From Betrayal To Brilliance: The Rise Of A Hidden Heiress

Stella Dawson pried her eyes open. A blinding agony stabbed through her skull, leaving her sure her head was about to crack in half.

Only a few steps away, a group of kidnappers leaned close together, listening to a phone on speaker.

"We got her," said one of the men. "What are your orders?"

Owen Miller's voice answered from the other end, unmistakable and cold. "Lower your voice," he snapped. "We can't risk anyone listening in."

Doing so, the man continued, "Mr. Miller, what did this woman do to make you hate her? How far do you want us to go?"

"She stole the fruit of my loved one's research," Owen replied, his voice as sharp as broken glass. "Do whatever you want with her. Don't hold back. Once Jenna cools off, the money's yours."

He hesitated, and his tone grew cold. "Make sure you record it. When I post the video on Crest University's forum, I want everyone to see who she really is."

Nearby, Stella caught every word of their conversation. Her face drained of all colors. Her kidnapper—the one pulling the strings—was Owen. The same boyfriend she had helped through school, spoiled with expensive gifts, and always made sure he looked good in public.

Her lips shook as she bit down, tasting the sharp sting of blood.

Every harsh word he uttered over that call landed like a hammer blow against her chest. Old memories, ones she once found comforting, crashed over her with the sting of betrayal.

Born into the wealth and security of the Dawson family, Stella had always been shown warmth. Owen, on the other hand, was her housekeeper's son.

He had first set foot in the Dawson estate years ago, wearing nothing more than a simple white shirt. A shaft of sunlight lit up his shoulders that afternoon, and in that fleeting moment, he left an impression on her heart that never faded.

For years, she tucked away her feelings for him. The distance between their lives was impossible to cross. Deep down, she also understood that his eyes were never meant for her. He only ever saw someone else.

That someone was Jenna Tucker—his childhood friend. She was the one Owen treated with all his love.

At the age of eighteen, Owen broke his leg in a car accident while protecting Jenna. But Jenna vanished instead of owning up to her part in it.

His parents barely had time for him, so for those seven months he spent recovering in the hospital, it was Stella who sat beside him, day after day, never once leaving his side.

During those long nights, she mopped the sweat from his brow and steadied him whenever pain took hold.

Owen accepted her love the day he finally left the hospital.

But soon after, Jenna began hovering at his side, and Stella found herself sinking into insecurity.

On one occasion, Jenna approached with a gentle smile and whispered, "Owen feels overwhelmed. You shine too brightly for him.