Lonnie Kimberly defiantly refused to agree with the wedding arrangement his parents had planned. He insisted he already had a girl he loved. But Old Mr. Kimberly and his wife, Lucy Aaron, were determined to secure the alliance with the Wesley family. They spiked Lonnie's drink and forced him into a night with his nominal wife, Bianca Wesley, then pressured him into marrying her.
No one could have imagined that Lonnie would escape afterward—running away from the Kimberly family, abandoning his carefree luxury life, and even refusing to answer to the Kimberly name. Instead, he adopted the name Asienwegher and chose to start life from scratch, never returning.
To make matters worse, Bianca Wesley unexpectedly conceived that very night, giving birth to Bryan Kimberly, Lonnie's intelligent son. The Wesley family felt humiliated and insulted by the scandal. Their resentment toward the Kimberly family grew, and they joined forces with the Jerome family to win the presidential election. Lonnie's disappearance slowly drove his mother, Lucy Aaron, to an early grave.
---
Bryan, meanwhile, was immersed in conflicting emotions. Though he had received immense love and care from his grandparents, he had not enjoyed his grandmother's presence for long. She died of depression when Bryan was just seventeen, freshly graduated from senior high school and preparing for his degree.
But what of the man he was supposed to call father? Lonnie might not even know of Bryan's existence. Bryan had only ever seen him in pictures.
He wanted to hate the man, but what use was hatred? And what of the girl Lonnie had left behind? Bryan was truly conflicted. It was true that his father had abandoned him and his mother for the sake of another woman's mother, but it was not the girl's fault, nor her mother's.
In fact, Bryan had often thought: if he were in his father's shoes, he too would have chosen to go after the woman he loved. He sighed, opening his mouth to say something to his grandfather, when his phone buzzed with a mail notification. Quickly scanning it, his face turned pale with panic.
---
Old Mr. Kimberly noticed the fear in Bryan's eyes and felt a premonition. "What's going on, Bryan?" he asked curiously.
Bryan looked at the old man, his voice urgent. "Our men have found Lilian—but she's on the run from Perry Jerome."
Old Mr. Kimberly's eyes widened in shock. He abruptly stood, exclaiming, "Was she the same Lilian Asienwegher who was declared wanted…?"
Bryan nodded, completing his grandfather's sentence. "Eight months ago."
"This is outrageous! And what does he want with her?"
Bryan was anxious. "Grandpa, I have to go. Lilian was found, but when she saw our people she thought they were Perry's men. She's threatening to commit suicide."
Old Mr. Kimberly froze in shock, standing motionless until Bryan ran out the door. Only then did he come back to his senses and quickly rush after him. Outside, he caught sight of Bryan's car speeding away. He immediately called his driver, urging him to follow Bryan's car.
---
They arrived at the City Life Saving Hospital, a towering building that seemed as tall as Mount Everest. Kimberly family bodyguards were stationed everywhere, implementing strict protective measures. Their heads tilted upward, hearts pounding in fear. Other guards worked to stop onlookers from spreading news of the incident. The Kimberly family was notoriously secretive; rarely did any news about them leak out.
Bryan didn't hesitate. He rushed straight to the elevator, ascending to the rooftop of the sixty‑seventh floor. There, he saw a slender figure clinging to the rooftop's rail, shouting in distress.
Bryan's heart nearly stopped. It was so dangerous—one slip, and she could fall from that height. Even with safety measures, she would be gravely injured.
Yes, Avery Macdonald was terrified of death. She thought of all the fortune she had amassed and knew she didn't want to die—not now. But whenever she remembered what Perry had done to Brenda Miles, she trembled violently. I would rather die than face such torture, she told herself.
---
But then she heard the handsome young man's voice. Did he just call her Lilian? Was she hallucinating? Imagining things? How could Lilian Asienwegher have an older brother? How was it possible she came from the Kimberly family?
Bryan kept speaking, his words reaching her clearly now. She blinked, fully awake, as she recognized him—the newly appointed CEO of the Kimberly family business. Slowly, he went down on his knees, begging anxiously.
"Lilian, please come down right now. It's dangerous in that position. Come—you're the little princess of the Kimberly family. You will always be protected by me and Grandpa. Please."
Just then, Old Mr. Kimberly rushed in, panic etched on his face, heading straight toward Avery. Bryan quickly hugged the old man from behind, shouting desperately, "No, Grandpa! Please don't scare her!"
They halted about ten feet away from her.
---
If Avery Macdonald had any doubts about Bryan's words before, they dissolved the moment she saw Old Mr. Kimberly. Yes, it was true—the Kimberly family was low‑key, but how could such a powerful family remain hidden? Impossible.
Slowly, Avery climbed down from the rails. She looked at the two men before her: one young, handsome, and promising; the other old, but radiating charm and wisdom. Stammering, she asked, "Is… is… are you telling me the truth? Am I really your sister?"
Her heart raced with giddiness. She planned to play pitiful, to earn their love and protection. With the Kimberly family's influence, she thought, to hell with Perry—even though he was the president's son. The Kimberly family's power was almost equal to the Jerome's.
In her heart, Avery scolded Lilian Asienwegher: Never appear and disrupt my luxury life in the Kimberly family.
She thought deeply about how perfectly things had turned. A door closed, and a better one opened, she told herself.
---
Just then, she felt a warm, comforting embrace engulf her entire being. A sobbing sound followed, filled with raw emotion.