As Rachel walked towards the east wing of the castle, the walls stood tall in front of her.
The lamp lights shone softly on the stones.
Rachel stopped at the entrance, feeling a knot in her chest as she took a deep breath.
The east wing looked both familiar and scary.
For a moment, it felt like her parents' laughter was still there, echoing quietly in the air.
Rachel looked around the room and as she saw the shiny floors and the gold trim on the windows, she remembered her parents.
She almost saw them standing there, but they disappeared like mist.
The room was quiet.
Rachel took a few deep breaths and walked across the room.
Her shoes made soft sounds on the marble floor.
She felt alone, but she knew her parents were with her in her memories.
She reached the bathroom door and opened it.
Inside, the bathroom was clean and modern, there were shiny tiles and mirrors.
Rachel went in and closed the door behind her.
She turned on the shower, and warm water poured down on her.
The steam rose up and surrounded her and as she leaned against the wall and let the warm water relax her muscles, she felt her tiredness and sadness slowly go away.
The sound of the water was calm on Rachel's body and she couldn't help but sigh softly as she started to feel a little better.
Twenty minutes later, Rachel stepped out of the wrapped in a dark blue robe that clung softly to her damp skin.
She stepped quietly into her dressing room with her bare feet barely making a sound on the floor.
She settled into the chair in front of the vanity and began to gently work out the tangles in her long strawberry-blonde hair with a paddle brush, the soft bristles gliding smoothly through her locks as the strands fell smooth and shining, trailing down to her waist.
With careful precision, she applied makeup and each brushstroke only made her stunning facial features more stunning.
She gazed at the full view mirror and her reflection met her gaze—blue irises bright, lips curled in playful satisfaction.
After admiring herself for a while, a smile broke across her face as she whispered to herself, almost laughing as she said, "Oh My Gosh, Rachel… You are so pretty.... And hot."
She got up from the chair and spun on her heel with her dark blue robe swishing around her, and twirled with like a girl before darting from the room.
Her voice sounded soothing as she started to sing a popular song, half-singing, half-giggling as she recited the lyrics from Norpondian Popstar Ayra Grande's "Hot Body."
She stepped into her bedroom, which
looked luxurious and freshly
renovated."
Rachel paused at the threshold, her lips parting in delight. "Grandma is so thoughtful," she murmured. "She noticed my style has changed and redesigned the whole room… How sweet of her."
As she moved deeper into the room, her eyes feasted on every detail.
Tall windows were framed by curtains in her favorite shade, and the adjoining living room was a treasure trove of wonders.
Her gaze wandered from the lush garden visible through the glass windows to the diamond-studded staircase and the golden ceiling panels, but it was the chandelier that truly left her breathless with her breath getting stuck in her lungs unable to get to her nostrils.
The chandelier's 24 arms shone like fiery gold, ablaze with 24,000 exquisite diamonds, each one set in golden flames.
Wedgwood blue Jasperware candles added a touch of elegance, amplifying the brilliance and infusing the room with an ethereal glow. The price tag of seventeen and a half billion dollars was a staggering reminder of its value - a sum that spoke not just of wealth, but of history, artistry, and the masterful craftsmanship of Ziya Xen.
Rachel's eyes were glued to the chandelier as she tilted her head back, mesmerized while the diamonds cast a kaleidoscope of lights, dancing across the ceiling and walls.
Time stood still as she stood there, giggling in wonder, her mind whispering that this incredible creation now adorned her own home.
Finally, with effort, she tore her eyes away, still smiling as she turned toward the wall-mounted Shen 120-inch 4K Laser Smart HD television.
She tested its features one by one, switching through apps and connections, her lips curving in approval at each successful click and felt the Shen 120-inch 4K Laser Smart HD television was another marvel.
After testing all the features of the Shen 120-inch 4K Laser Smart HD television, she sighed in satisfaction, turned it off, and placed the remote carefully back on the diamond-studded center table before returning back to her bedroom.
The king-sized bed embraced her the moment she collapsed onto it and she barely had time to exhale before sleep came and dragged her into its dream world.
Some hours later, at exactly ten o'clock, Rachel woke up, stretching her arms above her head as she slowly came to.
She turned her gaze to glass windows and noticed the sky had darkened and had shifted into a quiet night.
She smiled softly when she saw how magical the lush garden looked at dusk, the lush garden were filled with the soft glow of fireflies and the gentle flutter of night butterflies and she stared at it for a while through the glass window before sighing softly as she rose to her feet and walked into her en-suite bathroom.
After a splash of water to her face and a quick freshening up, she stepped out of the en-suite bathroom and as her gaze landed on the wall clock, she gasped in shock and scolded herself for losing track of time because of sleep as she hurried out of her room.
The castle's staircase echoed with her footsteps as she hurriedly descended.
After some minutes, she hurriedly stepped into the dining room with her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.
Erica and Susan were sitting in the dining room in a calm, composed, and confident manner when Rachel suddenly appeared in front of them, panting.
Their composed gazes stared at her for a while before cracking into amused smiles as they stared at her flushed cheeks.
Rachel's smile wobbled, half-apologetic as she took her seat in silence.
"Here we were planning your birthday banquet while you locked yourself inside your chambers," Erica said smoothly, a teasing lilt in her tone. "I almost asked Selina call you over, but then I remembered you don't have a phone.. So I thought perhaps you were resting, and held back from going to knock on your door but who would have guessed you'd sleep this long? Two hours to midnight, Girl... You should have just slept through until your birthday morning."
"Hehe! Grandma," Rachel laughed awkwardly and whined with her lips forming into a pout.
"Enough pouting," Erica cut her off with a firm glance and said, "Eat."
Rachel had no choice but to swallow her protest while sulking as she picked up her cutlery.
On the other hand, Susan giggled and hid a smile behind her hand.
After some few minutes passed, their dinner ended and the butler, looking handsome in his uniform, clapped once a way of summoning servants to come and clear the table.
Rachel dabbed her lips with a napkin, then looked up at the young man who lingered discreetly nearby.
"Grandma," she said curiously, "I see we have a new butler. What happened to Andrew?"
"Andrew retired five years ago," Erica explained, her eyes softening. "He introduced his grandson, Pedro Wesley, who has been serving us since... And trust me, he's been nothing but… remarkable... Infact, I think I like him more than the way I liked his father."
Rachel nodded her head in understanding and turned to her gaze to Pedro with a warm smile on her face as she said, "Hi, I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Rachel Shen."
"I know, Miss Shen. (He accepted Rachel's extended hand) It's an honor," Pedro replied, as he shook Rachel in a polite and firm manner.
With the introductions complete, Erica rose from her seat, her movement were graceful and purposeful as she said:"Rachel, I have something to say to you... follow me."
Rachel blinked. "Follow you to where?"
"To your study of course. I said I have something to tell you so we will naturally have to hold our discussion in your study." Erica replied, her voice laced with warmth as she placed her hand on the rail and started to ascend the grand staircase.
Curiosity tightened in Rachel's chest as she followed Erica up the grand staircase.
As they slowly neared the study, Erica's expression grew more serious with every step.
Inside the study, Erica seated herself behind the desk while Rachel perched nervously on the couch.
For a moment, silence hung in the air and was broken only by the soft clink of porcelain as Erica brewed tea for herself.
"Before you take over Shen Group," Erica said at last, "you must know our family secret."
Rachel tilted her head and raised an eyebrow as she said, "Secret?"
"Yes. The secret of how our family became wealthy and the reason why our family's wealth has spanned ten thousand years."
After a pause to recall what was told to her when she married into Shen Family, what followed next was a story that stretched back more than ten millennia, winding through the life of Duke Ceasar Shen, a low-ranking noble who once lived in debt.
Rachel listened with rapt attention and looked at Erica with wide eyes as she recounted the story of how Ceasar had saved a maiden from bandits, only to discover later she was no mortal but Vortuna, the goddess of fortune.
Erica went on to tell Rachel about how Vortuna had bore Ceasar a son—Caspian—and before returning to the Divine Realm, she promised that Ceasar's descendants would never lack for wealth, so long as Caspian's bloodline remained and continued to exist.
The promise of Vortuna came true as Riches poured in for Ceasar.
In few years, he alone made Satila to rise from ruin to prosperity then the Shens became dukes, philanthropists, rulers of industry and Carl Shen eventually founded Shen Group to provide a believable veil to cover and use as a reason for their impossible fortune.
With a pause, Erica sipped her tea, her voice calm but firm then she continued and said, "This is the truth, Rachel, this is the reason why we can spend money without limits, it is also the reason why your uncles thrive and bask in wealth without lifting a finger, the blessing of Vortuna on the main branch of the family is the reason why their loyalty still holds.... What Vortuna blessed us with is a fortune bound by blood."
After Erica finished telling the story, Rachel inhaled deeply as she absorbed and digested the tale with her facial expression shifting from awe to comprehension.
But then Erica's tone hardened as she said, "One thing I came to know is that this fortune of our family comes with and invites danger to oneself.... Shen Group is riddled with opportunists....Some embezzle... And many of them even scheme against, I advise you to—turn a blind eye when you cross paths with them... Do not be reckless."
Rachel's brows furrowed as she frowned and said, "How can we ignore them? Won't that make it worse?"
"I beg you," Erica said sharply, her voice edged with fear. "Promise me you will not confront them."
Rachel's jaw tightened. "I won't be a coward, Grandma. I'm Rachel Shen... Not a coward."
"Young lady!…" Erica let out a sigh that felt long and heavy with years then she continued and said, "Your father thought the same... His sense of justice brought him enemies and the end result was it killed him and It killed your mother too.... Do you want to die too? Are you that desperate to see your late parents that you don't mind following them in death to reunite with them in heaven?"
Rachel fell silent as Erica's words started to weigh heavily on her mind.
After some minutes, Erica softened her tone and said, "Rachel, my advice for you as your grandmother is for you to learn how to be patient to bide your time and wait till you grow stronger....Then when you are ready, you strike once—and only once because that is how I have survived this long and that is how you too can also survive."
Rachel pouted faintly, feeling displeased by what she just heard and with a soft and small voice, she grumbled and muttered: "Grandma I understand what you mean but that sounds really depressing."
"Survival often is." Erica replied Rachel softly.
The silent and heavy moment lingered for a while then Erica clapped lightly, breaking the heaviness as she said, "Enough of talking of things yet to come.... There is a person you must meet."
The door of the study opened, and a young woman entered, she had—dark hair, wore crisp blouse, skirt, and stiletto heels.
Her poise was sharp and her expression was unreadable.
"This is Hailey Hobbs," Erica announced with a warm smile on her face then she continued with the introduction as she said: "Effective immediately, she is going to be Your personal assistant, your right hand, and your Chief General Secretary... She has been trained since childhood and has gone through multiple tests under Susan, and have been proven to be a competent one.. Say hi to her, she is yours now."
Rachel smiled a little and extended her hand, feeling intrigued by the young woman's cool aura, she then said: "Hi, Hailey! I can call you by your first name, right? Anyway, it's nice to meet you and I look forward to working with you."
"Hailey Hobbs," the young woman replied, her handshake brisk as she said:"The feeling is mutual."
Rachel's smile widened and her eyes sparkled as she turned her gaze to Erica and said, "I think I like her already."
"I knew you would," Erica replied warmly with a wave of her hands.
After chatting with each other for a while, Hailey brought out a tablet and ten diamond-encrusted Shen Bank debit cards, placing them before Rachel as she said, "Your cards linked to your bank accounts. Each card contains nine hundred trillion Norpondian dollars."
Rachel nearly shouted. "What?! That's insane! Grandma!"
Erica raised a brow and frowned at her lightly as she said her voice laced in annoyance: "Compose yourself, Rachel...You are a Shen heiress. This is nothing unusual. Learn to wear your crown without stumbling."
Rachel having no words to counter her grandmother, bit back her protest and while her mind was whirling, Hailey excused herself and left the study.
After standing still in a daze for a while, Rachel felt the weight of fortune and responsibility pressing down upon her as she slowly dragged her two legs and walked back toward her bedroom.
Tomorrow was the day of her birthday and she knew that by tomorrow, the way she lived her life and carried herself would change forever after tomorrow.