm and tender tone, Regina reassured her. "Don't let your worries take hold, Raine. The years have stretched far behind us, and you have long been part of this family, as much as our daughter. "We haven't laid eyes on Nancy in ages. I give you my word. Should she ever return, it won't change your place here, not one bit!" A faint glow of gratitude stirred in Raine's eyes, though the shadow of unease lingered still. She was about to speak when her adoptive father, Andrew Lidell, came bounding down the stairs, his excitement unmistakable. Eagerly, he announced, "Duran Corporation has agreed to partner with us!" A spark of surprise and delight lit Regina's features. "Really?" Andrew nodded. "I just got the news. They've invited me for negotiations tomorrow, and there's an 80% chance the deal will be sealed." "That's wonderful! It actually worked!" Raine said, a smile breaking free despite herself. Andrew regarded her with a curious frown. "Raine, what do you mean by that?" She scanned everyone around her, then pursed her lips. After a pause, she finally spoke. "The truth is, I met with the CEO of Duran, asking him to give Dad a chance. I never imagined it would actually happen." Regina's eyes glowed with a tender pride as she said, "Raine, so it was you who worked quietly behind the scenes all along. You're truly the Lidells' lucky charm." Raine's smile was soft and humble. "Supporting the family is the least I can do." Yet, almost instantly, her smile faded, and her gaze dropped with weight. "Mom, Dad, Fergie… Nancy is coming back after all this time. I know it'll be difficult for her to see me. "Do you think it would be better if I moved out first? That way, you'd have more space to rebuild your relationship with her." A chorus of firm, unwavering voices rose from Andrew, Regina, and Fergus. "No way!" Fergus scowled. "Raine, you're my sister in every way that counts!" Regina's tone was just as earnest. "That's right. We've considered you our daughter for years! Nancy coming back simply means we'll have two daughters, and we can afford that." Andrew chimed in firmly, "Don't ever say something like that again." The Lidells molded Raine into the very image of a society lady—elegant, capable, and polished. This time, she had achieved even more, securing them a partnership with Duran Corporation. Though Regina and Andrew had no idea what Nancy was like now, they were certain she could never measure up to Raine. They had barely mentioned Nancy when she appeared. A maid came in to announce, "Mr. Lidell, someone has arrived." As soon as the maid finished speaking, Nancy emerged from the sunlight. She wore a white T-shirt and jeans, radiating youthful energy. Her delicate, flawless face held a beauty that drew and held the eye.