Jackson Palmer stood in the hotel corridor, his men already dealt with. He smiled as he grabbed the woman who had been watching him. “You’ve got nowhere to run now. If you dare touch me, I’ll make you pay dearly.
”
“So brave. But you’ll enjoy it in a minute. ”
Lucy, one of his guards, called out. “Who’s there?
”
The woman turned. “Those guards outside? Already handled. ”
Jackson’s smile widened.
“Your list of crimes grows longer. Now you stand accused of assaulting a gentleman as well. ”
Her voice turned desperate. “I’ll give you $100 million.
”
“That much? You’re loaded. Beg me. ”
“Please help me.
”
But when she looked up, the fear vanished. She smiled. “Are you okay? ”
Jackson didn’t understand.
Then he realized—his hands were shaking. The woman had been pretending all along. By morning, the hotel security footage had been reviewed. The woman was identified.
But when they tracked her down, they found her car burned beyond recognition. She was dead. Charles Palmer, the billionaire heir, had been hunting this woman for two years. Now she was gone.
At a local market, Everly Pearson hawked pork. She had amnesia and a scarred face from a crash two years ago. She didn’t remember anything from before. She just knew she had to pay off Anna’s medical debts.
Charles walked into the market and saw her. He didn’t hesitate. “I need you to be in a contract marriage with me for a year. ”
She laughed.
“$5 million a month? That should beat slaughtering a thousand pigs, right? ”
“The Palmer family is an abyss. Think carefully.
”
“I’ve been a butcher for 18 years. My heart’s colder than any knife. I can hold it. ”
She took the money and became Mrs.
Palmer. At the wedding, Jackson stood aside, watching. Charles’s family forced the Dixon girl on him, but Charles wouldn’t have it. Everly played her role perfectly, convincing everyone she was the true bride.
She performed so well that even Jackson’s men were impressed. But the Palmer family was full of traps. Jackson, Charles’s uncle, wanted Charles gone. He’d lost millions in a bad deal with the Dixon family and blamed everyone but himself.
At the old Palmer estate, Everly dodged an assassin. Charles found her in the hallway, breathless. “This place is terrifying. I’m out—unless you pay me more.
”
He just smiled. “Stay close to me. ”
Anna called, frantic. “Everly, how dare you get married without telling me?
”
“Remember when I almost died in that car crash? You took out loans for my surgery. This marriage wipes out the debt. We need it.
”
“You sold your body? ”
“No. I sold my soul, not my body. Once I get the money, you can have your heart surgery.
”
Charles watched her from across the room. He knew exactly who she was. He just couldn’t tell her yet. Jackson sent Hudson, his son, to test Everly.
Hudson handed her a check for a million dollars. “Leave the Palmer family. ”
She took it. “Sure.
”
Later, Hudson accused her of taking the money to leave. Charles stepped in. “Why did you give my wife money for no reason, Hudson? Are you trying to drive a wedge between us?
”
Everly smiled sweetly. “Hudson said since we’re married, he prepared a gift. If I didn’t accept it, wouldn’t that hurt his feelings? ”
“That makes sense,” Anthony, the patriarch, said.
Hudson fumed. “Nonsense. Who said I wanted to give you a gift? ”
Charles folded his arms.
“Then why did you give my wife money for no reason? What are you trying to do? ”
Jackson tried to smooth it over. “I’m doing this for your own good.
”
“Uncle Jackson,” Charles said coldly, “instead of worrying about me, you should think about how to deal with the 200 million lost from the cooperation with the Dixon family. ”
Jackson’s face went red. He had nothing to say. Back in their room, Charles moved closer.
“Let me help you take a bath. ”
“Assassins and poison. I should take the deposit first. Otherwise, I might get killed before I get paid.
”
But when he tried to touch her, she pushed him away. “You pervert. ”
“I was wondering why you specifically chose me. I thought you were impressed by my acting skills.
But it turns out you were captivated by my appearance. ”
She struggled. “Let me go. ”
He didn’t.
“Listen up, you jerk. From now on, only I can kiss you if I want. You can’t touch me without my permission. ”
The next morning, Everly slipped into Charles’s office.
She was just trying to find something to steal. Instead, she found his plans for the Knight family project in South City. She didn’t know why the Knight name sounded familiar. She just felt a pull toward it.
Jackson sent more men to watch her. He wanted to know what she was doing in South City. But Charles was always one step ahead. At the Knight family banquet, Everly ran into Claire, the Dixon daughter.
“You’re so shameless, chasing after Charles all the way here. ”
“Charles is actually my husband. So, who’s really shameless? ”
Claire grabbed her arm.
“A country mouse like you wouldn’t know her way around a fancy place like this. ”
“You wouldn’t dare splash me. This gown cost a fortune. I was planning to sell it secondhand.
”
Claire hesitated. Everly pulled her aside. “I’ve binge watched 20 short dramas straight. We’re being set up.
You’re a talented and kind woman who comes from a good family. Everyone likes you. So, why waste energy on a relationship that isn’t yours? ”
Claire stared at her.
“How do you know all that? ”
“I can see the future. Your happy marriage won’t begin until you stay away from the Palmer family. ”
Claire didn’t believe her.
But when she stepped outside, she got splashed with water, then a fire broke out nearby. Everly’s predictions came true. Claire ran off, terrified. Everly smiled.
“Scamming someone and you bump right into me. Just using my observation skills. ”
Charles appeared. “Come with me.
”
They walked toward the Knight family home. Everly felt a strange familiarity. But before she could think about it, she collapsed. When she woke, the doctor was speaking.
“The blood clot in your head has changed. You could pass out at any moment. ”
Everly’s eyes widened. “Does that mean I might be getting my memory back?
Do you think it’s possible I’m from some wealthy family? Their long lost daughter? Designer bags, endless luxury jewelry, they’re all mine. ”
Charles rolled his eyes.
“I think all you’ve got in your brain is money. ”
Back at the Palmer estate, Jackson was planning his next move. “Charles keeps such a close eye on Everly. While he’s in South City, it’s the perfect chance to get closer to her.
”
But Charles had already anticipated him. He turned Jackson’s driver against him. When Jackson tried to set up a car accident for Everly, the driver hit Jackson instead. Jackson ended up in the hospital.
Charles visited him. “Thanks to you, I’m not dead yet. ”
Jackson’s eyes narrowed. “You planned this.
”
“You’re lucky to survive. I haven’t figured out my parents’ revenge yet, so I won’t let you die so easily. ”
Charles walked out, leaving Jackson seething. Everly, meanwhile, had watched everything.
She knew more than she let on. But she still had no idea who she really was. Until one night, she found a book in her room. A book about pig farming.
It was the same book Paisley had left for her. Paisley appeared in the shadows. “You remembered. ”
“Paisley, you remembered when the time came.
It just came back to me. Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you? ”
“I thought you were dead. ”
“Not that easy.
Why did you come to the Palmer family? ”
“Why? To butcher pigs. Charles is involved in the Elliot family’s business too.
It was all his idea. So, Charles doesn’t know who you really are. ”
“No. Good.
Now, let’s see what he can do. ”
Everly smiled. With Paisley helping, Charles could be gone. But then the news came.
Charles was removed from his position. The Oasis project, the company’s most critical project, had failed. The pricing sheet was leaked. The stock plummeted.
Jackson took full control of the Palmer Group. At the family dinner, Jackson stood before everyone. “Charles, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Everly is just an actress Charles hired to deceive everyone.
A paid fraud. Naturally, she isn’t qualified to have a child for the Palmer family. ”
Anthony turned to her. “Everly, is this true?
”
“Yes. Charles gave me $5 million to act out the charade. We were complete strangers. Falling in love was never part of it.
”
Charles stepped forward. “This is all my fault. Please don’t blame Everly. ”
But Jackson had more.
“She even stole business secrets, costing you the project. I have proof right here. ”
Everly looked at him. “Charles, did you really leak those documents?
”
“Yeah, I did it. ”
“Why haven’t I treated you well enough? ”
“That’s not the point. ”
Charles grabbed her arm.
“Everly, did Charles hurt you? Are you okay? ”
She pulled away. “The money you gave me before, it’s all here.
If I said it was all just bad timing, would you believe me? But I’m truly sorry for hurting you. ”
“I don’t believe a single word. ”
She turned to leave.
“Everly, wait. Don’t go. ”
But Hudson stepped in front of her. “Let her leave.
She’s free to go. Who could possibly stop her? You think you’re completely innocent? If we’re being fair, haven’t you made mistakes too?
”
Charles was silent. “So, now it’s my fault? ”
“Maybe. ”
Everly walked out.
Jackson’s men were waiting. They drove her to a remote road. Mr. Jackson Palmer gave the order.
“Two years ago, she should have died. But helping me take Charles down, that was useful. Now she knows too much. ”
The car exploded.
Jackson smiled. “Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. ”
But Everly wasn’t in the car.
She had been warned by Paisley. She slipped out just before the explosion. At Anthony’s birthday banquet, Jackson was celebrating his victory. He was about to be announced as the heir.
But then Everly walked in, surrounded by the people from the Valor Market, her old allies. She smiled. “Anthony, today is your 70th birthday. I’ve brought some people here especially to perform for you in celebration.
”
The play began. It was called “A Heartless Man Who Killed His Brother and His Sister-in-Law. ”
Jackson’s face went pale. He tried to stop it.
“This is nonsense! Stop this! ”
“We’re watching the play. Don’t block the view, Jackson.
”
The play revealed everything. Jackson had killed his own brother and sister-in-law. He had orchestrated the car accident. He had used the company’s platform for loan sharking and embezzled millions.
The driver from the accident appeared. He confessed. “I’m not lying. He paid me to wipe them out.
”
Jackson screamed. “You’re lying! How much did Charles pay you? Why are you framing me?
”
Anthony stood. “I have no son like you. I declare you banished from the Palmer family. The heir to the Palmer family is Charles.
”
Jackson was dragged away, his cries echoing through the hall. Afterward, Everly’s parents stepped forward. They were the Knights. The people who had been searching for their daughter for ten years.
“Nova, my sweet child. I finally found you. ”
Everly turned. “Nova, are you talking to me?
”
“Yes. Charles told us. He’s been investigating you these past few years. He uncovered your true origins.
This is the DNA report. There’s no mistake. You’re our daughter, lost to us for 10 years. ”
Everly—Nova—looked at her real parents.
She remembered everything now. Jackson had kidnapped her years ago, drugged her, erased her memories, and used her as an assassin. She had almost died trying to escape two years ago. That was the crash that gave her amnesia.
“You kidnapped my daughter. Controlled her illegally. I’ll make sure you rot in prison,” her father said. Everly’s voice was cold.
“All the dirty work you made me do over the years, I’ve protected the innocent people involved and the guilty ones. I handed them over to the police. ”
Jackson lunged at her. “You ungrateful wretch!
For eight whole years, I poured everything into training you. And you dare betray me? ”
“I should have put a bullet in you back then. ”
The family surrounded Jackson.
He was taken away, screaming. Later, Charles approached Everly. “Everly, you understand my plans. Why won’t you stay?
”
She turned. “I said it was cooperation. It’s over. There’s nothing between us now.
”
“We had a connection two years ago. When you first found me at the grocery market, you knew everything. ”
“I searched for you for two years. I finally found you, Mr.
Palmer. The person you had me searching for. We found her. Good thing you always believed she wasn’t dead.
”
Charles looked at her. “I had no choice. ”
“Cut the crap. It’s just an excuse for the weak.
”
“Fine, then hit me. I promise I won’t fight back. ”
“Save the act. I’ve got my memory back.
I can be Paisley or Nova. But I am not Everly. Your tricks won’t work on me. ”
She walked away.
Charles didn’t chase her. “Let her cool off for a few days. ”
But Anna knew better. “Charles, looks like you have to win her back.
Serves you right. ”
Weeks passed. Everly went back to selling pork at the market. Anna came by.
“Everly, I’m back selling at the market. If you’re free, come by and get some meat to take home. ”
“I’ll help you. No need.
I’m perfectly healthy now. ”
Then Charles appeared at the market, wearing a tiger hat and holding a sign. “Fresh pork. Buy 10 and you get our hunk’s autograph.
”
Everly stared at him. “What are you doing? ”
“Anna said she’s back selling pork at the market. You know, it suddenly occurs to me if one day I went to the market with you to sell pork, we’d be a team.
That sounds pretty nice. ”
She tried to ignore him. But he wouldn’t leave. He was there every day, following her around, wearing ridiculous costumes, trying to make her smile.
Finally, she gave in. They got married for real. At the marriage license office, Charles grinned like a simpleton. “Marrying my girl Everly is the happiest thing in the world.
”
She smiled back. “He should be happy. Marrying you is the happiest thing in my life. ”
The photographer called out.
“Newlyweds, time for photos. ”
Everly leaned into him, her head on his shoulder. She was home.
