The surrounding onlookers all looked at me with sympathy.[]
Those who had thrown vegetables and stones at me came to apologize.
Everyone in the livestream was speaking up for me, feeling indignant on my behalf.
To support me, they even flooded my company’s livestream channel, buying our products.]
Jimmy and the others were taken away.
Shortly after they were taken away, the two kidnappers were also caught by the police.]
The kidnappers provided their chat records with Jimmy and the others.
With all the evidence, Jimmy and his accomplices could no longer escape legal punishment.
They could only quietly serve their time in prison for rehabilitation
However, there’s also a hierarchy of contempt in prison.]
People like them who cheated and caused the death of their own daughter would inevitably receive some special “treatment” inside.
Though my mother–in–law didn’t go to prison, she became depressed and deranged because of her son’s imprisonment.
So I sent her to a mental hospital.]]
As for what happens to the three of them afterward, it’s no longer muy concern.
These past dozen–years, the husband wasn’t really a husband, the Sister wasn’t really a Sister, and the daughter wasn’t really a daughter.
But what does it matter now?
My life will only get better from here on.
Because I will always have wealth and the courage to start anew.
Chapter 1: Deciding to Leave
“Justin, I’ve made up my mind. I accept your proposal.” [
On the other end of the line. Justin Roberts’s voice was filled with delight. “Emilia, am I dreaming? Are you really willing to come to France and live with me?”
Emilia Parker replied with a calm “Mlum.”
“Great! Emilia, I’ll prepare all the visa documents for you right away. You’ll just need to do an embassy interview, and it should be ready in about two weeks.” Justin could hardly contain the excitement in his voice. The girl he had loved for seven years had finally agreed to marry him![]
Emilia hung up after acknowledging him.
She slowly walked to the floor–to–ceiling window. The sunset outside painted the sky in hues of blood red.
Her thoughts drifted to the call she had received yesterday from the prison–a cold, detached voice informing her of her father’s death.
Her father, who had spent so many years behind those high walls, likely hadn’t seen such a beautiful sunset in a long time.
Emilia silently returned to her tiny nanny room, barely six square meters in size. There was a narrow single bed, a small desk, and no windows.
Most of the remaining space was taken up by several boxes. Emilia crouched down and began to slowly organize them.
These boxes held the remnants of her past with Timothy Stewart: photo albums of the two of them, dolls he had gifted her, and stacks of letters that once made her blush and her heart race.
Years of their acquaintance and love had been reduced to just a few small boxes.
At the bottom of one box, Emilia found a velvet ring box. She gently opened it, and the light reflecting off its contents stung her eyes.
It was the engagement ring Timothy had given her three years ago when he proposed. []
The Parker and Stewart families had been close for generations. Emilia and Timothy grew up together, and their families had arranged their marriage early on. I
Three years ago, after both graduated from university, they naturally began preparing for their wedding.
But fate often strikes without warning. I
John Parker, her father, had leaked confidential information about a major project he was working on with the Stewart Group to a competitor, causing the Stewarts to lose a critical client and suffer heavy losses.
Wells Stewart, Timothy’s father, was so enraged by the betrayal of his longtime friend that he suffered a heart attack and passed away.
John Parker was convicted of corporate espionage and sentenced to five years in prison, with all the Parker family’s assers
confiscated.
In a flash, both families crumbled.
Emilia would never forget the way Timothy looked at her that day. His gaze, once tender and affectionate, was now filled with searing hatred.
He had thrown the engagement ring into the river with a bitter finality and said, enunciating each word: “Emilia, I’ll make you pay for this!
After Timothy left, Emilia spent three days and nights hiring people to retrieve that ring from the river.
She didn’t believe her father, who had always taught her to value integrity, could betray his friend.
She waited–waited for her father’s name to be cleared and for the day she and Timothy could reconcile.
So when Timothy came back into her life, now firmly established, and made his humiliating offer, she barely hesitated before agreeing.
She became his servant, enduring his coldness, waiting for the truth to come out and for their love to be restored.
For three years, Timothy never dated anyone else. Not even a single rumor surfaced.
Naively. Emilia thought it was because he still had feelings for her.
Though he was cold and distant, though he ordered her around without a hint of warmth, she thought it was just because he couldn’t let go of his anger.
Someday, the truth would be revealed, and they would mend their broken relationship. I
But two weeks ago, Timothy publicly announced that he was dating Sarah Murphy. []
Sarah, the stunningly beautiful daughter of one of the Stewart Group’s key benefactors, quickly became a fixture in Timothy’s life.
The first time Timothy brought Sarah home, Emilia felt as though she couldn’t breathe. Her entire body trembled, and she almost collapsed. I
She lied to herself, saying it didn’t matter, that Timothy was just playing along and they would soon break up.
But Sarali started staying over at the Stewart household.
Late at night. Emilia lay awake in her tiny room. tormented by the faint sounds of laughter from the master bedroom. [
[]
Her heart sank hit by bit, and something inside her seemed to shatter, irreparably. I
For the first time, the thought of leaving crossed her mind. But whenever she thought of her father in prison, she couldn’t bring herself to act.
Then came yesterday’s phone call. []
At that moment, Emilia realized there was nothing left to keep her here.
Chapter 2: The Lavender Necklace
A soft click of the door pulled Emilia back to reality.
Timothy had returned.
Emilia hurried to the entrance, grabbed a pair of slippers from the cabinet, and knelt down to help Timothy change into them.
buried to the entrance,
Kneeling–this was one of Timothy’s specific demands.
He glanced around the room, frowning. “You didn’t cook?”
Since Emilia became a servant in the Stewart household, Timothy had dismissed all the other staff, keeping only Bob and the driver. All the chores were left to Emilia alone.
Emilia’s body trembled. She had completely forgotten! Ever since yesterday’s phone call, her mind had been in chaos, unable. to focus on anything.
In a timid voice, she said, “I’m sorry, I’ll go cook right now.” I
Timothy’s tone remained icy. “Forget it. I’m sick of your cooking anyway. Tell Bob to call my usual restaurant and have them deliver dinner tonight.
“Yes, Mr. Stewart, Emilia replied softly. “Your loungewear is ready. I’ll go wash the clothes you changed out of.”
Timothy’s dark eyes flickered slightly.
For the past three years, no matter how many times he rejected her or lost his temper, Emilia always insisted on calling him Timothy,
Today, she had switched to “Mr. Stewart,” and it gave him an inexplicable sense of distance.
Something about Emilio seemed different.
Later that evening, Emilia approached Timothy and requested a half–day off for the next day.
Timothy’s brows furrowed, and his expression darkened.
“What could you possibly have to do? Are you going to visit your murderer father again?”
Whenever Emilia visited Jolin in prison, she had to do so in secret, or she would face Timothy’s wrath.
“No, tomorrow is my mother’s death anniversary. I want to visit her grave.”
Timothy’s expression softened.
Fine, I’ll go with you to the cemetery tomorrow.” [
Emilia wanted to refuse, but Timothy didn’t give her the chance to speak.
This isn’t for you–it’s for your mother. She was always kind to me when I was a child. I’m not an ungrateful person.”
y rest.”
“That’s all. Leave now, and don’t disturb my
Emilia lowered her gaze and quietly left the room. [
The next day, as Timothy and Emilia were about to leave, they ran into Sarah.
Sarah cheerfully linked her arm with Timothy’s and kissed him on the cheek. “Timothy, where are you two going?” I
Emilia’s gaze landed on the diamond necklace around Sarah’s neck. The pendant was shaped like a lavender flower–uniquely elegant.
It was the necklace Timothy had gifted Emilia years ago.
Knowing her love for lavender, Timothy had commissioned a top designer to create the necklace just for her. He had said it was one of a kind, just like her.
Emilia had adored the necklace, wearing it every day.
Until three years ago, when Timothy, his eyes blazing with fury, ripped it from her neck. The delicate chain cut into her skin, leaving a mark of blood.
“You don’t deserve this necklace,” he had said coldly.
Remembering this, Emilia lowered her head silently.
Timothy seemed a little uneasy. I’m taking her out to handle something.”
Sarah, with her bright, sparkling eyes, clung to his arm and pouted. “Timothy, you promised to go dress shopping with me today. Did you forget?”
Emilia spoke up at the right moment. “Mr. Stewart, you should accompany Miss Murphy. I can go by myself.”
“Til drive you.”
“Timothy, I already scheduled an appointment with the shopkeeper. If we’re late, we’ll miss it,” Sarah said, continuing to pout playfully.
Timothy hesitated for a moment before saying, “Alright, we’ll head out first. Be careful on your way.”
Emilia nodded.
At that moment, she realized her heart no longer
