"Is this the right address?" the police officer driving asked skeptically.

"Definitely here!" his partner replied, frustration creeping into his voice. "I called multiple times to say we'd found their daughter, but they kept hanging up, convinced it was a scam."

The female officer couldn't hold back a sarcastic comment. "Throwing a lavish celebration while their eldest daughter's missing. Classy."

Standing under the scorching sun, Ye Zhexia listened to their exchange with a churning heart.

Three years of torment in the mountains had nearly broken her—had it not been for the police rescue, she wouldn't have survived. The sprawling mansion before her felt both alien and familiar, its grandeur momentarily disorienting.

Not that she could blame her own hesitation. The Ye residence was transformed—bustling with guests, adorned with festive lanterns and ribbons for some grand occasion.

Shaking off the thoughts, exhilaration surged through her. She was finally home.

"Ye Zhexia, let's go in," the female officer said gently.

"Okay." Forcing a smile, she stepped toward the courtyard.

Whether it was her brother's wedding or another celebration, the entire compound radiated joy. What perfect timing for her return—a double blessing.

Mom and Dad will be overjoyed to see me!

Her pulse quickened at the thought, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Luxury cars choked the driveway, while the lawn glittered with romantic decor.

Only when she drew closer did the signage become clear: "Engagement Ceremony: Jiang Jiahong & Ye Yutong."

Ye Zhexia's vision blurred as if all the blood in her body had frozen. Her legs trembled weakly, nearly buckling beneath her.

Jiang Jiahong—the young master of the prestigious Jiang family in the capital—was her childhood sweetheart, the man who had once promised to cherish her forever.

And today... he was getting engaged to her younger sister, Ye Yutong?

The man who had vowed eternal devotion was now marrying someone else?

She stood rooted to the spot, lips bitten white, unable to believe what was unfolding before her.

"Miss, your family is inside. You should go in—they'll be overjoyed to see you," the policewoman said gently, noticing her hesitation at the doorway.

But Ye Zhexia remained motionless, her gaze fixed on the poster on the wall, her body trembling faintly as if nailed in place.

Inside the villa, the celebration was in full swing—glasses clinking, laughter ringing, voices rising in merriment.

Just as the guests began cheering for the newly engaged couple to kiss, a sudden shout cut through the noise—

"Ye Zhexia—she's back!"

In an instant, the room fell dead silent. Every head turned toward the entrance, faces slack with shock.

"My God, is that really Ye Zhexia? What happened to her?"

"She looks like she's been living on the streets..."

"Wasn't she kidnapped and sold as a bride in some remote mountain village? How did she even escape?"

"Look—the police brought her back—"

The guests whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with curiosity and disdain.

The strikingly handsome couple locked in an embrace froze in place the moment they spotted the disheveled woman standing in the courtyard.

"Big sister..." Ye Yutong, the adopted daughter, murmured under her breath, her eyes wide with disbelief.

How could Ye Zhexia still be alive?!

Outside the gate, Ye Zhexia stood motionless, indifferent to the strange looks cast her way.

Once upon a time, she had been the most dazzling socialite in the capital, the center of attention wherever she went.

At any high-society event, she radiated elegance and confidence, outshining everyone else effortlessly.

Mention the eldest daughter of the Ye family, and people would immediately raise their thumbs in admiration—she was the treasured jewel of the Ye household, the goddess countless wealthy young men dreamed of.

But all of that came to an abrupt end on that fateful night three years ago.

That evening, she and her younger sister, Ye Yutong, had attended a banquet and stayed out late before heading home.

Midway, their car suddenly suffered a flat tire.

While the driver worked on changing it, the sisters stood nearby, holding a flashlight to help illuminate the scene.

Out of nowhere, a van came barreling toward them, attempting to drag Ye Yutong inside.

Ye Zhexia fought desperately to save her sister, and thankfully, the driver stepped in just in time to rescue Ye Yutong.

But the assailants refused to give up. While the driver was distracted, they threw a sack over Ye Zhexia’s head, shoved her into the van, and sped away.

She naively believed it was just an ordinary kidnapping case—that once the ransom was paid, she'd be home safe and sound.

Little did she know, the perpetrators were part of a professional human trafficking ring, operating across multiple provinces.

After being taken, she was shuttled from place to place, eventually ending up deep in the mountains, lost in the wilderness.

For three long years, she was shackled in a pigpen, living among swine.

She endured countless torments and humiliations, narrowly escaping forced assaults multiple times—only because her so-called "fool of a husband" intervened at the last moment.

She had resigned herself to a life of darkness, convinced she would never escape.

But fate, in the end, showed her mercy.

A nationwide anti-trafficking operation by the police finally rescued her.

Over those three years, she had imagined countless versions of her homecoming—but never this.

What awaited her was her ex-boyfriend and her own younger sister’s engagement party.

An awkward silence hung in the air until a guest finally broke it.

"Zhexia… you’re back?"

Ye Zhexia blinked slowly, tearing her gaze away from the jubilant banners, and forced a faint smile at the aunt who had spoken. "Yes… I’m back."

Another guest chimed in with concern, "You must have suffered so much—look how thin you’ve gotten—"

Before they could finish, a relative nudged them sharply and hissed under their breath, "Why stir up trouble? Rumor has it she’s carrying some contagious disease!"

"I'll just say two things."

The awkward silence was shattered by the hurried arrival of the Ye family.

Yu Wanru, Mrs. Ye, froze in place the moment she spotted her daughter standing at the foot of the steps, her eyes widening in shock.

She took in the sight of her eldest daughter—once beautiful long hair now hacked unevenly into a ragged mess. Her clothes were tattered, her feet stuffed into oversized men’s shoes, and her arms and legs marred with bruises and rope marks, a heartbreaking sight.

Yu Wanru studied the girl before her, emotions churning violently inside her. For a long moment, she stood motionless before finally whispering in a trembling voice, "It's really Zhexia..."

At the sight of the mother she had longed for day and night, Ye Zhexia couldn’t contain her emotions. She took a step forward and cried out, "Mom, I’m finally home!"

When her father and older brother emerged as well, tears welled up in her eyes as she choked out, "Dad... Big Brother..."

Ye Mingsheng gazed at his eldest daughter with a conflicted expression, giving a slight nod. "Mm. You’re back... That’s what matters."

Then he exchanged a glance with his wife.

Both of them were instantly reminded of the day, a year ago, when they had first learned of their daughter’s fate—

The documents their younger daughter had seen at the police station revealed that her sister had been sold into the remote mountains, forced into marriage with men decades older, and had even given birth to a disabled child infected with AIDS.

After that day, Yu Wanru had lost sleep for an entire month, shedding over ten pounds as her tears ran dry.

In the end, after agonizing deliberation—for the sake of the family’s reputation and their own well-being—she had tearfully told the authorities to halt the search.

Yet against all odds, their daughter had still been rescued and brought back.

"Ye Mingsheng, what kind of attitude is this? Your daughter has finally come home, and this is the cold reception she gets?" The lead police officer couldn't hold back his disapproval, his voice sharp with reproach.

In situations like this, families usually waited anxiously at their doorsteps, rushing toward the police car the moment it arrived, embracing their loved ones in tearful reunions that moved everyone present.

But this family's reaction was downright chilling—as if they were looking at a complete stranger.

Only after the officer's reprimand did Ye Mingsheng snap out of his daze, quickly stepping forward with forced warmth. "Officer, thank you for your hard work. It's just... last year, didn't you say there was no hope left?"

Back then, when they had gone to the police station to report her disappearance, the officers had told them that the entire village was tightly knit by blood and marriage, so insular that even the police risked getting beaten if they entered. Women trapped there had almost no chance of escape.

"What are you implying? She’s back safe and sound now—why does it sound like you’re unhappy about it?" The officer shot back, irritation clear in his tone.

"Of course not! We couldn’t be more grateful," Ye Mingsheng hurriedly backtracked, forcing a smile as he took a few steps toward his daughter. "Zhexia... you’re finally home. Your mother and I missed you so much, we’ve been sick with worry—our hair’s turned white from it..."

Ye Zhexia glanced up at her father, noting his thick, jet-black hair without a single strand of gray.

Still, she managed a faint smile and whispered, "I missed you too..."

"Zhexia..." Yu Wanru started to step forward but suddenly caught a whiff of something foul. Instinctively, she lifted a hand to cover her nose.

The reaction pierced Ye Zhexia’s heart.

She knew she reeked—how could she not? After three years sleeping in a pigpen, the stench of filth had seeped into her pores, sunk deep into her bones.

The female officer accompanying her had helped her wash her hair and bathe, but the smell clung stubbornly, impossible to scrub away.

Yu Wanru struggled visibly before finally lowering her hand, forcing an awkward smile. "It’s good to have you back... You’ve suffered so much these years..."

Hearing her mother’s words, Ye Zhexia felt a flicker of comfort, her eyes reddening as the weight of her sorrow and injustice welled up inside her.

The police officer took out his phone. "Come on, let's take a photo together so we can wrap up the case."

Seeing Ye Zhexia's emotional distress, the female officer stepped forward, gently placing an arm around her shoulders. "Take a picture with your family. The nightmare is over now, and everything will get better."

Ye Zhexia took a few steps forward, causing the surrounding onlookers to instinctively retreat slightly.

As for Mr. and Mrs. Ye Mingsheng, their bodies stiffened uncontrollably as their daughter approached, their instincts screaming at them to flee.

But the two officers blocked them on either side, nudging them closer together, effectively cutting off any escape.

"Don’t you still have family here? Come on, let’s get a nice reunion photo," the officer said, waving over the soon-to-be newlyweds, signaling Jiang Jiahong and Ye Yutong to join.

Ye Yutong glanced at Jiang Jiahong, her lips trembling as she whispered fearfully, "Jiahong... I'm scared..."