“How much did Jason Miller and Emily Brooks pay you to keep such a close eye on me?”

“Did they tell you to guard me today, to make sure I wouldn’t leave the ward or use a phone or anything electronic?”

Her face turned pale instantly. She stammered,

“Miss Evans, what do you mean by that? Are you accusing me of bad intentions? I’m just a caretaker. Mr. Miller paid me to look after you—what’s so strange about that? Not letting you use electronics was for your own good. You—”

She suddenly froze, her eyes wide with disbelief, as if she’d seen a ghost.

The bandages were completely gone. There wasn’t a single scar on my face or body.

Her voice trembled in shock.

“You… weren’t you disfigured? You… you faked it? But why?”

I looked at her coldly.

“You’ll find out soon enough. Today is Emily Brooks’s twenty-fifth birthday. The Brooks family is throwing her a grand birthday party. I hear she’ll even announce her fiancé to everyone.”

“And who is her fiancé, I wonder? Such a mystery.”

“You’re Jason’s cousin, aren’t you? Then you must know where Jason is right now.”

She looked terrified but kept denying it.

I said flatly,

“These bodyguards—they’re from the Brooks family. Don’t you wonder why they treat me with such respect?”

Her fear deepened, mixed now with confusion.

I didn’t explain further. Instead, I ordered the bodyguards to escort her to the Brooks family estate.

Dr. David Harris, the physician who had helped me remove the bandages, looked at me nervously but expectantly. I smiled and said,

“Thank you for forging the medical records for me. I haven’t forgotten my promise. Since you broke hospital regulations, you’ll likely be punished. Hand in your resignation today. The Brooks family’s largest private hospital is still looking for a deputy director—you can start there tomorrow.”

Dr. Harris’s voice shook with gratitude.

“Thank you, Miss Evans—oh no, I should say, Miss Brooks from now on!”

I nodded with a smile.

“Come with me to the estate. You’ll testify about everything Jason Miller and Emily Brooks did during my hospital stay.”

Dr. Harris patted his chest firmly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell everyone exactly what they tried to do behind closed doors.”

Half an hour later, we arrived at the Brooks family estate.

The estate was brightly lit and full of festive decorations. The place bustled with guests—relatives, friends, and business partners of the Brooks family.

We didn’t enter through the main gate but slipped in through the back.

In the front courtyard, guests gathered merrily.

Jason stood beside Emily, chatting and smiling as they greeted the guests.

When people saw Emily holding onto Jason’s arm, many whispered curiously among themselves.

“Why is the Brooks family throwing such an extravagant party just for Emily’s twenty-fifth birthday?”

“I heard she’s going to introduce her fiancé. Could it be the man next to her?”

“The man next to Emily Brooks is Jason Miller. I heard he was her classmate back in Columbia University. Emily once tried to bring him home, but Mr. and Mrs. Brooks seemed dissatisfied with him.”

“I’ve heard of Jason Miller too. He’s smooth with people but comes from an average family—far beneath someone like Emily, a wealthy heiress. What’s strange is, why didn’t Mr. and Mrs. Brooks stop them this time?”

“I also heard Jason already had a girlfriend, and they were even planning to get married. But then she got into a car accident, was disfigured, and hospitalized. I don’t know if it’s true.”

As the guests whispered among themselves, Jason and Emily were happily greeting their friends.

One of their friends spoke with admiration,

“True love always finds a way! You two dated back in college, but Emily’s family didn’t approve, so you had to break up. And now, the Brooks family finally accepts you. It’s like the clouds have parted and the moon shines through. We must drink and celebrate tonight!”

“Emily’s family clearly values this marriage, otherwise they wouldn’t throw such a lavish celebration today.”

“Jason, you’d better treat Emily well from now on. If she suffers even a bit of grievance, none of us will let you off.”

While Jason and Emily were basking in the blessings, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks entered the hall.

Emily quickly pulled Jason over, pouting in mock complaint,

“Mom, Dad, why are you so late? All the guests are here already. Everyone’s been waiting anxiously.”

Mr. Brooks glanced coldly at the two without responding.

Mrs. Brooks said flatly,

“Good things are worth waiting for. What’s the rush?”

Sensing their disapproval, Emily hurriedly explained,

“Mom, Dad, do you still object to Jason? We agreed already—I’m grown up now and have the right to pursue my happiness. You can’t control my marriage like before! Please, not in front of so many guests—don’t embarrass me!”

Jason quickly added,

“Uncle, Aunt, please rest assured. I will devote myself fully to Emily. In my heart, there will never be another woman. I’ll never betray her in this lifetime. If I ever do, may I be struck by lightning—”

Before he could finish his oath, Mrs. Brooks interrupted coldly,

“Jason Miller, I heard you were close with another woman before. Her name was Rachel Evans. Is that true?”

Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. All eyes turned curiously toward Jason.

A flash of panic crossed his face, but he forced calmness and said,

“Aunt, Rachel Evans is just like a sister to me. She grew up in a small town in the Midwest, an orphan with no one to rely on. Emily pitied her and treated her like a sister, so naturally, I did too. That’s all.”

Emily jumped in anxiously,

“Mom, did someone feed you lies about Jason? Those are malicious rumors. I can guarantee Jason and Rachel had no relationship. He only cared for her because I did, nothing more. Some people twisted it into gossip—it’s disgusting.”