Chapter 289

Melody Steele had always been the picture-perfect little princess—born into comfort, pampered all her life, living like she’d stepped straight out of a fairy tale. And then, on her eighteenth birthday, after begging and pleading, she convinced her family to let her go on her very first solo trip. But that picture-perfect life took a nosedive when, during a vacation in Y Country, she lost both her suitcase and backpack. Her bag had everything—wallet, ID, all her bank cards, and even her passport. Just like that, Melody went from a glittering princess to a broke, lost girl with zero proof she even existed. Wandering from the station all the way to the outskirts, she’d long polished off the last piece of bread she had. Her stomach growled nonstop, her face was streaked with grime, and her once-nice clothes were ripped from the journey, making her look downright pitiful. Swiping at the messy strands of hair sticking to her face, Melody peered around with her deep, jet-black eyes. Not far a