On a couch in an extravagant living room, a girl with flowing golden hair covered her face with a thick book and a laptop on her lap. Her slender yet well-manicured fingers were moving in an irregular pattern.

She was busy typing furiously, all her attention on the screen before her. Her whole body oozes elegance and style for a nineteen-year-old girl.

Her neck was covered in a thin rudded diamond necklace. Her wrist was holding a simple yet attractive watch and those luscious lips were squeezed into a pout as her focus was on what she was doing.

Tapping away on the laptop, she looked like a serious student studying for her upcoming exams but the reality was different.

"Damn it! Why can't I get past their walls? This is so damn frustrating! Haa! Just a little more, Jessy! You hate to lose!" The girl murmured to herself in determination.

A glance at her will draw you straight to those emerald green eyes that looked piercing yet strikingly alluring and those brows were so thick that it gives her the perfect look of a model.

She flipped her hair at random while burying herself in the laptop on her lap. She seems lost in whatever she was engrossed in.

"Jessy, get me the fried prawn from the kitchen," An elegant voice said, piercing into the musical tapping of the young girl.

Jessica Graves paused for a second before resuming her typing again. Why can't her mother just let her have her quiet time? She hates being disturbed. Besides, she can't stop now… just a few minutes and she was sure she would crack it.

"Mum, can't you tell Aunt Maya to do that for you? You know I am studying for my final exams," Jessica complained, still focused on what she was doing.

Jessica always wondered why her mother likes to prepare the meal all by herself despite being the wife of a multi-billionaire. They have more than a hundred workers in the huge mansion each assigned to different significant and insignificant tasks, yet she doesn't allow any of them to prepare the meals for the family.

According to her, it makes her feel fulfilled as a mother and housewife to cater to her family!

Pffffft! Who does that these days? That's one old fashion way of thinking as a Harvard graduate! But Jessica was sensible enough not to say anything or else… she doesn't even want to think about it.

" Baby, five minutes won't make you fail. Besides, you don't look like you are studying. What are you doing?" Her mother said, ignoring her complaints. Mrs. Graves knew her daughter was not studying.

" Mum! Stop…"

Her mother chuckled before replying."Just get it for me already. And…drop that computer. We need to have our dinner"

" Mum, I am not…" Jessica tried to argue but her mother gave her a glare

She hated having meals when she was studying. Not that she was studying, nevertheless It distracts her! And right now her mother would never understand.

What she was doing was what brought her life! Ha! Only her father understands her.

"No excuses! Everyone is eating together today!" Her mother yells bringing her out of her thinking world.

Does that mean her father was back? Jessica pondered. Nah! Her mother was just saying that to make them join in the meal.

" Daddy is not back yet!" She said, confidently. She was still buried in the computer.

Then she said, silently tapping furiously." Just a little more and I will nail this bastard!"

Her father was not back yet because she had been sitting on the couch for more than four hours trying to crash that site!

Her father would only be back if he was invisible which was unlikely. He would always pounce on her each time he comes.

"Your daddy came back more than thirty minutes ago while you were busy digging in your laptop," her mother said, walking towards her.

Uh? Really? But wouldn't she have known? And her daddy would never pass her without her welcoming kiss!

" He even gave you your kiss! Seriously, Jessy, you need to stop losing focus as soon as you are with your laptop. I have told you several times…."

Oops! And there she goes again! Jessica rolled her eyes as she finally gave up before she would be drenched in her usual sermons.

"Okay, mum. I will go get the prawn and can you please stop lecturing me already?" Jessica quickly replied before running off to the kitchen.

"You little fox! Just get the prawn and set the table. Where are those little brats? Tristan! Kristen! Where are these children?" Mrs. Graves said, leaving the sitting room in search of Jessica's siblings.

Jessica sighs as her mother leaves in search of her troublesome twin siblings. Those brats were lovely as well as devilish.

Maybe it was because her mother had them a little late. They were just nine years old but they can turn the house into a warzone in less than five minutes!

Getting to the kitchen, Jessica collected the prawns. She brought them to the dining table and arranged it for five people.

Her mother always seems to know the right time to butt in everything she was trying to crash a site. She had a bet with Winston that she was going to crash The States Bank for five minutes within three days!

Today was the last day and she was just a few minutes away. But her mother would always be the stumbling block! She has to win the bet or Winston was going to collect a hundred dollars from her!

But if she can win, then she was going to have five hundred thousand dollars! Confused, right? The thing is Jessica had a bet with five boys in her college and each was willing to part with a hundred dollars if she can win.

But if she doesn't, she was going to part with one hundred dollars! The money wasn't a big deal but then she hates losing!

Grumbling as she sets the dining table, she wished her father would have come home earlier. She would have been able to escape from her mother's clutches.

Whenever those two are together, they are always lovey-dovey and rarely part. Her mother would have called her father to assist her in the kitchen and she would have just crashed that site already!

She hears light footsteps from behind her, and a deep masculine yet warming voice fills the quiet dining room.

Huh? It looks like her mother wasn't lying after all!

She turned to look at her father but a glimmer of anger flicked through her eyes the next second.

Jessica stared at the person beside her father. Wasn't that Uncle Lincoln, the head of her father's laboratory company? Why was he with her father?

She looked at her father and it looked like he was a little pale. Was something wrong? And why would this man come to their house?

She remembered her father having a heated argument with him some months back.

"Jessy, won't you say hi to your uncle?" Mr. Graves said to his stupefied daughter.

"Hi, Uncle Lincoln!" Jessica said, dryly. There was something odd about this man that Jessica doesn't like but his father seems to trust him so much.

"Jessy, you are growing into a fine woman. How are your studies? I heard from your father you would be graduating soon. Good luck! " Uncle Lincoln said, smiling.

Jessica simply forced a smile out before continuing what she was doing. Her mind was feeling uneasy but she can't tell what it is.

As she was in deep thought, her father returned from escorting Uncle Lincoln out. She adjusted her mood and smiled brightly at her father.

"Daddy, when did you get back? I thought mother was lying to me" Jessica said, walking towards her father.

Mr. Graves smiled at his daughter before giving her a peck again. "How is my princess today? You must be engrossed in your studies that you didn't even feel my presence"

"Daddy, I am so sorry. I… "

" Princess, you don't have to apologize. Besides, I know how much you love your…" Mr. Graves said, winking at his daughter." I am always supporting you from the sidelines"

" That's why you are the best dad in the entire universe!" Jessica gave her dad a huge hug and the biggest smile ever!

She looked at her dad's smiling face and frowned." Dad, you look stressed. Are you okay? Is there a problem at the company?"

"My princess, don't you trust your super daddy? Of course, there is nothing wrong with the office. I just strained myself a little because of the annual meeting coming up tomorrow" Mr. Graves replied.

" Are you sure daddy? You look stressed and all these bags under your eyes and Uncle Lincoln… "

" Princess, I am fine. Everything will be over tomorrow and when you are through with your exams we will go on a daddy and his little girl's outing" Mr. Graves said, winking at his daughter again.

"Really dad? I can't wait to see Kristen's face when we go on vacation alone" Jessica said, grinning.

"You are still acting all giddy like a child. Don't you think we should take Kristen along too?" Mr. Graves asked.

"No! She is going to tattle to mother!" Jessica shook her head. Her father just smiled and stroked her head like a child.

"Daddy, I am no longer a child. Why do you keep stroking my hair?"

" I know you are a big girl now and I am going to miss the fact that you are no longer a child," Mr. Graves said, smiling.

"What about you letting me go abroad for my master's?" Jessica asked, taking advantage of the mood.

" That's a no, Jessy. No further talks on this issue" Mr. Graves said, not falling into her trap.

Jessica knew she would fail at this bargain but she just had to give it a shot. She nodded her head as she stopped questioning him.

Mrs. Graves who just came in dragging the two rascals with her saw this scene. She cleared her throat, looking at the father and daughter suspiciously.

"What are you guys plotting behind my back?" She asked, still holding the twins tightly.

"Honey, what's with that look?" Mr. Graves asked, throwing his wife a sweet smile.

"I always get the chills whenever you are in cohorts with your daughter! I have told you several times that you are spoiling her… "

"Honey, how can a princess be spoiled? Did you forget she is our princess?" Mr. Graves said.

"Daddy, if Jessy is the princess then who am I?" Kristen asked, glaring at Jessica.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Kristen. But you are in no way a description of a princess or even close to it" Jessica said, holding back her laughter.

"Hey, Jessy. Don't be mean to your sister!" Mrs. Graves said, scolding her older daughter.

Kristen had always liked to dress as a boy. She fights with her twin brother over his clothes. She hardly wears her feminine clothes except they are boogie pants or tops.

"You are my cute little princess!" Mr. Graves replied, looking at his second daughter with affection.

His eyes roamed all over the twins and noticed they looked ruffled. What were they up to this time around?

"And what happened to them?" Mr. Graves asked, looking at the two rascals who were looking ruffled.

"Long story. I give you guys ten minutes to get going and freshen up or you are grounded for two weeks!" Mrs. Graves said, looking at them sternly.

Jessica watched as the twins fled from the sitting room to their room. A beautiful and captivating smile was plastered on her face.

She was happy that she was surrounded by the people she loves the most. Sometimes, she might find the twins annoying, or let's say most times. Or her mother might sound annoying and intruding too. Or her father who showered all the love in the world on her might be the least annoying of them all.

But she was lucky she had a family. Not just any family but the richest in the entire Country!

The family of five had their dinner and played for a few minutes before they all headed to their separate rooms while the servants cleared the dining table.

Mr. Graves went to their bedroom followed by his wife. Immediately they got to the bedroom, he drew his wife towards him in a tight hug.

"I don't know what to do, Catherine. Those people had been planning for a long time" Mr. Graves said, trying to hold back a tear.

"What could be their reason? What did you do to them that was unforgivable? I am guessing there is an insider" Mrs. Graves complained, sobbing softly.

They had to put on an act these past weeks so the children won't notice the situation.

" What are we going to do now? These people would do anything to get our family down" She continued sobbing.

Mr. Graves held his wife tighter as they poured out their sorrow in their bedroom. He closed his eyes as the thought of what those people did flashback.

Mr. Graves was still baffled at the discoveries he just made. No matter how much they hid their tracks, he was able to detect them.

How could they be so wicked? What exactly do they want from him? Nevertheless, he was determined to fight till the end.

He won't let them get his family or…anything else!

Groaning loudly yet sleepily, Jessy tried to switch off the alarm ringing continuously for some time now.

"I just want to sleep a little! Let me sleep, Mr alarm! Why can't you just cooperate with me this once?" She murmured, covering her ears with her pillow.

She wants to sleep more! Last night she stayed up late trying to break the walls of the bank and after trying relentlessly for five hours, she finally did it at exactly 11:55. The crash lasted till exactly midnight.

There was a light tap on her door. She knew who it was but she was just too sleepy to care.

"Miss, your bath is ready. You have less than an hour to get to college" A cheerful voice said.

"Yeah. But Aunty Maya, I just need five minutes to get there. Why can't I just use the helicopter? Dad isn't going on any business trip out of town" Jessica said, covering herself with a thick blanket." Just twenty minutes to sleep and I will be in school in less than five minutes"

"Miss, your father left early this morning and the helicopter is not available at the moment. And if you don't wake up now, you might end up dressing shabbily for college" Aunt Maya said, removing the blanket from her.

Ha! She forgot she still needed to dress. She can't afford to be dressed shabbily or else that stupid Ella and her friends would upload her photos all over their school's group chat.

That's hell no for Jessica, a college-round fashionista that had won the most gorgeously dressed campus Bella in succession.

At the mention of her being shabbily dressed, she immediately jumped out of the bed. Her sleepiness vanished into thin air. She left Aunt Maya and went straight to the bathroom.

In less than twenty-five minutes, she was already dressed up and her face was lightly touched. Putting on tight-fitting jeans and a sleeveless top that brought out all her endowment, she carefully wore her jacket tailor-made for her by the famous designer who was making waves.

Jessica knew the school was going to be in an uproar because of the jacket but she doesn't give a damn!

The driver dropped her off at the entrance of the college. Immediately she got inside, she was dragged to the corner by someone.

"Damn it, girl! What kind of fucking brain do you have? You did crash them yesterday!"

She grinned at Winston who was looking at her as If he was looking at an alien." I told you I hate to lose"

" How did you do it? How could you crash it for five minutes? Ha! I can imagine my father's face last night… it must be fucking hilarious!" Winston said, bursting into laughter.

Yeah, this guy was a psycho and had a kind of father complex or something. He takes pride in being rebellious towards his father who was the technical director at the States Bank.

"Hey! Your bet… all of you. I need my four hundred bucks now" Jessica told him.

He looked at her." Why are you being so petty? It's not like you even need the money"

"I know I don't need the money but it's my sweat. Besides, we made a bet and I won" Jessica said, grinning.

Winston, who thought she was going to lose the bet, looked at her grudgingly before bringing out his phone.

" How about we split it? You can get the higher share" Winston asked.

"Why would I share with you when I was the one that did everything?" Jessica asked, glaring at Winston.

" Petty!" Winston said, sending her the money.

Soon afterward, there was a beep on Jessica's phone. She took it out and saw the bank messages.

"Good boy. Just let me know if there are any more bets with a higher percentage. I will give you a cut then" she said, giggling as she went straight to her class.

******

Classes were a bit tiring and stressful for Jessica as she kept yawning. Perhaps it was due to lack of sleep these past three days she had been trying to crash the site.

She was so tired that she immediately packed up to leave for home. She was about to call the driver when her phone rang.

"Hey mum, where are… are you crying? What happened?" Jessica asked, worried.

Her mother's next words made her face turn pale and her phone dropped to the ground.

All she told herself was… it wasn't real.

Jessica picked up her broken phone and dashed out of the school gate. She flagged a taxi that brought her home. Tears kept flowing down her eyes and her mind was filled with different thoughts.

On getting to their residence, she saw the police surrounding the place. She paid for the taxi and rushed inside.

"Mom, dad!" She called out, rushing to the living room. Her father was looking forlorn and broken as if the whole world came crashing on him.

Jessica couldn't take her eyes off her father who had become frail overnight. Her siblings' eyes were red from crying too much while her mother snuggled them to herself.

"That bastard finally betrayed you! I told you to be wary of him but you were so sure he won't repeat his mistake " her mother sobbed softly.

Jessica walked over to her father holding his hands. This was the first time she has seen him looking so confused.

" What happened, dad?" Jessica asked.

"Your dad was framed for producing harmful drugs in the laboratory and selling it out without approval. I don't know how they got evidence that activities like that had been on for three years. Activities that don't exist" her mother replied, clenching tightly on her dress.

Mr. Graves has been too broken to utter anything. He kept staring into space as he murmured to himself.

"Evidence? How could they have evidence of something that does not exist?"

"The company has been closed down by the government. Everything has been seized too. We have been given one week to leave this house too. All because of that… Nicholas… what's wrong… "

There was a scream from Jessica's mother as her father collapsed to the ground. That's when Jessica knew she was about to face the harsh reality of life.

She just realized that a new chapter had begun in her life.