"I just got a notice. Your father-that billion dors he embezzled from thepany —the authorities found out. They''re demanding full repayment," Faye''s mother said, sounding on the verge of a breakdown. "All of my assets have been frozen, even my apartment has been seized-I can''t even go home now."


    Faye shot up from her chair. "What did you say? How did they find out?"


    "I heard Cathie was arrested. She and your father nned to transfer the money and live abroad together. If your father hadn''t been caught, they would have gotten away with it." Though there was a hint of vindicated satisfaction in her mother''s voice, she quickly started crying again. "Faye, what are we going to do?"


    Faye closed her eyes. Her father was in prison, but he had left this disaster for them


    to clean up. Even their only home was being taken away.


    "Mom, go home right now and grab everything valuable. Your jewelry, your expensive bags, anything worth money—"


    Before Faye could finish, her mother cut her off in despair. "It''s toote. The court acted too fast. Enforcement officers entered our home half an hour ago and seized everything. I can''t get in."


    Faye''s face went pale. She had thought they might still get their hands on her father''s billion-dor overseas assets, but instead, they were left with a colossal


    mess.


    "Mom, how much money do you have on you?" Faye asked, taking a deep breath.


    "What money? I always used your father''s credit cards. All five of my cards have been frozen, and the cash is at home. I—I only have about twenty thousand dors on me."


    "What about your jewelry?" Faye pressed.


    "I haven''t been in the mood to wear any these past few days. It''s all at home. I''m just wearing a ring worth over a hundred thousand."


    Just then, another call came through on Faye''s phone. Seeing it was Manager Brown, she told her mother, "Mom, I have to take this call. I''ll talk to you when I get home."


    She switched to the other line. "Hello? Manager Brown?"


    "Miss Yeaton I''m very sorry, but we have received an official notice from the court and thepany''s


    liquidation team. The sedan you are. currently using is registered to Yeaton Holdings and is considered apany asset. As thepany is now undergoing liquidation, the vehicle must be reimed."


    Faye''s expression soured. Her Bentley sports car had already been liquidated, and now even the old BMW she was driving, registered under her father''s name, was being taken back.


    After she hung up, her mother called again. She answered. "Hello, Mom?"


    "Faye, what''s going on? I tried to check into a hotel to settle down for a bit, but the front desk said my ID couldn''t be registered! Something about being restricted. What''s happening?"


    Faye closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Mom, just go to Grandma''s for now. You won''t be able to stay in a hotel."


    Her father had embezzled a billion dors, so her mother was now on a credit .cklist After a brief exnation Faye ended the call and was ovee by a wave of panic unlike anything she had ever felt.


    Even if she wasn''t a true heiress, she had always lived afortable, privileged life. Now, aside from her job, she had nothing.


    Faye lost all motivation to work. She got up and went to theb''smon area to get a drink. Gwenda saw her and walked over. "Faye, are you okay?" she asked kindly.


    Faye''s hand tightened around her juice ss. Gwenda''s concern, though seemingly ordinary, sounded exceptionally grating to her ears.


    She turned to look at Gwenda''s


    slightly fuller face, which now


    radiated a new confidence. In the past, Faye had felt an absolute sense of superiority over Gwenda. She carried the designer bags Gwenda envied, drove sports cars, frequented five star hotels, and talked about her overseas travels, all while enjoying the admiration of a simple girl like Gwenda.