Rising From Ashes: The Untouchable Zillionaire Heiress

Ava's eyes snap open. The blinding light of a massive crystal chandelier pierced her retinas.

She gasped for air, her lungs expanding fully without the sharp agony of a broken rib. Her hands flew to her face in a blind panic. Her fingertips met smooth, unscarred skin. There were no chemical burns. There was no melted flesh.

The elegant classical music of a live string quartet filled her ears. The harmonious sound momentarily disoriented her senses, a stark contrast to the dripping pipes of the basement.

She looked down. She was wearing a pristine, custom-made haute couture gown. The heavy silk pooled around her legs. It was her 18th birthday gala.

Seraphina approached her. She wore a saccharine smile, her hands delicately holding a luxurious velvet jewelry box.

Ava suppressed a violent physical flinch. Her stomach twisted into a tight knot. Her muscles tensed defensively at the sight of the woman who had just confessed to murdering her family.

"Happy birthday, Ava!" Seraphina announced loudly. She made sure her voice carried so the nearby high-society guests could hear every word.

The guests turned their attention to the siblings. They murmured praises, their champagne flutes clinking as they admired Seraphina's generous and loving nature.

Seraphina popped the velvet box open. A limited-edition luxury watch glittered under the ballroom lights, its diamond-encrusted face catching the chandelier's glare.

A memory from her past life violently triggered in Ava's mind. A sharp pain spiked behind her eyes. She remembered the hidden military-grade GPS tracker and audio bug surgically implanted inside the casing of that exact watch.

Ava forced a stiff, polite smile. She dug her fingernails so hard into her palms that they almost broke the skin. The sharp physical pain kept her grounded.

Seraphina stepped closer. She reached out, attempting to clasp the heavy watch onto Ava's delicate wrist.

Ava subtly stepped backward. She smoothly avoided the physical contact, keeping her hands clasped in front of her under the guise of admiring the gift.

"It's too precious to wear right now," Ava said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline flooding her veins.

Seraphina's fake smile faltered for a fraction of a second at the unexpected rejection. She bit her lower lip, a habit she used when her plans hit a snag.

Ethan Thorne approached from the crowd. He walked with an arrogant swagger, wrapping a possessive arm around Seraphina's waist. He casually adjusted his expensive cuffs with his free hand.

"You should be grateful for your sister's effort, Ava," Ethan said. His tone was laced with subtle condescension.

Ava felt a surge of pure nausea looking at Ethan's hypocritical, handsome face. She could still taste his blood in her mouth from her dying moment.

Ava coldly reached out. She snapped the velvet box shut, trapping the watch inside, and took it from Seraphina's hands without putting it on. She immediately turned and set the velvet box down on a nearby marble side table, physically distancing herself from the tainted gift.

Seraphina immediately pouted. She dropped her shoulders, playing the disappointed, misunderstood victim for the watching crowd.

Ethan glared at Ava. He silently warned her with his eyes not to cause a scene and embarrass the family in front of the elite.

Ava completely ignored his warning. She kept her spine rigidly straight. "The room is far too stuffy for me," she stated aloud, her voice carrying a chilling edge.

Stephen Sinclair noticed the rising tension. He quickly walked over, a deep frown marring his face. He was already sweating, wiping his damp palms on his tailored trousers.

Stephen leaned in and harshly reprimanded Ava in a low voice. "Where are your manners? Do not embarrass me in front of these guests."

Ava stared dead into her father's eyes. She felt absolutely zero lingering affection for the man who had sold her out and allowed her to rot in an asylum.

"I have a severe migraine, Father," Ava said flatly. "I need fresh air."

Stephen sighed in disgust. He waved his hand dismissively. "Just go. Leave before you ruin the celebratory mood."

Ava turned her back on the trio. She maintained a perfectly straight posture as she walked away, her silk gown gliding over the marble floor.

Behind her, Seraphina immediately used the distraction to network with a prominent Hollywood producer standing nearby, her sweet laughter echoing in the hall.

Ava navigated the crowded, opulent hallway. Her mind rapidly calculated her next strategic move. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

A sudden realization hit her like a freight train. She stopped dead in her tracks. Tonight was the exact night her grandfather, Augustus Carlisle, was turned away at the estate gates.