Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David) novel Chapter 3

Danielle stood motionless, surveying the explosion of pink surrounding her.

"If this isn't your style, darling..." Vivian twisted her hands. "I'll have a designer come immediately to redo everything exactly as you'd like."

"It's fine," Danielle said quietly. The princess theme made her want to run screaming, but her mother's hopeful expression stopped the words in her throat.

"We'll let you have a little rest in your room," Vivian said, stroking Danielle's hair.

The couple went downstairs to prepare their daughter's gift, anxiety gnawing at them as they worried whether it would meet her expectations.

Once alone, Danielle unpacked her few belongings and called Emery. "I'm in Soufield now. Meeting the Charrington family tomorrow."

"Wait, what? When did you— Where are you staying? Let me pick you up! I should come with—" Emery shot questions at her.

"Today. I have a place. Going alone." She hung up mid-protest.

Her next call was equally brief. "Need more Heart Elixir Pills. Stock check?"

A piercing female squeal answered, "Danielle! I'll deliver them right now! When did you get here? Where—"

"Tomorrow. Got a place to stay. No delivery." She disconnected before her eardrum could shatter.

Heart Elixir Pills were her creation, remarkably effective in treating heart disease, using an ultra-rare herb from Valley of Healing. Their scarcity had driven prices through the roof.

Her phone buzzed again at that moment.

"Danielle, jackpot!" Jason Carter's voice came through. "Some whale just cleared out our entire Soufield inventory—clothes, shoes, bags, and jewels. Everything. They specifically requested custom designs from you for their daughter."

"I'll sketch something soon," Danielle replied coolly.

"Perfect! I'm heading to their mansion now. Can't wait to see what Daddy's Little Princess looks like."

"You're delivering personally?"

"For an order this size? You bet. Though who drops that kind of cash in one go? Absolutely rich fools!"

Danielle frowned after hanging up. A complete inventory buyout seemed excessive. No wonder Jason had called them rich fools.

Meanwhile, luxury brand executives of Soulfield converged on the Treeside Villa, their stores stripped bare by a single buyer.

A servant's knock interrupted Danielle's sketching. "Miss Darling, your parents request your presence."

"Each piece is a unique creation from our visionary designer, who poured her heart and soul into these designs," Jason gushed, conveniently omitting that said designer stood before him. "They're starting at 150 thousand dollars, and they sell out instantly—pure genius!"

Danielle suppressed a wince. She'd just profited enormously from her own parents.

"Get yourself whatever you'd like," Joseph said, offering a black card. "It's a small welcome gift."

"Thank you, Joseph. But I have money," Danielle said quietly.

"Let me spoil my sister." Joseph's tone brooked no argument.

"Okay then. Thanks a lot," she conceded gracefully.

In a shadowy corner, a maid watched the warm family scene and made a call. "Miss Audrey Darling, your parents found their real daughter. Bought out half of the luxury row for her. Mr. Joseph Darling gave her his black card. When will you return?"

"Soon. I'll bring you something nice," Audrey replied, her saccharine tone masking fury.

"Thanks. I'll keep watching everything!" the maid promised eagerly.

Hanging up the phone, Audrey's elegant mask cracked. The real Darling daughter's return had blindsided her completely. 'I won't lose what's mine,' she vowed, manicured nails cutting crescents into her palms.