The word "daughter" echoed in the silent penthouse. It was a weapon, a promise, and a trap all in one.
Ye Xia looked at the man who was her biological father. He was offering her a place in his empire, an acknowledgment of her bloodline. It was everything the weak, bullied girl from her past life might have dreamed of. Power, recognition, a family name that commanded fear and respect.
But the cost? It would mean submitting to his authority. It would mean becoming a part of his ruthless world. It would mean turning her back on the Yun family, on Yun Ming, who had shown her more genuine care in months than this man had in a lifetime. It would mean a war with Jin Lei. And it would likely mean the end of any possibility with Mo, who stood in opposition to men like Jin Long.
She thought of her mother's letter, the heartbreak in her words. Jin Long had made a "pragmatic" decision that had broken her mother's heart and shaped Ye Xia's life into a tragedy. Now, he was offering another pragmatic solution.
She stood up, her decision made.
" You made a choice years ago, Mr. Jin," she said, her voice cold and clear. "You chose your empire over your family. You don't get to rewrite history now that the 'family' has become an asset you can't ignore."
Jin Long's face hardened. "Do not be a fool, girl. Sentiment is a luxury you cannot afford. The Leng family will crush the Yuns. The Mo matriarch will break you. With me, you can survive. You can thrive."
" Survive on your terms?" Ye Xia shook her head. "No. Thank you for the dinner. And for the truth. But I am not your daughter. I am Ye Xia. I built myself from nothing. I will choose my own allies. And I will face my own enemies."
She turned and walked towards the door. She half-expected his hidden guards to stop her, but they did not.
" You are making a mistake," Jin Long said from behind her, his voice now devoid of all emotion. "When the wolves come, do not expect me to save you."
Ye Xia didn't look back. "I have never expected anyone to save me."
She walked out of the penthouse, her heart pounding, but her spirit soaring. She had rejected the dragon's offer. She had chosen her own path. It was the most dangerous path possible, but it was hers, and hers alone.
The system chime was like a note of triumph.
[Ding! Host has rejected a major power alignment, affirming independent path. Resolve fortified. Faction: Independent Heiress solidified. System stability increased. Preparing for Level 10 upgrade…]
She had faced her past and defied her father. Now, she was ready to forge her future.