I hurled the box to the floor with all my might. I did it over and over again, using all the strength I could muster.

Even after the lock broke and the lid popped open, I didn't stop.

At last, I was able to express every bit of anger and resentment that had built up over the last few years. I only stopped when I was completely spent. Breathing heavily, I picked up the stack of papers that had scattered all over the floor.

There were a few fake medical records. The rest of the documents were records of property and car purchases. There were also a few documents that I couldn't make heads or tails of.

Dad walked toward me and took a good look at the documents, then scoffed. "He actually invested in a hospital?"

A hospital?

I lowered my gaze and flipped through the pages.

The hospital that Marcus had invested in shared the same name as the one Victoria was currently staying in. It was no wonder she could stay there for so long, even though she was perfectly healthy.

Despite having to go through a roundabout method, my hard-earned money had ended up in Marcus' and Victoria's pockets.

He had been lying to me this entire time.

I sat on the bed, my head hanging low.

Tears welled up in Mom's and Dad's eyes as they took in how defeated I looked.

"Let's go. Come home with us. Who the hell does that Wilde bastard think he is? How dare he lie to you? I'm going to take everything from him!"

They were beyond furious, but I simply shook my head.

Truth be told, I wasn't upset. If anything, I was glad that I could finally see Marcus for who he really was.

I was just feeling a little tired. I had spent the last five years working myself to the bone, like a machine that would never exhaust itself. I was so tired that all I wanted to do at that moment was sleep for three days and three nights.

My parents hastily booked a room in the best hotel that was nearby upon hearing my words.

It was a suite that had multiple rooms. While I slept in one of the rooms, my parents waited for me in another room.

I slept for a long time.

The sun had set thrice by the time I was jolted fully awake by the piercing sound of my ringtone.

It was Marcus. The moment I answered the call, he started berating me.

"Have you lost your mind, Emily? How many days of work have you missed? Your boss called me because he couldn't reach you. How are we supposed to pay for Mom's medical bills if you don't work? Do you want to be the murderer responsible for Mom's death?"

His words were extremely harsh. He even labeled me as a murderer at the end of his rant.

I nearly burst out laughing.

"Where are you, Marcus?" I asked.

Marcus paused. There was a nearly indiscernible tremor in his voice that I managed to pick up on when he replied, "Where else would I be? I'm working because you skipped work! I'm not ungrateful like you!"

I hummed in response before saying, "Send me the location of your workplace. I'll come look for you."

He went quiet for a moment, then sounded a little panicked as he demanded, "Why do you want to look for me? You should be going to work instead! In fact, I found a new job for you. A barbecue restaurant near our home is looking to hire a waitress. Hurry and head over there right now.

"Anyway, I can't talk right now. I'm hanging up."

Although he ended the call in a rush, I could hear a young voice calling him "Daddy" on the other end of the line.

My lips twitched as my heart turned hollow.

I knew where Marcus was.

I left the room and took my parents' fiercest bodyguards with me as I rushed over to Marcus' newly-purchased home.

The luxury apartment was located in Empire Gardens—an 18-story building with only a single unit on every floor.

Marcus had hung a banner on the door to celebrate moving in.

I smirked as I tore it down before ordering the bodyguards to kick the door open.

The deafening noise of the door slamming open caused the people inside to shriek in terror.

I strode into the apartment while they were still caught off-guard by the sudden intrusion. When I finally made eye contact with Marcus, who had gone deathly pale, I said, "Congratulations on your new place, Marcus."