The Framed Heiress Strikes Back

Chapter 1 Out of Prison

"Stay out of trouble. Take care. Your family's waiting for you outside."

With a polite farewell from the prison guard, Davina Summer stepped slowly through the front gates.

She lifted her head, squinting slightly as the bright sunlight washed over her face-a glaring reminder of the freedom she hadn't felt in years.

Not far away, a sleek Porsche pulled to a stop. A dashingly dressed young man stepped out from the car.

"Davina."

She turned toward the voice and saw the man standing in front of her in a tailored suit. He was striking and handsome in a cold, refined way.

"Mom and Dad asked me to pick you up. It's been a rough two years for you," he said, his voice stiff and formal, like he was reading off a script, with a hint of apology. "We'll make it up to you once you're home."

He had assumed she'd come out looking disheveled and broken, but to his surprise, Davina looked clean and composed-even more radiant than she had two years ago.

The fake concern on his face made her stomach churn. She rebuked, "First, you all pinned Stella's crime on me and had me thrown in prison. Now you want to talk to me about compensation?" She gave a cold smile. "Tell me, are you the shameless ones, or am I just stupid?"

Lewis Summer's expression hardened, a flash of contempt in his eyes. He berated, "You think I wanted to come here? I'm only here because they made me. With your record, you should be thankful they even let you come home. You better know your own place. Stella's waiting for you; she even prepared a cake. Don't let her down!"

Davina chuckled dryly and said, "The record you're talking about? You gave that to me. And you even made an extra effort to make that happen, top lawyer."

Lewis had been one of the main ones pushing her to take the fall for Stella Summer. Not just him—there were three other brothers connected to Davina by blood, and her biological parents had worked together to make it happen.

"There was nothing we could do." Lewis's expression changed, but he argued, "I had to protect Stella."

"Right," she muttered, shaking her head. "What a messed-up bunch of lunatics."

With that, Davina brushed past him and kept walking.

"Don't forget, you're an ex-con now," Lewis called after her. "You're nothing without us. Worse than the beggars on the street!"

Just then, a sleek black Maybach pulled up and came to a quiet stop in front of Davina.

A man in a dark coat stepped out, hurried over, and gave a respectful bow. "Are you Ms. Davina Summer?"

She nodded. "I am."

"My sincerest apologies for the delay," he said. "Ms. Barlow asked me to pick you up. Please, the car is ready."

Lewis's face darkened at the scene.

That Maybach ... If he wasn't mistaken, there were fewer than five of that model in the entire country.

Davina gave a small hum of acknowledgment. Just before getting into the car, she turned back to look at Lewis, who was still standing there, stunned. "Oh, and one more reason I'm not

going home" Her gaze turned ice-cold. "I don't like being around beasts."

With a long stride, she stepped into the car.

The driver glanced once at Lewis, then calmly rounded the vehicle and got into the front seat.

As the Maybach glided away, Lewis's gaze turned eerily grim.

Who is it?

Aside from their family, who else would bother picking her up the moment she got out?

And what's with her attitude-cursing like that? Had prison messed with her head?

In the back seat of the Maybach, the driver spoke again. "Ms. Barlow was thrilled to hear you

were being released. She wanted to come in person, but Mrs. Grace had a sudden episode this morning, so she had to return to the estate. That's why she sent me." Davina gave a quiet grunt.

As the city passed by her window, she let her mind drift, recalling the family and social connections tied to this body.

That's right. She wasn't the original Davina.noveldrama

The original Davina had died in prison-bullied and broken, her spirit crushed under despair.

And the new Davina was a soul that was now occupying this body. She was just a wandering spirit who had stumbled into a second chance.