Chapter 3 She Hadn't Been Cast Aside

Pain pulsed at the base of Carl's neck, and he reached up to massage it while scanning his surroundings.

The interior of his car felt unchanged, yet through the windshield rose the city's skyline, with the Pearl Tower cutting into the hazy distance.

That was when it hit him-he was back in Qidence.

The last thing he remembered was leaving the village with Eliana behind the wheel. At some point, darkness had taken over without warning.

His gaze darted around the car, and an uneasy realization struck-Eliana wasn't there.

He twisted in his seat, straining to see, until he finally caught sight of her a few steps away.

Eliana stood in conversation with a young man whose messy curls framed his face.

"The lab sent the results," the man said, his voice low but urgent.

"What did they say?" asked Eliana, her eyes narrowing.

Instead of answering outright, the man passed her a thin folder. "You might want to read it yourself."

A crease formed on Eliana's brow as a suspicion began to take shape in her mind.

She flipped the report open, heading straight for the last page. The words stared back at her. "Analysis of DNA samples from both parties supports a blood relationship."

The report snapped shut in her hands, and her gaze darkened with a storm of unspoken emotions.

For as long as she could remember, she had carried the belief that she was an orphan. If that weren't true, then surely she had been cast aside.

That conviction had kept her from searching. Even with her talents and resources, she had never once tried to find them.

In her mind, those who had thrown her away didn't deserve to be her family.

Learning the truth about her roots left her with a swirl of emotions she couldn't quite name.

Even so, the thought of rushing back to her family didn't sit right with her.

Life alongside her subordinates had become her normal.

Watching her closely, the curly-haired man finally asked, "So, are you heading back to meet the Murray family? I did some digging. Besides you, they've got six sons and one adopted daughter. The whole family situation is quite complicated."

She pushed the folder back into his hands without hesitation. "Complicated or not, I need to see it for myself."

His face lit up with approval. "Couldn't be better timing. We're shifting our headquarters to Qidence this year. Having connections here will smooth the way for everything."

Eliana's eyes narrowed slightly as she said, "So, this was part of your plan all along-nudging me back to the Murray family."

Scratching at his curls, he gave a sheepish grin and responded, "More like a move we can't avoid. Eighvale's market has been wrecked. Some unknown group came after us hard, and we've been bleeding losses without even knowing their names. We need new ground."

"Then let everyone know they should be ready to pack up at a moment's notice," Eliana said.

"Got it," he replied with a brisk nod. He started to turn away, then paused as something came to mind. "Oh-while you were gone, we landed a big contract. It's for treating someone here. Since you're already in town, can you take it?"

"What's their offer?" Eliana inquired.

"They said if the patient recovers, we can name any price we want," the man answered.

Eliana raised an eyebrow. "Then let's make this our calling card in Qidence."

Before her last word had even faded, a faint noise came from inside the car.

With a flick of her hand, Eliana sent the curly-haired man on his way, and he disappeared without another word.

Moments later, Carl walked up, his eyes trailing in the direction the man had gone.

"Who was that, Lia?" he asked, curiosity edging his voice.

"Just a driver I hired. He's the one who brought us into Qidence," Eliana answered casually.

"Got it." Carl didn't question her, though his hand went to his neck. "Strange... it's aching like crazy."

"You probably slept the whole ride and twisted it. That's all," she replied with the same easy tone.

"You think so?" His eyes narrowed slightly, still unsure.

"I'm sure of it," Eliana said with a firm nod.

Even with her reassurance, a quiet doubt lingered in his mind.

Each time he tried to focus on what had happened earlier, the throbbing in his neck sharpened until he gave up.

In the end, all that mattered was that Eliana was with him again.

"Come on, let's head home. Mom and Dad must be waiting," Carl said, his excitement bubbling over.

"Alright, let's go." Eliana agreed, making no move to argue and letting him take the driver's seat.

Carl straightened in confidence, determined to keep the ride smooth.

He hoped to show her he could handle the wheel, but the streets of Qidence were a mess-heavy traffic, endless red lights, and no room for speed.

Over an hour later, their patience paid off as they passed through the gates of a grand estate.

Eliana's gaze swept over the surroundings, and for the first time, she began to believe Carl's boast that the Murrays had been Qidence's richest family.

The thought struck her that, as the acknowledged daughter of such a family, moving the Onyx Syndicate's headquarters here would be far easier than she'd imagined.

Her thoughts barely had time to settle before the car rolled to a stop and she stepped out, only to spot several uniformed servants hauling luggage toward the gates.

Carl stepped forward and stopped one of them. "Briar, what's going on? Where are you headed?"

Recognizing him instantly, Briar Ward dipped his head in greeting before answering, "There's been... a major change in the family while you were away."

As he explained, the picture became clear for Eliana.

Carl's father, Louis Murray, once Qidence's richest man, had been pulled into a high-profile economic investigation and taken into custody.

Alongside him, Damon and Sawyer Murray-the eldest and second sons-were also being held for questioning.

The Murray Group's empire had taken a crushing hit, and the staff were being dismissed one after another.

Wages had just been settled, and those still loyal were now leaving with heavy hearts.

Carl stood frozen, as though the words couldn't quite take root in his mind.

Eliana gave a gentle pull on his sleeve. "Come on. Let's see for ourselves."

That seemed to jolt him back to reality. With a dazed expression clouding his features, he led her through the front doors.

The living room greeted them with a tense scene-a slim young woman knelt before a middle-aged woman in an elegant dress.

"Mom, please, I had no other choice... With everything falling apart here, the Clarkes won't take me unless I cut ties with our family. You don't have to worry; it's only for appearances. After I marry into the Clarke family, I'll still be able to help..." the young woman pleaded.

At those words, Stella Murray's eyes slid shut, her expression one of quiet, aching disappointment.

The family's downfall hadn't been an accident. It was a calculated move, partly to stall for time and build their influence, and partly to see if the younger generation could endure hardship.

Still, after more than twenty years under her care, Leyla Murray-the adopted daughter-decided to walk away the moment trouble arrived.

Even the servants who had been dismissed had quietly offered to return if the family needed them.

Leyla, however, seemed determined to put as much distance between herself and the Murrays as she could.

Carl didn't wait for her to speak. He strode forward and struck her across the face.

Clutching her cheek, Leyla stared at him in disbelief. "Carl, you actually hit me?"

His eyes were cold as he snapped back, "Yeah, I did. And why shouldn't I? You're just looking for a way to save yourself while we're drowning."

"You-" Leyla began, her voice tight.

"Enough! Marry anyone you want. We don't give a damn. You're not a Murray anymore!" he barked.

Her gaze flicked between Carl and Stella, who said nothing. Then she let out a sharp laugh and rose to her feet. "Alright then. You've made it clear. This is your choice, not mine."

From her bag, she drew a folded document and added, "Sign this. From this moment on, your troubles aren't mine, and I won't care whether you guys end up in jail or not."

Carl snatched the severance papers before Stella could react and scribbled his name without hesitation. "Done. Now get out!"