Not A Small-Town Girl

Chapter 1-1

In the eastern part of Bane Springs stood a brick-and-tile courtyard house, the kind that looked cozy on the outside. But tucked away in one corner was a run-down annex with mud-brick walls, making it look completely out of place.

Inside, the air was thick, damp, and stuffy. Every spring, water droplets would form on the walls, and the wooden furniture-like the bedposts and chairs-slowly rotted away.

At her desk sat a slim young girl, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she typed out lines of code. The door suddenly slammed open, and in walked a middle-aged woman, wrinkling her nose in disgust at the musty air.

"Danielle," Lucy Granger snapped, her voice sharp. "I’ve set up a marriage for you with the town supervisor’s son. Marry him, and you’ll have it made. I worked my ass off to make this happen for you."

In Lucy’s mind, the deal was already done. ’Once this ungrateful brat gets married, we’ll get a fat bride price. Then I can buy my precious son a nice apartment in town.

Danielle didn’t even look up from her screen as she said flatly, "No."

Lucy’s face flushed with rage. "You little shit!" she screamed. "After everything I’ve done for you-feeding you, giving you a roof over your head for over ten years-you should be thanking your lucky stars the supervisor’s son even wants to marry you.

"This is the best deal you’ll ever get, and you better realize it."

"The wedding’s set for the 18th," Lucy continued, her voice dripping with finality.

"You’re getting married, whether you like it or not." She shot her daughter one last glare and stormed out.

A few moments later, Robbie Granger walked in, a smug grin on his face. "So, what did that little bitch say? She agreed, right?"

Lucy sneered. "Don’t worry, we’ll drag her there if we have to. She’s marrying him-no excuses."

Meanwhile, at the Darling residence in Soufield.

"Any news on my sister yet?" Joseph Darling, CEO of Darling Group, asked, his voice cool but tense.

"We’ve sent out search teams, Mr. Darling," Ivan Moore, the family butler, reported. "But every lead goes cold. We’ve tried everything, but...your sister is probably-"

Joseph cut him off, his voice low and menacing. "She’s alive. Don’t even think about giving up. Keep searching, or else." His tone left no room for argument, and everyone in the room instantly straightened up.

"Sorry, sir," Ivan quickly apologized, swallowing his nervousness. "I’ll dispatch more teams immediately." Though the other Darling boys were approachable, the eldest always set him on edge.

From a shadowy corner by the stairwell, Audrey Darling overheard the conversation. Her fingers clenched into fists, her freshly manicured nails digging into her palms as she glared at the two men with icy hatred.

After Lucy left, Danielle sat in silence, memories flooding back. Before she turned five, her adoptive parents had treated her with genuine affection.

For a while, she had known what it was like to be loved and cared for. But everything changed when Lucy gave birth to Robbie. That’s when the warmth disappeared, like someone had turned off a light.

Every morning, she woke up before dawn to chop wood and cook for the family. She ate whatever scraps were left after they’d eaten -if there were any. Most nights, she went to bed hungry, with nothing but an empty stomach and a bitter sense of abandonment.

The phone rang, yanking Danielle out of her dark thoughts.

"Danielle, big job in Soufield. You in?" Emery Parker’s voice came through, full of energy.

Danielle kept typing, barely glancing at the screen. "What’s the job?"

"The Darling family’s looking for their missing daughter. Latest intel says she’s in Okina City. Should be a piece of cake for you. They’re offering ten million," Emery said.

Danielle rolled her neck, feeling the stiffness. "Nah. Not interested."

"Hold on a sec!" Emery’s voice shifted, eager now. "I got another one that’ll catch your eye. A big shot’s offering thirty million just to track someone down."

Danielle’s eyebrows lifted. "Thirty million? Spill it."

"It’s the Charrington family. Mr. Logan Charrington’s heart’s failing, and if you don’t step in, he won’t make it through surgery. They’ll give you anything you ask for within reason," Emery added, practically bursting with excitement.

"They’re that desperate?" Danielle said, her interest piqued. "Send me the details."