Pamela silently begged Emma for forgiveness, her eyes still red and swollen from crying.

"Ms. Clark returned and went straight to her room to collect her identification papers and bank cards. Right afterward, she walked out and took a cab. That's everything I know, Mr. Holt. I swear..." Pamela couldn't bear the guilt any longer and slowly sank to the floor.

Shane remained silent, his icy gaze making the air feel heavy.

Charles shot him a quick look and pressed on, "Ms. Clark trusts you more than anyone. How can you have no idea where she went? You're still hiding something from us, Pamela!"

"I swear she didn't tell me where she was going. Maybe... maybe she returned to the Clark Estate!"

She couldn't hold back her tears as she pleaded with Charles. "I've given you every detail I have, Mr. Mitchell. My daughter and her family had nothing to do with this, so please don't go after them. I'll do anything. Just leave them alone!"

Pamela's desperate pleas became too painful for Charles to watch. Eventually, he stepped toward Shane and spoke with respectful caution. "Mr. Holt..."

The room fell silent as Shane's gaze swept over every corner. His jaw tightened, and the fury radiating from him filled the room with crushing pressure. Charles groaned inwardly in frustration. If Emma didn't stay at this house after her release, where else could she have gone?

The lack of answers dragged Shane into an even darker mood. Once he was back in the car, Charles cautiously asked from the front passenger seat, "Would you like me to contact the Clark family and find out if she's with them?"

The city glittered beyond the window while traffic continued along the busy streets. Yet Shane felt nothing but bitter cold and emptiness inside.

Emma had never shared a close bond with her parents. More often than not, they treated each other with open hostility. Even so, she still chose the cold, miserable life at the Clark Estate instead of coming back to him. To Shane, that was the last straw. He'd put up with her defiance long enough.

His eyes turned cold before he gave the order. "Freeze every asset and property registered under her name. Make sure no company is willing to give her a job either."

Sooner or later, Emma would run out of options and come back to plead for his forgiveness.

Charles was stunned by the order. The rearview mirror gave him only a shadowed glimpse of Shane, and his expression remained impossible to read. Even so, the bitter chill inside the car made one thing clear: Shane was truly furious with Emma.

If they carried out that order, Emma would have nowhere left to go. Wouldn't that be forcing her into a corner?

Charles gathered all his courage before speaking up for Emma, though doubt still crept into his voice. "Ms. Clark may only need some time alone after her release. She'll probably come home once she's had a chance to clear her head..."

"Enough, Charles," Shane cut in before he could finish. The warning in Shane's sharp gaze pinned Charles in place. "Do you want me to send you off to join her?"

Charles felt a shiver of unease and forced a weak smile. "I'll take care of it right away, Mr. Holt."

"This is exactly what she deserves," Shane said. His clipped tone held no mercy.

That answer made Charles retreat, and he didn't dare defend Emma again.

Nothing had alerted Emma to what had happened at Seashell Villa after she had left. As the taxi carried them onward, she watched Ellie sleep peacefully in her arms. The sight filled her with tenderness.

Emma brushed a gentle kiss across Ellie's forehead. Relief brought a soft smile to her lips.

Nothing mattered more to her than being there to watch Ellie grow. If life granted her one more wish, she hoped she'd never have to face Shane again.

"Crestview Apartments, miss. This is your stop," the cab driver announced.

Emma climbed out of the cab and held Ellie close. Warm lights glowed across the peaceful complex around them.

A property in Crestview cost tens of millions, but Emma had paid for her unit herself before she was imprisoned.

This was where she and Ellie would build their new life together.

Emma had barely reached the entrance when Ellie's cries shattered the quiet. The baby rarely cried without a reason, so Emma knew she had to be uncomfortable.

One quick check confirmed that Ellie's diaper was soaked through. Emma smiled reassuringly and searched her bag, but she'd already used the final spare.

"Shh, sweetheart. Mommy's going to get you some clean diapers. You'll feel much better in a minute," Emma whispered as she headed toward the upscale supermarket near the complex.

"It's so nice to see you again, Ms. Clark." The clerk welcomed her with a warm smile.

Emma used to live in Crestview before marrying Shane, and she came to this supermarket often. Seeing the clerk recognize her after all these years took her by surprise.

Emma smiled and nodded in response. Keeping Ellie tucked safely in one arm, she used the other to grab a few packs of diapers and some formula. After getting everything she needed, she made her way to the checkout counter.

"That'll be thirty-four thousand."

The supermarket mostly sold high-end imported products, so the prices didn't bother Emma. She pulled out her bank card and handed it to the clerk. The clerk politely swiped it, but the payment didn't go through. With an apologetic look, the clerk gave the card back to her. "I'm sorry, Ms. Clark, but this card doesn't seem to be working."

Since the card had gone unused for so long, Emma blamed the problem on a damaged magnetic strip. Concern never crossed her mind as she continued calming Ellie and tried every other card in her bag. The terminal rejected every card, which caught her off guard.

"I'm afraid every card you've tried has been frozen, Ms. Clark," the clerk murmured.

The clerk's words made Emma clutch the cards harder. Her face lost all color. Shock locked her in place, and she couldn't move.

Shane had to be the one behind this!

His ruthlessness went beyond anything Emma had expected. He'd known she was getting out today, yet he'd chosen that exact moment to cut off her access to every account. Why would he do this to her? Hadn't eighteen months behind bars for a crime she didn't commit already been punishment enough?

The clerk's face softened with concern. Emma's eyes were red from holding back tears, while Ellie kept crying in discomfort. The heartbreaking sight of the mother and child stirred the clerk's sympathy.

Dressed in plain clothes, Emma looked worn out and exhausted. It was clear she had been through difficult times. The clerk let out a quiet sigh and reached beneath the counter. She took out a few sample packs of diapers and two cans of formula, then handed them to Emma.

"You don't need to pay for any of this, Ms. Clark. They're free samples, so please take them."

The clerk's kindness brought fresh tears to Emma's eyes. Her situation left no room for pride, so she accepted the supplies.

Emma struggled to steady her voice. "I can't thank you enough."

By the time Emma headed home, it was already eleven that night. The late-autumn air was cold and damp, and a sudden gust cut through Emma's clothes.

Emma hugged Ellie closer each time the wind blew, trying to keep the cold away from her. She couldn't stop sighing as she walked home.

Shane had locked her out of every account she owned. How was she supposed to care for Ellie now? Could they possibly survive with no income and no savings left?