Since Oscar said it, too, I didn't hesitate any longer and took it off around my neck before handing it to Evie. She took it in great delight and put it on eagerly.

I complimented her and said, "It looks better on you. This, and the man, now both belong to you."

Then, I left without looking back again, sure in my steps.

…

Ingrid and I were locked in our room for three days and nights without any food or water. We weren't allowed out of the room at all.

I could still hold on, but Ingrid couldn't. She was so hungry that she cried from her stomach pains, and I was sent into great rage. I slammed my fists against the door and demanded attention.

Nancy only went to get Oscar when she realized that I wasn't going to let up anytime soon.

I glared at Oscar, looking as smug and unbothered as a mouse in a barn. However, I forced myself to hold my anger back and discuss it civilly with him.

"I was the one who threw the glass. You can punish me, but Ingrid is still a kid. She shouldn't be dragged into this. Give her some food."

Oscar just sighed and took out a bottle of milk before putting it on the table.

"Drink some milk to stave off the hunger. I was the one who doled out the punishment, so I must keep to my word. Otherwise, I will lose my authority in this house."

I looked at him in shock, feeling helpless and frustrated.

"Oscar Ramsay! She is just a child! Are you seriously telling her to survive off a bottle of milk for three days? Your conscience really allows that, huh?"

Oscar frowned and averted his eyes before answering, "But you didn't teach her to behave properly. This is a lesson for both of you."

I suddenly understood that there was no point arguing with him anymore because of how cold he was looking at me. I laughed. I laughed so hard until I cried, and then suddenly, I couldn't stop crying. My tears kept flowing down my cheeks like a burst dam.

When Oscar saw that I was crying, he actually came up to me and hugged me.

"Just be patient, Aurora. Wait for me. I will marry you after I've settled everything, but you need to put up with some hardships first."

I didn't believe him. I'd heard too many of such empty promises in the past, and I was already sick of hearing them.

He'd lied to me far too often. I wasn't going to believe him anymore.

He reached up to wipe my tears away. I tried to avoid him and struggled against his hold.

He then grabbed me to stop me from moving at all. Then, he sighed and said, "Be good and stop causing trouble. You are the only person I love.

"Give me some more time until after she's given birth to the baby and I've taken over the position of heir and inherited the company. Everything will be better."

I was numb all over and just let him hug me. Whatever. It was useless for me to continue wasting my breath on a man who was adamant about playing dumb.

When he saw that I had calmed down, he thought that he'd managed to comfort me and left afterward. I slid to the floor weakly, like a puppet who'd just had all her strings severed.

Ingrid walked toward me and carefully hugged my neck with her little hands. She buried her head in my chest and said softly in a nasal voice, "Mommy, I'm not hungry. I won't eat anything. Let's not want Daddy anymore. Okay?"

I quickly snapped back to my senses and hugged her back tightly. Ingrid continued sobbing quietly in my arms, sounding as if she'd made up her mind about something important.

"I only want you, Mommy. I want to leave this place with Mommy."

I nodded hard and quickly got rid of the sorrow in my heart. Then, I broke into a smile. Oscar can stay out of our lives. I had more than enough if I had Ingrid with me.

The day we were finally released from our prison was the day Oscar and Evie were getting married at a church. Their wedding was even livestreamed online.

Ingrid still looked upset when she saw Oscar kissing Evie on the screen. "Mommy, why is Daddy getting married to someone else? Aren't you Daddy's wife?"

I covered Ingrid's eyes and smiled bitterly.

"That's because Daddy doesn't love Mommy."

Oscar may not have known this, but I never cared whether outsiders knew about who I was. I didn't even care about his money or his wealth. I only cared about whether or not he loved me.

Now that he had obviously changed his mind, I decided not to love him anymore. I was going to bring Ingrid with me and leave him forever.

After leaving, I sent a final text message to Oscar to officially end our relationship. "Oscar, congratulations on your wedding. Let's never meet again ever."