Kapitel 2: Returned With Child!

At Primrose City's Airport…

A young woman walked out of the arrival gate, dragging a large suitcase behind her. In her other arm, she carried a sleeping child.

The child, a five-year-old girl with chubby cheeks, had black hair neatly braided into two cornrows. A pair of cat-eyed glasses rested on her cute face as she slept soundly.

The young woman wore a black mask that covered her nose and mouth, leaving only her striking eyes visible. Even so, she became the center of attention the moment she stepped into the terminal.

With a figure so perfect and obsidian eyes so mesmerizing, she turned heads as she walked through the airport. A few people even whistled as she passed by.

But she didn't seem to notice—or care. She continued on, calm and composed, heading straight to the cab area.

After hailing a cab, she gently laid the sleeping child on the seat before settling in herself and closing the door. In the privacy of the cab, she removed her mask, letting out a long breath as she closed her eyes for a moment.

Six years.

Who would have thought she'd ever return to Primrose City?

Andrea opened her eyes and stared out the window. Six years ago, she had nearly died in this very city. But a stranger—a kind soul—had found her and given her and her baby a chance to live.

A tear slipped down her cheek as the memory of that night flooded back: Harold kicking her out of the house, leaving her to die in the cold rain.

She had been sure she was going to die. But when she woke up, she found herself in a hospital bed, hooked up to various machines.

When she regained consciousness, the kind nurse who attended to her explained that a couple had found her, brought her to the hospital, paid her bills, and left without a trace.

Andrea had tried to find out who they were, but the couple had left no information behind. It was as if they didn't want her to find them.

And as if saving her life wasn't enough, they left her a one-way ticket to another country and a decent sum of money—money that Andrea used to rebuild her life.

Now, she was back in Primrose City for three reasons: to find the couple who had saved her, to make Harold pay for what he did, and most importantly, to find the man who fathered her child.

"Madam, we've arrived."

The driver's voice pulled Andrea out of her thoughts. She looked out the window and saw that they had reached the hotel. After paying the driver, she received her room key from the receptionist and headed upstairs to her reserved room.

***

Later that evening, after dinner, Andrea sat in front of the television. A news show was about to begin. She picked up the remote and was about to change the channel when the news reporter's face came on.

"Breaking News! Chairman of Smith Corp, Harold Smith, has just announced that Smith Corp and Empire Conglomerate have reached an agreement."

'Smith Corp?'

Andrea's hand hovered over the remote, then she slowly set it down, her interest piqued.

"In a recent interview, Harold Smith revealed that Empire Conglomerate has agreed to a three billion dollar contract with Smith Corp. According to Harold, this agreement is the result of extensive closed-door negotiations with Empire Conglomerate's chairman, Mr. Justin Caddell."

Andrea's lips curved into a slight smile as she received this new information. She could vaguely guess why the Smiths have summoned her after all these years.

Seven years ago, Harold Smith had started scheming to change the name of Royal Age Industries—the company left under his care.

Andrea leaned back on the hotel bed, her mind buzzing as she stared blankly at the television screen.

Royal Age Industries...

The company her mother had built from the ground up. A company that was supposed to be her legacy—until it was stolen from her.

Her mother, Arabella Pierce, had been a force to be reckoned with in the business world. She founded Royal Age Industries with a vision to create a company that not only thrived but also cared for its employees like family.

Under Arabella's leadership, Royal Age became a powerhouse, respected by competitors and loved by those who worked there.

But everything changed when her mother died suddenly in a car accident. Andrea was only fifteen at the time, too young and too devastated by the loss to take over the company immediately. In that situation, the court, in accordance to her mother's will, had entrusted the company to Harold, her father, who had promised to manage it until she was ready.

But instead of safeguarding the company, Harold had begun to dismantle it. He replaced loyal employees with his cronies, siphoned off funds, and slowly erased any trace of Arabella's influence.

Within a year, he had taken full control, pushing the young Andrea out of the picture entirely.

The final blow came when he announced plans to rename the company, stripping it of the last connection to her mother. That was when Andrea confronted him, demanding answers, demanding her rightful place as the heir.

But Harold had only laughed, reminding her that she was nothing without him, that no one would believe a word she said. There was nothing she could do as a helpless teenager.

Andrea's fists clenched at the memory, her nails digging into her palms. But that was six years ago. She had rebuilt her life from the ground up, just like her mother had taught her.

And now, she was back in Primrose City, not as the frightened girl Harold had cast aside, but as a woman determined to reclaim what was hers.

"Strength isn't about not falling; it's about getting back up every time you do," her mother had always said. Andrea had fallen—hard—but she had also risen, stronger and more determined than ever.Her jaw tightened as she stared at the screen.

'Royal Age was supposed to be my inheritance,' she thought. 'And I'll be damned if I let Harold keep it. He'll pay for what he did, and I'll restore my mother's legacy. I swear it.'