THE MAYOR'S WICKED DAUGHTER

🪻 THE HEIR WHO BOWED

To everyone’s eyes they are completely in shock. Because the heir of the Sanctuary Clan lowered his head slightly, before Sandy.

A gesture of respect.

“Miss Sandy,” he greeted calmly.

The air inside the room instantly turned heavy.

Mayor Montenegro’s face lost all color. Veronica’s lips parted in disbelief. Even the servants stared with wide eyes.

Dylene’s expression cracked completely. "W-What…?” she whispered.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she looked between Sandy and the man she had been trying so hard to impress. But the young heir still ignored her existence completely. His attention remained on Sandy alone.

And for the first time in years.. the Montenegro family realized they may have been mocking, and been wronged their real daughter.

Not later, Sandy finally recognized him. The lost child she once saved in the forest.

No. Not the child.

Her older brother. The first heir of the Sanctuary Clan.

Kael Sanctuary.

His cold eyes never left Sandy. "We’ve been searching for you," he said quietly.

And for the first time since returning home, Sandy felt the entire mansion tremble around here. No one moved, and no one breathed.

The heir of the Sanctuary Clan had just bowed his head… to Sandy.

Mayor Montenegro’s face turned pale. Even Veronica looked shaken for the first time.

Meanwhile, Dylene’s smile slowly disappeared.

"K-Kael… You know Sandy..?" she called softly, forcing a gentle expression back onto her face.

Kael Sanctuary finally looked away from Sandy. His cold eyes landed briefly on Dylene before returning to Sandy again.

"Of course," he answered calmly.

That simple response made the atmosphere heavier.

Sandy crossed her arms. "You grew up," she said flatly.

Lucas and Nathan exchanged confused looks.

The feared heir of the Sanctuary Clan was known for being distant, untouchable, and ruthless in business despite his young age. Yet right now, he looked at Sandy as if she was the only person inside the mansion.

Kael’s expression softened slightly. "And you still enjoy causing trouble," he replied.

A small smirk appeared on Sandy’s lips.

Mayor Montenegro quickly stepped forward.

"Mr. Sanctuary... please sit down. We didn’t expect your visit today." he said carefully.

Kael finally faced him. But his expression instantly returned cold. "I came because my grandfather requested something important."

Veronica immediately smiled politely. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

Servants hurried nervously around the room. Tea was prepared. Expensive desserts were placed on the table.

The mayor himself looked tense.

Because rveryone knew the Sanctuary Clan held enormous power. One wrong move could destroy companies in one night.

Meanwhile, Sandy casually leaned against the wall.

Completely unbothered watching him sit on the sofa.

Kael noticed it, and strangely… he smiled.

In that way, everyone suddenly looked at Sandy differently.

Dylene saw everything. Her nails slowly dug into her palm. She hated to see that their full attention was locked to Sandy only.

For years, she was the perfect daughter. The beloved one, and the admired one.

But now, Sandy’s mere existence was stealing the spotlight.

So Dylene spoke sweetly, "Actually.. Kael and I already met several times before, because of the engagement discussions between our families."

The room brightened instantly. Veronica smiled proudly. And Mayor Montenegro relaxed his armed slightly.

Everyone knew about the possible marriage alliance between Dylene and the Sanctuary Clan. It would strengthen the Montenegro family’s influence even more.

Dylene looked at Sandy gently. "You should congratulate me, sister."

Sandy stared at her silently. Then she laughed softly.

Not a happy laugh, but a dangerous one.

"Did he agree to marry you?" she asked.

Dylene froze. And the room became awkward for a moment.

Kael Sanctuary calmly picked up his teacup.

"No," he answered.

Dylene’s face turned pale.

Veronica quickly interrupted. "They’re still discussing the arrangement," she explained.

But Sandy had already noticed the truth. Kael had no interest in Dylene. Not even the slightest.

The sweet smiles, the soft voice, the expensive dress Dylene carefully picked earlier, all of it was useless because the young heir had not looked at her properly even once.

Sandy shook her head slightly as if trying to avoid unnecessary attention. But unfortunately, it only made everyone more curious.

The tension inside the mansion became heavier with every second.

Lucas finally cleared his throat awkwardly, forcing out a laugh to break the silence.

“So… if I may ask, how exactly do you know each other?” he aske. Glancing at the two.

“It’s a long story.”

Both Sandy and Kael answered at the exact same time.

The room instantly fell silent again. Even Kael paused slightly before turning to Sandy.

Meanwhile, everyone else looked completely stunned. They hadn’t expected this interaction at all.

The provincial girl they mocked moments ago… and the untouchable young master, the heir of the Sanctuary Clan, were somehow familiar enough to speak in perfect sync.

Dylene’s fingernails dug into her palm. Her forced smile almost shattered.

“How interesting…” Veronica muttered, though the uneasiness in her eyes was obvious now.

Kael finally spoke again, calm and composed as ever.

“Miss Sandy helped me once before.”

That simple sentence alone was enough to make the entire Montenegro family freeze.

Helped him?

The heir of the Sanctuary Clan?

Their eyes slowly turned toward Sandy again, but this time, there was no mockery left. Only confusion.

“There’s really nothing special about it. I only helped you find your little sister that time. You’re lucky… you have an obedient sister.” Sandy said.

Her lips curved faintly, though the bitterness behind it was obvious.

“And concerned parents too.”

The room became uncomfortably quiet after her words.

Kael looked at her silently for a moment before speaking again.

“You have a family too,” he said. “You never told me you were the Montenegro family’s daughter.”

“I…”

Sandy’s eyes slowly moved toward her parents. Cold and empty, as if she was looking at strangers instead of family.

“I live with my grandmother,” she answered quietly. “That’s why I know the forest so well.”

The moment those words left her mouth, Veronica’s expression stiffened.

Even Lucas looked slightly embarrassed.

After all, everyone in the province knew what that sentence truly meant.

Sandy was the Montenegro daughter, yet she grew up far away from the mansion, raised by her elderly grandmother like an abandoned child.

Dylene immediately forced a laugh, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“Oh please, Sis is exaggerating again. Grandma simply loved her so much that she wanted to keep her there... ” she said sweetly.

“But children usually stay with their parents,” Kael interrupted calmly.

Dylene’s voice stopped instantly.

Kael’s tone wasn’t loud. But somehow, it slapped harder than humiliation itself.

Sandy almost laughed seeing Dylene’s stiff expression for the first time.

Meanwhile, Mayor Montenegro quietly clenched his jaw. Because for the first time, someone important had started noticing how badly they treated Sandy.