Not A Small-Town Girl

Chapter 1-2

"You got it, Danielle. I knew this would get your attention," Emery replied, almost grinning through the phone.

The email hit her inbox almost immediately. The Charrington family had switched from politics to business under Logan Charrington’s leadership, skyrocketing the company to the top.

They were now a global powerhouse, dominating wealth rankings year after year.

Danielle skimmed the file with a sharp eye.

"Alright, I’ll take it. Give me a week," she said, her tone steady and cool.

"Danielle, you’re finally getting out of that backwater!" Emery sounded almost giddy.

"I’ll pick you up from the airport."

Danielle responded with a calm, indifferent "Mm."

Just then, Julian Reed, Joseph’s assistant, burst in with a stack of papers. "Mr. Darling, we’ve got a lead on Miss Darling. She’s been spotted in a village in Okina City. The informant’s sure it’s her."

The normally unflappable Joseph shot to his feet, gut instinct screaming that they’d finally found her.

"Should we alert your father?" Julian asked.

"No. Wait for confirmation first, but keep it quiet. We can’t tell anyone," Joseph said, voice calm but firm. He’d long suspected foul play in his sister’s disappearance, but eighteen years of searching had turned up nothing concrete. Now, it felt like they were finally getting close.

"Get ready. We’re heading to Okina City," Joseph ordered, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions brewing inside him.

At dawn, Danielle was up, doing her usual chores-prepping for another day in the village.

Around the same time, a convoy of luxury cars, led by a Rolls-Royce, cruised into Bane Springs, the smell of breakfast starting to fill the air.

"Goddamn it! What time is it? Breakfast still isn’t ready? You trying to starve us?" Lucy’s angry voice rang out across the courtyard. The neighbors didn’t even blink anymore, used to the daily shouting.

The sight of the luxury cars, parked outside the Granger family’s home, was enough to turn every head in the village. They’d only ever seen this kind of wealth on TV.

A tall, well-dressed man stepped out of the Rolls-Royce. His sharp features and commanding presence made it clear he was someone important. His tailored suit, paired with a handful of intimidating bodyguards, spoke volumes about his status.

Joseph walked toward the Granger family’s courtyard, a cold fury simmering inside him. His bodyguards flanked him, their presence enough to send a chill through the air.

He’d read the files before coming. The Grangers hadn’t exactly treated his sister well. The thought of what she’d gone through made his stomach turn.

Joseph stopped in front of Danielle, locking eyes with her. In that instant, there was no doubt. She was the sister he’d spent eighteen years searching for.

She looked just like their mother, especially those eyes-those damn eyes that held so many untold stories.

Seeing her so frail, in torn clothes, still cooking for the people who’d mistreated her, nearly broke him. She was supposed to be the Darling family’s most prized treasure, but instead, she’d been reduced to this.

Joseph’s voice cracked as he stepped forward. "Danielle... I’ve finally found you," he said, his emotions raw. "I’m your brother, Joseph Darling. Dad, Mom, all of us- we’ve been looking for you. For eighteen years."