The rain poured relentlessly, blurring Emma’s vision as she tried to find her way down the mountain.

Suddenly, she missed a step.

Her foot slipped.

She fell hard, her body crashing against a tree.

Pain exploded through her, and before she could react, darkness consumed her.

The sharp scent of disinfectant pulled her back to consciousness.

Emma’s eyelids fluttered open.

The sterile white ceiling greeted her.

The moment she realized where she was, she reached for her phone.

“Book me a flight to Canada.”

She couldn't stay here any longer!

Just then, the hospital room door swung open.

Mike and Jeff walked in.

“What flight? Where are you going?”

Emma’s fingers tightened around her phone.

She hung up the call immediately and forced a smile.

“I’ve been feeling down lately. Thought I’d take a trip to clear my head.”

She tilted her head slightly, her tone light.

“Why? Do you want to come with me?”

It was a question, but Mike heard something else entirely.

He and Jeff had stayed in Boston for one reason—waiting for Emilly’s return.

And now, she was coming back soon.

How could he possibly leave Emma?

But something about this didn’t sit right.

Emma never talked about traveling.

She was either at home or at work.

Why was she suddenly planning a trip?

Mike’s brows furrowed.

Was she upset because they had abandoned her on the mountain yesterday?

That thought made his expression darken.

“When did we say you could leave?” His voice was sharp. “Cancel the ticket.”

Jeff chimed in, his tone equally firm.

“Emma, what did you promise us before? You said you’d stay with us forever.”

Back then, after agreeing to be Emilly’s substitute, Emma had followed them around shamelessly, vowing to replace her and never leave.

But now that Emilly was returning…

Did that promise still mean anything?

Of course not.

Emma wasn’t foolish enough to tell them that.

Right now, her priority was dispelling their suspicions.

Lowering her gaze, she moved her fingers quickly, canceling the ticket before flashing a small smile.

“It’s done,” she said. “The ticket is canceled.”

The tension in the room eased.

Both men smiled.

Jeff placed a bag of fresh fruit on the bedside table and sat down beside her, trying to sound appeasing.

“Alright, Mike and I were wrong yesterday. We shouldn’t have left you alone on that mountain.”

His tone softened.

“Don’t be mad. How about I take you to see Ella?”

Emma’s posture straightened instantly.

Surprise flickered in her eyes.

“You’re not lying to me?”

Since the Knapp family’s downfall, her parents had taken their own lives.

The only family she had left was Ella Knapp, her younger sister.

But Ella had always been in fragile health, confined to a hospital under the watch of Mike and Jeff.

Emma hadn’t seen her in a long time.

She knew this was a manipulation tactic—one hit, then a sweet reward.

Still, she desperately wanted to see Ella.

And Mike and Jeff kept their word.

As soon as Emma was discharged from the hospital, they took her straight to see her sister.

The moment she stepped into the hospital room, her heart clenched.

“Ella, why have you lost so much weight?”

Ella had been born with a congenital heart condition.

Her health had always been fragile.

Emma had assumed Mike and Jeff would take good care of her.

But now, looking at her, she realized she had been terribly wrong.

Ella looked even more frail—her skin paler, her frame thinner.

She was lying on the hospital bed, struggling to sit up.

“Sis,” Ella said softly, her voice laced with worry.

“I should be the one asking you. Why haven’t you come to see me for so long?”

Her brows furrowed.

“The creditors… have they been coming after you again?”

She had always known how much weight Emma carried on her shoulders.

When the Knapp family was thriving, Emma had nowhere to be found.

But when everything crumbled, when their family name became synonymous with disgrace, Emma was the one left standing.

Bearing it all.

Alone.

Emma swallowed the lump in her throat.

She couldn’t let Ella worry.

She shook her head.

But Ella’s sharp eyes caught something—bruises.

Faint blue and purple marks peeking through her sleeves.

Her breath hitched.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Sis…”

Her voice trembled.

In the next second, she threw herself into Emma’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Sis, are you okay? Have they been treating you badly?"

Ella wasn’t naive.

She knew Mike and Jeff only had eyes for Emilly.

The only reason Emma had stayed by their side was because, at some point, they had treated her well.

But now, looking at her—tired, worn down, a shadow of her former self—Ella knew the truth.

Emma hadn’t been living well under Mike and Jeff’s control.

She had suffered.

The thought of it made Ella’s chest tighten, and in Emma’s arms, she sobbed uncontrollably.

At that moment, countless memories flooded Emma’s mind—years of being abandoned, of being forced into submission, of hoping, only to be let down.

Once, she had dreamed of a future with one of them.

But now, it was time to wake up.

“Ella,” Emma said softly, “do you want to leave with me?”

If she left alone, Mike and Jeff would surely retaliate against Ella.

She had to take her sister with her.

But before Ella could respond, the hospital room door swung open.

Mike and Jeff stepped inside.

“What are you two talking about?”

Ella sniffled and quickly tried to cover up the conversation.

“Mr. Ray, it’s nothing. I just haven’t seen my sister in so long. I got emotional.”

Mike narrowed his eyes.

“Really?”

His gaze shifted to Emma.

She stood beside Ella, her expression calm, unreadable.

Yet he was sure he had heard something about leaving.

Had he imagined it?

After a long pause, Mike let his guard down.

“Alright, time’s up. We should go.”

“Wait,” Emma said suddenly.

“I want to discharge Ella early.”

She had anticipated their suspicion.

That’s why she brought it up now—before they could think too much about it.

The timing was perfect.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Mike and Jeff tense.

“Why?”

Emma thought fast.

“Emilly hates the Knapp family. If she finds out you’ve been taking care of Ella behind her back, she’ll be furious.”

At the mention of Emilly, their expressions darkened.

Jeff hesitated only a moment before nodding.

“Fine. I’ll have someone take care of it now.”

Emma let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

Of course.

The moment Emilly was involved, no matter how small the risk, they acted immediately.

But that worked in her favor.

At least she didn’t have to fight them on this.

Once the discharge papers were signed, Emma left the hospital with Ella.

When they arrived home, she immediately sensed something was wrong.

The house was empty.

She entered the passcode on the door—

Invalid.

Her stomach dropped.

They had changed the code.

She tried again. And again.

Nothing.

Heart pounding, she grabbed her phone and called Mike.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Each time, the call went unanswered, the cold, mechanical voice of the operator ringing in her ears.

She switched to Jeff.

Same result.

Frustrated, she scrolled through social media—and there they were.

Both of them, were at the same party.

Emma’s jaw clenched.

She checked the location and immediately set off.

When she arrived, she found the private lounge door slightly ajar.

Laughter spilled from inside—loud, drunken voices, teasing, mocking.

“I heard Ella was discharged?” a woman’s voice sneered.

“Mike, you do remember that Emilly despises the Knapp family, don’t you? Yet you’ve been protecting Ella this whole time?”

There was a pause before the woman laughed again.

“Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for Emma?”

It was Emilly’s former best friend, her tone dripping with amusement.

Mike scoffed.

“Fallen for her? Don’t be ridiculous. She’s just a substitute.”

“Really?” someone else chimed in, their voice taunting.

“We won’t believe it unless you prove it. Stop Ella’s medication.”

The room erupted into cheers.

Hearing those words, Emma's eyes turned bloodshot, and cold sweat broke out on her back.

She knew all too well—when it came to Emilly, Mike and Jeff wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice anyone.

And sure enough, to prove himself, Jeff reached for his phone, ready to call the hospital.

Emma’s heart pounded. Without thinking, she pushed the door open and burst in.

“No!” she shouted.

Ella was still in recovery and heavily reliant on her medication. If her treatment was suddenly stopped, the consequences would be devastating.

The room fell into a stunned silence as all eyes turned to her.

Mike frowned. “Why are you here?”

Emma’s mind reeled with the thought of what they had nearly done. Her fists clenched, but she forced herself to remain calm.

“Ella’s medication cannot be stopped,” she said firmly.

The woman who had made the cruel suggestion smirked.

“Oh? Since when does a mere substitute get to give orders?” She chuckled mockingly before glancing at the table. “Fine. Do you want to keep the medication? Then drink every glass of wine here. How about that?”

The rich boys around them immediately joined in, egging her on.

Emma’s jaw tightened.

She knew exactly what this woman was trying to do—humiliate her, push her into a corner.

These spoiled brats had never valued human life. They enjoyed the spectacle, the thrill of control.

And the alcohol on the table wasn’t just any liquor—it was high-proof, dangerous even in small amounts.

Forget an entire table; just a few glasses could be fatal.

Emma locked eyes with the woman, unflinching.

She had no choice.

Without hesitation, she grabbed a glass and downed it in one go.

Then another.

And another.

The sharp bitterness burned down her throat, spreading like fire in her stomach. She fought against the nausea rising inside her, her hands trembling as she forced herself to keep drinking.

The room watched in eerie silence as she drained cup after cup.

By the time she finished the last one, her vision swam. Her head spun violently, and before she could steady herself—

She collapsed.

Heat surged through her body. Her face was flushed deep red, tinged with purple, while her lips turned pale and trembled uncontrollably.

She struggled to lift her gaze to the people lounging on the sofas.

"Are you satisfied now?" she rasped, her voice hoarse. "Remember your promise."

With unsteady steps, she turned and stumbled toward the door, barely managing to push it open before staggering out.

The moment the door shut behind her—

Her strength gave out.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

In her delirium, she thought she saw Mike’s figure, his face filled with panic.

Heard Jeff calling her name, his voice unusually anxious.

I must be hallucinating, Emma thought. I must have drunk myself to death.

When she opened her eyes again, all she saw was a blindingly white ceiling.

The familiar, sterile scent of disinfectant filled her nose.

She sat up slowly, scanning the room.

Only a nurse was there, changing her IV drip.

No Mike. No Jeff.

Emma let out a bitter laugh.

Of course.

Thinking of last night, she immediately called Ella’s doctor.

When she heard that Ella’s condition had improved and that Mike and Jeff hadn’t stopped the medication, she finally exhaled in relief.

At least for now, Ella was safe.

When Emma returned home, she found Mike and Jeff waiting for her in the living room.

“You’re back.” Jeff smiled. “I asked Aunt Payton to make some tonic soup and your favorite dishes. Come have some.”

He stepped forward, reaching for her—

Emma stepped back.

Her expression was cold, distant. “No need.”

The warmth on their faces instantly froze.

They had prepared a meal today as a way to smooth things over.

But not only did Emma refuse to accept it, she was completely shutting them out.

Mike and Jeff exchanged glances, their expressions darkening.

Still, remembering what had happened yesterday, they forced themselves to hold back.

“Emma, we know you were upset,” Mike said carefully. “But don’t worry, we wouldn’t actually gamble with Ella’s life.”

Emma looked at them, her gaze unreadable.

Really?

But if I hadn’t shown up last night, the call would’ve already been made.

And maybe right now, Ella would be fighting for her life in the ICU.

She wasn’t a fool—she knew the two men in front of her were just trying to coax her.

“Well, I’m a little tired. I’ll go upstairs and rest.”

Emma’s tone remained indifferent, unwilling to entertain them any further.

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked upstairs alone.

The moment she stepped into her room, her phone buzzed with a message from a former business partner of the Knapp family.

“Tonight, Knapp’s mother’s relics will be exhibited at the Boston auction.”

Emma’s grip tightened around the phone.

It was a necklace made of sea crystal—not worth much of monetary value, but priceless to her.

It was the last thing Knapp’s mother had left behind before she passed away.

For Emma, it carried deep significance.

Without hesitation, she transferred all the money left in her account.

Ten thousand.

If something belonged to the Knapp family, most people would stay away from it.

Maybe…she just maybe, she had a chance to get it.

Holding onto that slim hope, Emma grabbed her coat and left.

The two men downstairs were nowhere to be seen, but she didn’t care.

She hailed a taxi and headed straight for the auction.

The venue was packed with the city’s elite, each attendee wearing a mask.

One by one, the auctioned items were sold, until finally—

Knapp’s mother’s necklace was brought onto the stage.

As Emma had expected, the starting price wasn’t high, and no one placed a bid.

She waited.

Seconds ticked by.

With only twenty seconds left on the countdown, she finally raised her paddle.

“One million.”

The host began the final countdown.

Five seconds.

Emma’s palms were drenched in sweat, but relief was already washing over her.

Then—

A deep male voice cuts through the silence.

“Two million.”

Emma’s face turned pale.

Two million—an amount she couldn’t possibly afford.

With just one second left, the necklace slipped through her fingers, landing in the hands of the man behind her.

The auction ended.

Emma didn’t hesitate—she rushed toward the buyer.

“Sir, this necklace means a lot to me. Can you let me have it?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the man removed his mask.

Her breath caught.

Mike.