Sensation! The Con Artist Is the Billionaire's Daughter

Aria Rivers had spent eighteen years under the roof of the Morgan family before uncovering the shocking truth that she was not their biological child. The true daughter belittled Aria for her modest origins... And her adoptive parents wished for her to return to her rural roots. However, fate took an unexpected turn— Upon her homecoming, Aria discovered she was the biological offspring of the wealthiest Rivers family. Her father greeted her with open arms. "Sweetheart, Daddy has acquired an array of haute couture gowns and exquisite jewelry just for you. Tell me, do you like them?" Her mother embraced her warmly. "Darling, how would you feel about coming home to inherit your father's billion-dollar legacy?" Her eldest brother stood ready to defend her honor. "Aria, if anyone dared to mistreat you, let me know, and I'll help you get the justice you deserve." Her second brother couldn't help but praise her upon seeing her. "Aria is truly charming. From this day forth, I pledge to safeguard you." Her third brother eagerly offered his support. "Had I known about your exceptional skills as a hacker, I wouldn't have let anyone underestimate you!" Her fourth brother volunteered with enthusiasm. "My gentle and beloved sister, should anyone dare harm you, I will be there to kick his ass." Living each day surrounded by protective brothers was one thing, but why did it also come with the persistent attention of an exceptionally handsome man? Aria insisted, "Mr. Blackwood, please respect my personal space!" Adrian Blackwood countered, undeterred. "Honey, I wish to accompany you home today." Aria tried to maintain her composure, hiding in a corner. "Is it my fortune you seek?" Adrian responded without hesitation, "Not at all. Upon our marriage, every penny I own will be yours!" ***** Inside the Morgan villa. Ophelia Morgan, Aria's foster mother, sat on the sofa, engaged in manicuring her nails. Yet she kept on talking the whole time. "Once you reunite with your birth parents, make sure to stay with them and do not entertain thoughts of returning here. The Morgans are well-off, yet we cannot support freeloaders. It's best we part ways amicably." Aria remained silent beside her, which only fueled Ophelia's ire. "Aria, what is this attitude? After all, your father and I raised you until now..." Three months prior, William Morgan, Aria's adoptive father, had been involved in a car accident requiring immediate blood transfusion. The blood test revealed Aria's blood type to be O, incompatible with the B type shared by both Ophelia and William. This discrepancy led Ophelia to post inquiries on the dark web in search of her true daughter. The previous month, the Morgan family found their biological daughter, Stella Morgan. Today, Ophelia received a call from Aria's biological parents, eager to reclaim their lost child. Without delay, Ophelia contacted the Rivers family, anxious to send Aria back. Just as Ophelia fumed over Aria's silence, two individuals entered the scene—Stella, the genuine heiress, and Peter Linn, Aria's former fiancé. Upon entering and spotting Aria, Stella feigned regret. "Aria, I'm truly sorry for taking your engagement..." Tears welled up in Stella's eyes as she glanced at Peter, conveying a mixture of sorrow and fear. Aria watched the unfolding drama with a sardonic smile. Before she could respond, Peter interjected, standing protectively before Stella. "Aria, I understand your feelings for me! But from this moment on, I belong to Stella. Discard any delusions, there's no future between us." As Peter finished speaking, Aria rose from the sofa, her gaze falling upon their intertwined hands. She smiled. "Fine." "Why are you smiling?" Peter questioned, taken aback by her reaction. To his surprise, Aria looked at him with a mocking expression. "Don't you have a mirror at home, Mr. Linn? Have you not seen your rather ordinary reflection?" Turning her attention to Stella, Aria's voice dripped with sarcasm. "And you, if a dress doesn't fit, don't force it. That zipper looks cheap and tacky!" Aria's words left the living room in stunned silence, even the servants exchanged disapproving glances. "Aria, what nonsense are you spouting?" Ophelia, unable to bear seeing her biological daughter wronged or snapped, slamming the table and pointing angrily at Aria. "Oh, you've grown bold! You've usurped Stella's place for so many years. Now that we ask you to relinquish Peter to your sister, you show your true colors, don't you?" Ophelia's sneer masked her inner satisfaction, knowing that the Rivers family lived in a village and were likely not wealthy. "Ha." Aria turned her head, smirking at Stella who appeared victorious. "I wonder who's really showing their true nature here. What do you think, Stella?" Before Aria could elaborate again, a servant rushed in with news. "Mrs. Morgan, someone from the Rivers family has arrived." Ophelia hurriedly descended the steps and stood outside the villa entrance. Soon enough, a modest vehicle pulled up to the Morgan residence. A middle-aged man emerged from the unassuming car. "What kind of car is this? So unkempt, and you still dare to drive it here!" Ophelia pinched her nose, waving away the dust. Recalling Aria's presence behind her, she frowned. "Why are you still standing there? They're here to take you away." Aria said nothing, gracefully descending the stairs. In a black dress, she exuded an elegance that seamlessly melded with the night. "Mommy, Aria must feel reluctant to leave you and Dad. If I hadn't returned, she wouldn't have to go..." Stella played the part of the sympathetic sibling, unaware of how ridiculous she looked. "Mrs. Morgan, greetings. I'm Aria's father, Caleb Rivers, and I've come to take her home," announced Caleb, a striking middle-aged man dressed casually after a round of golf, with a polite demeanor that radiated nobility. Ophelia dismissed Caleb with disdain, pinching her nose. "Bringing fish to the door. Does your family have any manners?" Three months ago, following the car accident, William fell into a coma, leaving the Morgan family in turmoil. Naturally, Ophelia wanted to get rid of Aria, seen as a burden. Hoping for compensation from the Rivers family, she was disappointed when Caleb arrived with only a fish, its odor filling the air as soon as the car door opened. "It's..." Caleb seemed embarrassed but maintained his smile, offering the fish. "This fish wasn't easy to catch. Would you like to take a closer look, Mrs. Morgan?" Ophelia recoiled, shouting, "Take it away!" In her haste, she inadvertently pushed Aria, who stumbled but was caught by Caleb. "Aria, are you alright?" Aria couldn't avoid Ophelia's shove just now, but stabilizing herself wasn't difficult. At this moment, seeing Caleb's anxious expression, she was touched. She had once longed for someone to protect her the way Caleb did, but during her time with the Morgan family, she had never experienced such warmth. Did finding her biological parents mean finding protection? Aria felt that her thoughts were somewhat absurd, yet she couldn't help but harbor a faint glimmer of expectation. When Ophelia reached out again, Aria preemptively grabbed her arm. "You little brat, what do you think you're doing?" Ophelia glared. Even the usually composed Caleb showed visible anger. "Do you believe that because you've found your birth parents, you can act however you like? Let me tell you, you have six brothers without spouses, and your mother didn't even come to fetch you. Perhaps they don't want a daughter like you. And your father smells like..." Before Ophelia could finish, a sharp slap echoed through the air. "Aria, you..." Ophelia held her face, speechless. The onlookers who had gathered to watch the spectacle were now left speechless. Stella was the first to recover her composure. "Aria, Mother raised you, no matter what. How could you lay hands on her?" Aria let out a short laugh and turned her gaze towards Ophelia. "Whether it was the Morgan family raising me or me supporting the Morgan family, that remains to be seen!" With that, she took Caleb's hand and retreated back to the car. Ophelia covered her face, gritting her teeth in frustration. Instead, Peter quickened his pace and caught up with Aria. He quickly intervened, "Aria, no matter what tricks you try, I won't return to you! Just give up!" "Mr. Linn, I'm not a garbage dump, I don't accept trash!" Aria shot back, then pointed behind him. "Besides, Stella is waiting for you." Peter turned his head and found Stella standing behind him. Then he ignored Aria, turning to pursue his idealized love. "Aria, you must have endured much hardship these past years. I'm sorry," Caleb said, holding the bluefin tuna, his eyes filled with tenderness. "It's okay..." Aria hesitated before calling him "Dad" with some difficulty. Caleb's eyes welled with tears, his heart swelling with love for the daughter he had finally found. "Dad, shall we go back and talk?" Aria glanced at the bluefin tuna in Caleb's hand, recognizing it as a rare delicacy, likely freshly caught and brought here with care. Caleb sighed, noticing her gaze and feeling a twinge of regret. He had come today to thank the Morgan family for raising Aria and to present her with tokens of appreciation from his family—a gesture that included ten villas, ten downtown apartments, and ten luxury cars. However, before he could extend these gifts, events had taken an unexpected turn. "Aria, as you can see, I rushed to pick up the fish and accidentally got the car dirty..." Caleb explained, glancing at her immaculate attire. "So, why don't you take a cab back? I'll be there shortly." Caleb made this decision swiftly, hoping to mitigate the awkwardness of the situation. Aria tried to protest, but Caleb was already getting into the car. "Aria, my clothes are already soiled. Good girl, just take a cab first." Before she could respond further, Caleb had already pulled out his phone and sent her the location details. As the car drove away, Ophelia and Stella sneered inside the house. "As expected, they're not presentable. Even the gifts for picking up their biological daughter are so shabby." Aria hailed a ride and headed straight for the city center. The night was dark, and she wondered if she had received the correct location. When she exited the taxi, it stopped at the entrance of a narrow alleyway. Just as she stepped out, she heard hurried footsteps coming from within the alley. As Aria walked past the alley entrance, a slender hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a man's embrace. "Help me," the man whispered, his voice hoarse yet commanding. Looking up, Aria saw a face that could have been sculpted by Michelangelo himself—sharp features, high cheekbones, a chiseled jawline, and sensuous lips. Aria hesitated. She had always had a penchant for people with good looks, a tendency that had been evident since childhood. And when it came to attractiveness, she doubted there was anyone in the world more handsome than the man standing before her. "How can I help you?" Aria asked, momentarily mesmerized. The man was clearly wounded, the scent of blood permeated the air as he pressed against her. She noticed the stains on his shirt and felt the heat radiating from his skin through the thin fabric. It was evident he had been drugged or weakened in some way, which would explain his inability to fend off a few assailants. Suddenly, urgent voices approached from behind. "Quick, he ran that way! Hurry!" This man was being hunted, and Aria found herself torn between staying out of trouble and her innate desire to assist someone in need. Her hesitation was short-lived as the thugs chasing the man appeared nearby. One of them leered at her. "This woman looks really nice. How about we..." Aria rolled her eyes. Initially planning to let them go, their audacity pushed her over the edge. With a swift motion, she poked the man's chest lightly, enough to push him aside effortlessly. "Wait a minute. I have something to do first." After all, he was injured. She didn't use much force. Yet, Aria easily pushed him aside. Stepping towards the two men, she faced them coolly. "Hey, girl, you look really nice..." One of the thugs beckoned, only to find his finger snapped in Aria's grip, eliciting a sharp cry of pain. His companion lunged at her, but Aria seized his arm, twisted it, and threw him to the ground in a fluid motion. The suddenness of her actions left both men in shock. Aria dusted off her hands and said with a chill in her voice, "Aren't you going to scram?" The two men scrambled to their feet and fled, leaving the alley empty once more. Aria, having dispatched the intruders, turned to leave when a strong hand gripped her waist. She looked into the man's intense eyes, her heart racing as if it might leap from her chest. "They're gone, you..." She began, but before she could finish, the man pinned her against the wall again. His proximity was overwhelming, his dangerous aura enveloping her completely.