Chapter 7
Ambrose paused, caught off guard. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes as he asked, “How did you know?”
My heart leapt. Without thinking, my eyes turned toward the study. “I spotted your passport on the desk,” I admitted. “It was a bit of a wild guess.”
Following my gaze, he nodded thoughtfully. “They made the arrangements, but I’m not in a hurry.”
After a moment of silence, he turned to face me. “If you don’t want me to go, I won’t.”
I quickly shook my head. “You just found your birth parents. I’d never ask you to stay behind because of me.”
Still, a subtle curiosity welled up inside my chest, and I asked, “Can I meet them?”
Ambrose met my eyes. “Of course. Will you come with me tomorrow?”
I never expected Ambrose’s biological parents to possess such power and influence. They had even reserved an entire banquet hall for the gathering.
Ambrose himself wore a flawlessly tailored suit. Seeing how everyone fawned over him, I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.
When his parents finally arrived, everything became clear at once–Ambrose was the Talerico family’s long–lost heir.
With his arm linked through mine, he walked me over to his parents, John Talerico and Patricia
Green.
Feeling flustered, I greeted them awkwardly. John and Patricia, however, were warm and gracious, showering me with smiles and compliments.
For a brief moment, I felt dizzy. It was a sharp contrast to the coldness Jolene showed me in my past life.
The guests gathered in small clusters, engaging in hushed conversations. Many of them couldn’t help but steal glances at Ambrose and me.
One particular gaze in the crowd made my skin crawl. But each time I glanced around, it disappeared without a trace.
After a few glasses of wine, Ambrose was led onto the stage by John and Patricia. Watching him shine under the spotlight, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness.
Then, taking advantage of a brief interval, I quietly slipped away to the restroom.
But the moment I stepped outside, a shadow suddenly cornered me.
It was Emmett, wearing a black suit. Though his face was pale, his eyes blazed into me like twin flames
Chapter 7
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His voice was thick with sarcasm as he spat, “So, it’s true. You’re nothing more than a gold digger. In your past life, you used my family as a means to an end. Now that you’ve found someone better, you can’t wait to climb even higher.
“Your love is nothing but cheap and hollow,” he hissed through clenched teeth.
A sharp stab hit my heart, but I forced myself to remain calm.
Suddenly, his hand clenched around my wrist. The pressure was nearly unbearable. “Living in my home for seven years must have been such a heavy burden for you.
“All that sweet–talking was nothing more than a trick to fool my mother and steal the little money my family gave you, wasn’t it?”
His twisted words dredged up all the resentment and humiliation I had buried deep inside for
years.
Though my voice trembled, each word rang out clear and sharp. “Yes! I’m sick of your cold stares and being treated like I’m nothing but a servant!
“So what if I don’t want to see you anymore? I’ve got a better choice now. Why wouldn’t I go for it?”
Emmett’s eyes locked onto me, smoldering with anger. His lips quivered, as if a storm of words fought to burst free.
Nonetheless, he swallowed them, choking back every scream. The silence was shattered only by his sharp, uneven breaths.
A heavy sadness sank into my chest. I couldn’t deny how selfish I’d been in my past life.
At the beginning, I’d signed that marriage contract out of fear of poverty. But as time passed, my feelings for Emmett became genuine.
Who could I possibly justify that to now?
Still, I was already done with him. Though my heart had grown numb, every word I spoke came from its depths.
I took a deep breath. “Emmett, this is who I am. Now, you can see the truth clearly. But why are you so angry? Isn’t this exactly the outcome you were hoping for?”
He stiffened, as though on the verge of saying something more.
