THE SECRET HEIR'S FORBIDDEN LOVE

Chapter 1: The Girl Nobody Wanted The rain fell heavily over Ashford City, soaking the crowded streets. People hurried past with umbrellas, but one young woman stood alone at the entrance of a small hospital. Lena Carter tightened her grip on the worn envelope in her hand. Inside was a hospital bill she could never afford. Only three days earlier, she had buried the only family she had ever known—her grandmother, Rose Carter. Before taking her last breath, Rose had whispered, "Lena... never let anyone see the mark on your shoulder. Promise me." Lena had promised, even though she didn't understand why. Now she was alone. No parents. No relatives. No home. Just a tiny rented room and a mountain of debt. Her phone buzzed. "I'm sorry, Lena," her landlord said coldly. "If you don't pay your rent by tomorrow, I'll have to throw your things out." The call ended before she could reply. Holding back tears, Lena walked into a nearby café to escape the rain. She ordered the cheapest cup of tea and sat quietly in the corner. At the next table, several wealthy businessmen were talking. "The Blackwood Group's CEO is coming today." "I heard he's only twenty-eight and already one of the richest men in the country." "They say he never smiles." Lena paid little attention. Rich people belonged to a world she could never enter. Suddenly, the café door burst open. A tall man in a black suit stepped inside. His sharp features, piercing gray eyes, and calm expression instantly silenced the room. Damian Blackwood. Everyone stood respectfully. Everyone except Lena, who kept staring out the rain-covered window. As Damian walked past her table, a strange warmth spread through Lena's body. Her shoulder suddenly burned. The hidden birthmark beneath her shirt glowed faintly. At the very same moment, Damian stopped walking. For the first time in years, he felt a powerful force pulling him toward someone. He slowly turned. His eyes met Lena's. Time seemed to freeze. Neither of them spoke. Neither understood why their hearts were beating so fast. Outside the café, a black SUV remained parked across the street. Inside, a man wearing dark gloves watched through binoculars. He smiled. "We've found her." He picked up his phone. "Tell the Master... the girl with the royal mark is alive." The call ended. Across the café, Lena suddenly shivered, unaware that her ordinary life had just come to an end.