Chapter 1: The Stolen Bracelet

Boston, a city dotted with patches of shimmering lights.

Chloe walked out of the hotel through the back door after finishing her night shift, taking a shortcut back home.

She had walked these alleys since childhood, so she had nothing to worry about.

Yet, for some reason, the alley tonight was terrifyingly still, devoid even of the barking of dogs, causing Chloe to instinctively soften her footsteps as goosebumps rose all over her arms.

Fortunately, nothing happened, and a wave of relief washed over her as she caught sight of the old residential buildings just past the exit of the alley.

Suddenly, a pile of trash near the exit shifted, sending Chloe into a near panic, ready to bolt, when a man tumbled out of the heap and lay completely motionless.

Approaching him with extreme caution, she discovered that beneath the figure—whose face was too filthy to discern—a pool of deep crimson was spreading across the ground!

Starled, Chloe hastily pulled out her phone to call for an ambulance.

"Hello, hospital? Someone is badly injured here at Number Seven, South Street Lane. Please come quickly!"

Lying on the freezing ground, Eric opened his eyes in a daze, catchting a blurry glimpse of the dim yellow streetlight above him, the face of the woman standing beneath it cast entirely in shadow.

Before being lifted into the ambulance, Eric suddenly summoned the last of his strength to grab Chloe tightly by the hand.

Chloe froze in shock, completely unaware that the man was still capable of moving.

A cold bracelet was forcefully pressed into her palm, and though the man's voice was weak, his tone carried an absolute authority: "You... keep this safe."

As the ambulance sped away, Chloe finally snapped out of it, glancing down at the bracelet in her hand before stuffing it into her pocket with a trace of frustration.

Since he was already on his way to the hospital, he should be fine, and she only hoped her act of kindness wouldn't bring her any trouble.

Turning around to continue her walk home, she had barely taken two steps when someone collided into her with immense force, sending her high heels twisting out from under her as she crashed onto the pavement!

The woman who had run into her was actually the first to snap at her: "Bitch, watch where you're going!"

Chloe looked up, startled by the woman's shocking red hair and heavy, exaggerated makeup.

The reprimand that had risen to her lips faltered; it was better to avoid trouble, and she knew better than to cross the local delinquents around this neighborhood.

Seeing that she remained silent, the young delinquent spat on the ground and swaggered away arrogantly.

Frustrated and helpless, Chloe made her way back home.

Unbeknownst to her, the young delinquent behind her, Lyndsey, tossed the bracelet she had just picked from Chloe's pocket into the air, lit a cigarette, and sneered with disdain: "Who would have thought? She looks completely penniless, yet she carries such high-quality goods."

The bracelet was undeniably exquisite, and with practiced ease, Lyndsey stamped out her cigarette butt, slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, and headed toward the bars.

Meanwhile, having survived this bizarre night, Chloe finally managed to reach her apartment.

Pushing the door open, the savory aroma of braised pork rushed out to greet her.

Hearing the commotion, her younger brother, Zack, poked his head out from the kitchen doorway: "Chlo, why are you so late today?"

Chloe's tense mind finally relaxed as she replied casually, "A last-minute matter came up at the hotel."

After the siblings enjoyed a hearty meal together, Chloe lay stretched out on the sofa when Zack produced a small box and placed it right in front of her, a mysterious grin gracing his handsome face: "Chlo, this is for you!"

Chloe opened the box to find a necklace with a ginkgo leaf pendant.

It was the exact piece she had taken a fancy to but couldn't bring herself to buy when she went shopping with Zack earlier.

A profound warmth filled Chloe's chest, and the bridge of her nose grew slightly prickled.

Ever since their parents passed away, she and Zack had relied solely on each other, forcing them to live under strict frugality, and it had been a very long time since she had dressed up like a normal young woman.

But things were looking up now; Zack had already been accepted into MIT, and their days ahead would only get better.

"Thank you, my lovely little brother."

She blinked away the sudden mist gathering in her eyes, intending to put the pendant away.

Suddenly, remembering something, she reached into her pocket.

It was completely empty; the bracelet was gone!

She froze instantly, briefly doubting whether she had truly saved a man tonight.

"Chlo, what's wrong?"

Chloe shook her head and offered a gentle smile: "It's nothing. Just don't buy things like this anymore; keep the money you earn from your part-time job for yourself."

Taking the necklace, Zack fastened it around her neck while saying, "Chlo, I am going to take care of you from now on. This is only the beginning..."

Above them, the ceiling fan whirred with a heavy hum, and the night outside was both silent and bustling.

One month later, inside a luxury estate on the eastern side of the city.

"Was it you who saved me?"

Eric's sharp brows knitted slightly as his dark eyes, cold as a deep abyss, locked onto the woman standing before him.

He had previously been betrayed by his own bodyguards, who were bribed by his stepmother, Isabella, escaping death by the narrowest of margins, and fortunately, someone had saved his life.

Yet, the woman standing in front of him now was none other than the delinquent who had stolen the bracelet, Lyndsey!

Lyndsey’s tacky red hair had already been dyed back to black, and dressed in a simple white gown, she managed to project an aura of pure innocence and vulnerability.

Staring at the handsome, formidable man before her, she thought of the staggering wealth she had witnessed over the past few days under the guidance of his assistant, never imagining that a stolen bracelet could bring such immense fortune.

Feigning timidity, she nodded her head.

Eric swept a detached glance over Lyndsey, his gaze eventually settling on the bracelet adorning her wrist.

He asked coldly, "What is it that you want?"

Lyndsey put on a pitiful display: "Mr. Vance, my family has been poor since I was a child. I didn't receive much education and have suffered a great deal. When I saved you, I didn't expect to get anything in return..."

Eric had always loathed women, but remembering that gentle shadow of light when he was on the brink of death, his heart softened for no apparent reason.

Though his voice remained icy, the words he spoke were clear: "Since you saved my life, I will protect you."

Chapter 2: Meeting Again

The Riverfront Hotel.

Chloe had just changed into her staff uniform and stepped out of the locker room when two men in black suits suddenly appeared in front of her, their voices stiff and demanding.

"Excuse me, are you Miss Chloe?"

Chloe grew instantly guarded: "Yes, that's me. Is there a problem?"

One of the men gestured for her to follow: "Our Elder Mr. Arthur wishes to see you. Right this way, please."

Who was Elder Mr. Arthur?

Chloe racked her brains but couldn't recall ever knowing such a person.

However, the two individuals before her clearly left absolutely no room for refusal.

She had no choice but to follow them into the hotel’s luxurious restaurant.

The grand dining room, which would usually be filled with affluent guests at this hour, now held only a single elderly gentleman with silver hair.

The moment the elderly gentleman looked at her, he grew visible emotional.

While Chloe was wondering in astonishment, the elderly man pulled an old photograph from his pocket and handed it to her: "Chloe, do not be nervous. I was a comrade-in-arms of your grandfather, and I have spent decades searching for your family."

...

During the final two days of the summer break, the siblings were having dinner at home, as Zack was scheduled to report to his university tomorrow.

Gnawing on a chicken drumstick, Zack remarked with deep emotion, "Chlo, Grandpa Arthur is truly a man of his word. Grandfather saved his life once, and he spent decades looking for us just to return Grandfather’s relics to Grandmother."

Chloe sighed softly: "Who could have foreseen that Grandmother would take Father all the way north back then just to find Grandfather, ultimately spending her entire life waiting for him in Boston."

Both siblings felt a wave of melancholy, so Zack deliberately changed the subject to distract her: "Chlo, I heard Grandpa Arthur wants you to go on a blind date with his grandson tomorrow?"

Chloe placed some food into Zack's bowl, glaring at him with a helpless expression: "Can't even food keep your mouth shut!"