Chapter 1 Free at Last
The iron gates of Vale City Women’s Correctional Facility creaked open with a harsh screech, as if announcing the end of a long, caged chapter.
Adeline Dustin stood alone in her cramped cell, packing the few pieces of clothing she owned. A faded T-shirt, a pair of worn-out jeans, and sneakers so battered they barely held together—this was everything she had after three years behind bars.
Her movements were slow, but not sluggish; each fold of fabric seemed like she was putting a period on the past. The air was thick with the stench of disinfectant and the damp, moldy smell of old walls; it was suffocating.
Footsteps echoed at the door, followed by a cold, mechanical voice, “Adeline, someone’s here for you.”
She looked up and saw an older female guard standing at the entrance, staring at her with a blank expression. There was no pity in her eyes, no judgment—just the cold detachment of someone long used to the routine.
Adeline gave a small nod, slipped her folded clothes into a tattered canvas bag, and straightened up. Her lips curved into a faint smile, but it never reached her eyes.
“Thanks,” she said softly, her voice hoarse from disuse.
The guard said nothing, just stepped aside and motioned for her to go. Adeline picked up the bag and stepped through the doorway. She’d waited three years for this moment.
At the end of the hallway stood a thick iron door—her way out, her exit to freedom. And yet, her steps felt like they were filled with lead; every stride stabbed like shards of glass beneath her feet.
Three years ago, she was the envy of Vale City—the Layton family’s darling, the golden girl with everything.
Fancy cars, jewelry, designer clothes… all part of a life that once belonged to her. Now, she was nothing but an ex-con, discarded by both family and society.
The memories surged like a crashing tide, dragging her back to the night everything changed—
“You’re not a Layton.”
Rayden’s voice had been cold, like a blade to the heart.
He was her “father”, the one who had raised her.
He told her she was the wrong child, switched at birth. The one who truly belonged was Michelle Layton—sweet and innocent on the outside, calculating beneath. She’d set the perfect trap, shifting all the blame to Adeline. And Gavin Layton, the eldest brother she trusted most, had stayed silent; he’d let it happen.
From luxury to a prison cell, the fall had been brutal. But through it all, she’d never cried. Tears, to her, were a luxury for the weak.
When the iron door finally swung open, sunlight poured down in blinding sheets. She squinted instinctively. The outside world was still loud and fast—but it no longer felt like it belonged to her.
A sleek black sedan sat parked in the open space, its surface gleaming with a sharp, metallic chill. A man in a tailored suit leaned casually against it; his features were sharp, almost sculpted, and he radiated a pressure that was impossible to ignore. It was Gavin.
He stood there like he’d been waiting a while. As Adeline stepped into the light, his dark, unreadable eyes narrowed just slightly; whatever emotion lay behind them was impossible to decipher.
She stopped, meeting his gaze from thirty feet away. Familiar, yet distant—that was all she felt. He was still the esteemed heir of the Layton family, but to her, he was no longer the brother who’d once stood up for her.
“You’re finally out,” Gavin said first. His voice was low, magnetic, but carried an edge of unease he couldn’t quite hide.
Adeline didn’t answer. She simply looked at him, her expression calm and unreadable. The chill in her gaze made Gavin’s brow twitch ever so slightly; he quickly masked it and started walking toward her.
When he reached out to steady her arm, she turned slightly, sidestepping his touch with quiet precision. It was a small movement, but it brought a sudden tension to the air.
“I came to take you home.” His tone softened, trying to offer a rare trace of warmth. But to Adeline, it sounded almost cruel in its irony.
“Home?” she finally spoke, biting down hard on the word. “Mr. Gavin, I haven’t had a home in a long time.”
His face darkened. He drew a slow breath, holding back the anger rising in his chest.
“You’re a Layton. No matter what’s happened, that doesn’t change.”
“Really?” Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “Then who was it that let me take the fall? Who stood by and watched?”
Gavin said nothing. His jaw clenched; the perfectly chiseled lines of his handsome face suddenly looked stiff, almost forced.
He opened his mouth, but no words came. There was no defense, because the truth didn’t need one—and it cut deeper than anything he could say.
After a tense silence, Gavin’s patience snapped. His voice turned cold, “Stop being difficult. Get in the car.”
“No.” Adeline didn’t hesitate. “I’ll walk.”
Her defiance pushed him past the edge.
His voice rose, sharp and furious, “Do you even realize what’s going on out here? How many people are watching you? You think you’re still that noble little princess?”
Adeline didn’t flinch. She stared at him with eyes black as ink and just as cold. There was no fear, no compromise, no hint of backing down.
In the end, Gavin was the one who broke. He ground his teeth and barked at the driver, “Drive!”
The sedan tore off, leaving her behind in a cloud of dust. Alone again.
A gust of wind blew a strand of hair across her face; she tucked it behind her ear, then slung the canvas bag over her shoulder and started walking. It was at least six miles to downtown Vale City, but she didn’t care. This road belonged to her now. She didn’t need anyone’s pity or help.
Just then, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up beside her. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a face both familiar and distant—Christopher Conor. He sat in the backseat, still elegant and striking, his eyes glinting like dangerous stars.
“Need a ride?” he asked with a smile. His voice was gentle, but it carried a quiet force that was hard to ignore. There was something about it—something that made it impossible to pretend he wasn’t there, or to say no.
Adeline stopped walking. She didn’t answer right away; she just looked straight at him, studying him for a few long seconds.