The Mafia Heiress's Comeback: She's More Than You Think

Chapter 1 The Sole Successor Of The Underworld "Maren, haven't you ever noticed how much honor Nadia has brought our family? And look at yourself--all you've done is drag us down." "Remember, Nadia once risked herself for you. It's time to return the favor." "Save Nadia! Do whatever you wish with Maren." "I also choose Nadia!" "Same here." At the grim outskirts, in an abandoned factory, Maren Morgan's wrists were bound tightly. She listened helplessly as her three brothers chose Nadia Morgan, her half-sister, over her. Her final hope rested in Wilbur Thorpe, the fiance she had cherished deeply for over ten years, the man she'd shared a childhood with. Wilbur stood nearby, impeccably dressed, his demeanor polished and aloof. Their gazes connected briefly, but Wilbur's lips parted only to speak with brutal detachment. "My choice is Nadia. Touch her, and you'll regret it. As for Maren--she's meaningless to me. Do whatever you like." Wilbur's ruthless disregard crushed Maren, slicing through her heart. She remembered clearly all she'd sacrificed to keep him alive, giving her blood repeatedly even when the doctors warned her she might not survive. Though she'd anticipated his rejection, hearing his cold words shattered something deep inside her. The pain was overwhelming--so much that she couldn't even speak. All she could do was watch as Nadia burst into tears and threw herself into Wilbur's arms. The same man who had been cold and distant towards her was now tenderly brushing Nadia's tears away. Her brothers surrounded Nadia protectively, showering her with affection, utterly blind to her distress. No one cared about her. They did not even cast her a brief glance. Instead, she faced leering kidnappers, their filthy bodies moving towards her with sinister anticipation. "Who'd have guessed the Morgan family would dump their legitimate daughter just to protect an illegitimate one? Looks like gutter rats like us hit the jackpot tonight." "Patience, boys--everyone gets a turn." Maren backed against the wall, trapped. Her throat burned from earlier cries, the taste of blood still fresh. As her family celebrated Nadia's rescue, Maren felt the last thread of hope vanish. She finally gave up. Her mother's face flashed through her mind, and with it came a surge of strength. She was done living this nightmare. In a sudden burst, Maren threw her head up and made a break for the wall. But before she could get far, the lead kidnapper caught on. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her back with brutal force, cutting her attempt short. Then, a fierce and stinging slap landed hard on Maren's face. "Think again, bitch! We're not finished with you yet." The brutal impact sent Maren spiraling into unconsciousness. But not a single person seemed to care. Laughing crudely, the kidnappers reached forward eagerly, their filthy intentions clear. Hands roughly grabbed at her clothing. But right as the kidnappers moved to rip Maren's clothes apart, she suddenly snapped her eyes open. Any trace of vulnerability vanished instantly, replaced by an intense warrior-like gaze. Reacting purely on instinct, Maren flipped herself upwards. She swung her bound wrists around the throat of the nearest assailant. Using her momentum, she twisted sharply and decisively. A sickening snap filled the silence as the man collapsed lifelessly. Capitalizing on the brief shock, Maren swiftly executed a sweeping high kick, sending the remaining kidnappers sprawling. The immediate threat was now neutralized, but Maren's brow remained deeply creased, confusion clouding her features. Something felt profoundly wrong. How had she effortlessly dispatched the kidnappers? Why did her movements feel second-nature, familiar yet forgotten? At that moment of uncertainty, buried memories surged forward, overwhelming her. From her earliest days to the traumatic moment of her kidnapping, followed by a descent into the dark world--a life drenched in bloodshed and chaos. She recalled it all. Six years ago, as the legitimate daughter of the affluent Morgan family in Baimsa, she had been abducted by enemies bearing old grudges. She had lost four years of memories during her underworld days, but now, she remembered everything. According to the vivid rumors, she had been sold to some red-light district. But the truth was--Nikolas Edgeworth, the formidable leader of the Sovereign Underworld, had taken her in as a foster child. During those four years, Maren had undergone a profound transformation. From the sheltered Morgan girl, she had morphed into a formidable force of the underworld, eventually recognized as the sole successor of the Sovereign Underworld. Once merely one of Nikolas' many foster children, she had outlived all other heirs in a brutal struggle for dominance. She had ascended as the uncontested ruler of the criminal world. During a secret operation two years ago, treachery by her own people had led her into a minefield. It was likely then that locals had found her alive and handed her over to the authorities. A DNA match later had reaffirmed her as the lost daughter of the Morgan family, leading to her return. Tragically, the ordeal of betrayal and the minefield had stripped away those memories. Only now did the floodgates of her memory fling open. Lost in thought, Maren was startled by an angry male voice ahead. "Maren? You cursed woman, what in the world are you up to?" Chapter 2 A Slap Wilbur, along with Nadia and the three Morgan brothers, were utterly bewildered by the scene before them. Despite her wrists being securely tied, Maren had successfully overpowered a band of kidnappers linked to a terrorist group. Could this be real? Was it even conceivable? Historically, Maren had always been frail, struggling to carry even the lightest of weights. Her clumsiness had once driven their combat instructor to despair, labeling her as utterly incompetent. Considering her meager abilities, how was she capable of defeating a group of kidnappers skilled in actual combat? To them, the most plausible explanation was that Maren had orchestrated this entire scenario. Perhaps she had employed these so-called kidnappers to stage a dramatic rescue to capture Wilbur's attention, mirroring her previous antics. Yet, her actions had carelessly endangered Nadia. This thought alone was enough to ignite a surge of irritation in Wilbur. Overcome with rage, he confronted Maren, his voice harsh and accusing. "So this was all an act! Maren, you arranged this kidnapping. Here I was, thinking you had finally seen the error of your ways. I was ready to let you face a bit of hardship before I intervened, but you're still playing the same old games. Do you like me that much? To the extent that you'd involve Nadia in your schemes, right in front of everyone?" Nadia nestled closer to Wilbur, her voice dripping with fabricated shock. "Maren, do you despise me so deeply? I never aimed to rival you. If my presence is too much, I'm willing to leave. I'll even transfer all my research achievements to you if you feel I'm blocking your path." Nadia's feigned consideration deeply moved the Morgan brothers, causing a pang of sympathy among them. Their looks towards Maren were filled with unspoken threats. "To think we are burdened with a sister as cruel as you. How much better it would be if Nadia could truly be part of this family. Maren, you are nothing but a stain on the Morgan family's honor." These accusations rekindled the array of indignities Maren had endured for the last two years. Just a day following her abduction by the family's enemies, her father had hastened to introduce Nadia--the child he had concealed from them all. Upon her comeback, Nadia had proved her skills in many fields, overshadowing Maren, who had lost all recollection of her underworld years after the reunion with family, rendering her seemingly insignificant. The Morgan family didn't hesitate to parade Nadia at every possible occasion, even catching the eye of Wilbur, Maren's betrothed. That was already too much to bear. Yet, Nadia's ambition didn't stop there. She aimed to take over Maren's rightful place as the acknowledged Morgan daughter and persistently plotted against her over two grueling years, deepening the scorn Wilbur and her brothers held against her. Nadia masterminded a dangerous scheme that nearly ended her life, only to pose as her savior in front of Wilbur and the brothers, further tarnishing her already damaged reputation. This day, Nadia insisted on venturing out, a decision that led to their abduction. When faced with a choice between Nadia and Maren by the kidnappers, Wilbur and the brothers unhesitatingly sided with Nadia. Maren, the once respected Morgan girl, narrowly escaped a humiliating spectacle that would have been both pitiful and ridiculous. Had she not recovered her memories, their scheme might have prevailed today. However, she had remembered everything. Her four harrowing years in the criminal underworld had stripped her of any lingering affections for Wilbur, leaving her heart empty. Throughout the last two years, for Nadia's benefit, Wilbur had shown nothing but cruelty towards her. Reflecting on these betrayals, Maren abruptly lifted her hands and smoothly loosened the ropes that bound her. She then advanced towards Wilbur and her brothers. "So, this is an act? I'm the disgrace?" Her laughter was tinged with a stark cold and profound disdain. Wilbur and the others felt a cold run down their spines at the simplicity of her tone and her laughter. Before any of them could respond, Maren's laughter ceased, and her expression hardened. "If that's how it is, I may as well take it to the extreme!" With that declaration, she moved swiftly and struck Wilbur across his face with a forceful slap. The crisp smack of the slap reverberated around the room, stunning everyone into silence. Chapter 3 Breaking Off The Engagement The unexpected slap left Maren's three brothers and Nadia in a state of utter disbelief. Was Maren serious done with Wilbur? But she had been deeply infatuated with him all these years. And yet, she had just openly slapped him. "Have you lost your senses, Maren?" Wilbur was equally taken aback. The idea that Maren dared to hit him seemed beyond belief. He stood among his peers as the esteemed young heir of the Thorpe family. Never before had he experienced physical confrontation. Maren, who had once adored him, would slap him in front of an audience was unthinkable. "You should be pleading for my forgiveness, or else don't hold me accountable for forgetting everything we shared!" Wilbur seethed with anger. If she preferred to dramatize for attention, he would let her see the failure of her charade. All she was achieving was his growing disdain. He was resolute that forgiveness was out of the question. When she finally realized her isolation, she would find herself without any allies. Wilbur was still convinced that Maren's actions were just another act; he found it hard to believe that someone could change so drastically in such a short time. However, Maren was done playing games with him. Her previous affection for him had turned to revulsion upon witnessing his true nature. She said coldly, "That slap was nothing less than you deserved, Wilbur. Let's be clear today. Consider that slap a gentle reprimand for your disrespect. You're fortunate that's all it was. Also, consider our engagement over. I am ending it. I want the 10% shares returned, the ones I transferred to the Thorpe family as an engagement gift. From this point forward, we have nothing to do with each other." With that declaration, Maren turned to leave. Now that her memories were restored, she had far more significant issues to address. It was time to confront the traitors. "What?" Wilbur's reaction was one of complete shock. He had never envisioned that Maren would actually end their engagement. And he was utterly unprepared for her demand to reclaim the 10% shares she had once gifted his family. How dare she! Originally, the shares in question were part of a legacy left by Maren's grandfather. Before passing away, Maren's mother bequeathed 50% of the shares of her family business--now transformed to Morgan Group--to Maren, set to be hers when she came of age. During a financial downturn faced by the Thorpe family, Maren had advanced 10% of these shares as an engagement gift, aiding them through their financial strife. Wilbur had agreed to the engagement more out of financial necessity than affection, as his preferences lay with Nadia. Maren's father currently controlled the remaining 40% of the shares. Now, Maren was reversing her decision and seeking to retrieve those shares. Could she be aiming to push the Thorpe family towards financial collapse? Wilbur was determined to prevent such a catastrophe, as were the rest of the Morgan family. "Maren, this is too much! Dad and the rest of us have poured our sweat into the family just like you. Those shares you gave to the Thorpe family, along with everything else, were never solely yours to claim!" one of her brothers shouted vehemently. "Really, Maren, how can you be so cold and greedy? We are your family, after all," Nadia added, her voice tight with anger. The loss of the 10% shares would spell serious financial woes for the Thorpe family, jeopardizing her aspirations to marry into and ascend within the Thorpe family. Nonetheless, Maren departed with firm resolve, disregarding their pleas and not once glancing back. This caused a wave of panic to wash over everyone present. "Hold on, Maren! What's this about calling off the engagement and taking back the shares? Give us a clear explanation before you go!" Wilbur suddenly realized that Maren meant business today, and he was taken aback. He moved quickly, trying to grasp Maren's shoulder to detain her. However, just as he was inches from making contact, Maren detected the impending threat. As the reigning force in the underworld, her sharp instincts kicked in, and she quickly dodged Wilbur's hand without missing a beat. At the same time, she instinctively countered, striking Wilbur's hand sharply. "Ah!" Wilbur exclaimed in pain as his arm went numb, and he stumbled backward, struggling to keep his footing. The room fell silent, shocked by the unexpected outcome. Wilbur was no ordinary opponent; he was recognized as a formidable combat master, personally mentored by Beau Francis, a legendary fighter from the Royal Military Academy in Baimsa. Yet here he was, bested with little effort by Maren, who had always been underestimated as frail and ineffective. How could this be? Chapter 4 Contacting Her Subordinate Maren turned with a cold look towards Wilbur, leaving him with a stark warning. "Keep your distance. Lay a hand on me again, and you'll regret it." Her nonchalant delivery made the threat of violence seem almost mundane to her. Having said her piece, Maren disregarded the stunned expressions around her and walked on. No one attempted to stop her progress; the shock of her demeanor left them immobile. Wilbur remained where he stood, eyes locked on Maren's departing back. It was in this moment that he sensed a profound change in her. Could her newfound combat skills be the reason? Nadia observed Wilbur's intense focus on Maren and moved closer, gently grasping his arm. In a soothing tone, she suggested, "Maren really crossed the line this time. To think she'd resort to a surprise attack just to catch your eye." While Nadia aimed to comfort Wilbur, her words inadvertently reinforced a certain idea. Right! The surprise move must have had something off about it. Maren must have employed some deceitful tactic to disgrace him publicly. How else could someone of her caliber have overpowered him? "Ha, that cursed woman used underhanded methods. It's the only explanation for why my arm went numb," Wilbur muttered, finding solace in his conclusion. It made sense now; a nobody like her couldn't have just changed overnight. Perhaps he had given it too much thought. He whispered, "To think you'd stoop so low just to capture my attention, Maren. Well, let's see how long you can maintain this charade. Don't expect mercy or a second glance from me, even if you come begging for forgiveness!" ... On the other hand, Maren was indifferent to Wilbur's opinions of her. Since she had regained her memories, Wilbur had diminished to the status of a mere acquaintance. Her main priority was to uncover who was in charge of Sovereign Underworld currently. She was resolved to take back what was hers and to deal with the traitors who had "ended" her once. To those betrayers, she had likely been long forgotten, presumed dead after her disappearance. A determined spark ignited in Maren's eyes. She strolled into an internet cafe and turned on the computer. Her hands moved swiftly across the keyboard, expertly navigating to a secure site and signing into her confidential account. Within her list of contacts, she quickly located someone known as "Blue Falcon." Maren quickly typed out her message and pressed send. Almost immediately, Blue Falcon responded, "Maren, is that really you? Are you still alive?" Maren was comforted to see Blue Falcon's characteristic enthusiasm, recognizing the same vibrant spirit as before. The Sovereign Underworld had likely seen a slew of changes during her two-year lapse in memory. A lot could happen in two years. While she was eager to learn about the current situation within the Sovereign Underworld, Maren hesitated to reach out to her old allies there. Given her own narrow escape from an assassination attempt, she doubted their situations were any safer. Blue Falcon was one of the few she felt safe communicating with. He was an outsider to the Sovereign Underworld and unknown to Nikolas. This was enough reassurance for now. Yet, even with her mental preparation, Maren was taken aback by Blue Falcon's next message. "What happened to you these last two years? There was an internal conflict within Sovereign Underworld. We looked everywhere but couldn't find you. We feared you were dead. It's a relief to hear you're alive." An internal conflict within Sovereign Underworld? Just as she suspected, those traitors hadn't been idle after their attempt on her life. Maren rapidly keyed in her message to Blue Falcon and hit send. "Listen, I need to keep a low profile for now. Please send me a detailed report of everything that's transpired within the Sovereign Underworld over the last two years." ... Exiting the internet cafe, Maren wandered home beneath a dark sky, yet her thoughts darkened with each step. The details from Blue Falcon replayed incessantly in her mind. Merely days after she narrowly escaped death in a minefield, the Sovereign Underworld was torn apart by violent strife. In the ensuing turmoil, some had even conspired with external entities to seize power. That was the day Nikolas disappeared. Her once allies--Dreadwing, Viper, and Stormclaw--had met grim fates; some were dead, others fled. And then there was Isla Walsh. Isla was a beacon of hope Maren had stumbled upon in her early days in that bleak underworld. She treated Isla like family. But now, Isla was held captive by the new rulers of the Sovereign Underworld, subjected to relentless torment through countless barbaric methods, wishing for death. Maren was aware that she needed to act swiftly. First, however, she had to locate Stormclaw. Blue Falcon had informed her that Stormclaw had managed to escape from the Sovereign Underworld and was now hiding in a military academy. Holding back her rage, Maren realized that she couldn't pursue vengeance on her own, especially since she no longer had the support of her previous allies. To find Nikolas and free Isla, she would need to muster all her resources. Amidst the shadows of the evening, Maren made her way back home. ... Unbeknownst to Maren, the night was set to unfold with unexpected events. As dawn approached, a plane touched down quietly at the airport. A convoy of black vehicles waited by the airport road, surrounded by service personnel, all highly skilled and alert. The moment a man clad in a black trench coat exited the airport, the security detail saluted him respectfully. "Welcome back, sir." The man in the trench coat remained silent. He carefully pulled out a photograph from his pocket, his normally stern gaze softening momentarily. "Is she truly here?" he inquired, his tone devoid of emotion. Without hesitation, his attendant presented a document. "Sir, the Morgan family reunited with their long-lost daughter two years ago. Both her appearance and name precisely match Maren. We are certain this time." As he compared the photograph in his hand to the details in the document, a smile that was both authoritative and intriguing spread across his face. He whispered, "Maren, I've finally found you. This time, you won't slip away from me again." &6&