Chapter 3

The surrounding guests gasped in astonishment.

I stood there, my head buzzing. "What do you think you're doing?!"

She wept even harder. "Mom, I've really had enough!"

"I know you raised me, but all these years, you forced me to work multiple jobs a day to support you. I've repaid all my debts to you!"

"But why are you still lying?! It was me who sent you five thousand dollars every month!"

"You planned for me to return to the Hayes family, just to give all the money to you... but I... I can't do it!"

"Please, I'm begging you, just let me go!"

With that, she pulled out her phone and showed a screenshot, clearly displaying images of me supposedly transferring money to her monthly.

Except, my profile picture and hers had been swapped.

More and more guests gathered, and hearing her words, they began to point and curse at me:

"I think Miss Hayes is telling the truth. She knew the Hayes family was rich, kidnapped her intentionally, and is now extorting money from her once she's grown!"

"They say she has cancer. Looks like God finally opened his eyes and is giving her what she deserves!"

"Poor Miss Hayes, a young lady who should have been living a life of luxury, abused and forced to earn money to support her!"

"Disgusting. She made Miss Hayes suffer in the countryside for years, and now she's still clinging on."

"The Hayes family is really unlucky, stuck with such a parasitic adoptive mother. Call the bodyguards and throw her out!"

Cassie and Victoria stood with their arms crossed, watching me. "The Summit Grand Hotel isn't a place just anyone can enter. You need to know your place from now on. Go where you belong!"

I frowned, pulling out my own phone. "Cassie, are you sure you want to slander me like this?"

She froze for a moment. "How am I slandering you?"

Seeing me about to open my phone to show the transfer records, she shrieked, "Are you still not leaving?! Do you want me to call security?!"

With that, she shoved me.

I stumbled back a few steps, nearly falling.

The pain from my late-stage cancer-ridden bones flared, and I felt dizzy.

Just then, my phone vibrated with a message from Adrian: "Eleanor, I'm almost there. Wait for me. I'm taking you home tonight."

A wave of warmth washed over me. Home. I hadn't heard that word in so long.

Seeing me staring at my phone, she snatched it away.

After reading the message, she scoffed. "So that's why you asked me for so much money? To keep a younger man?"

"No wonder you thought it wasn't enough!"

"I can't believe you, at your age, are still messing around! No wonder you got cancer!"

"You probably picked it up from your sordid lifestyle!"

I couldn't take it anymore. I raised my hand and slapped Cassie hard across the face. "Cassie! Raising you with my money, I might as well have fed a stray dog!"

Cassie clutched her face, her eyes wide, unable to believe I'd struck her.

"Y-you hit me?!" she shrieked.

Victoria immediately rushed over. "You lunatic! How dare you hit my daughter!"

Just then, Mr. Davies hurried back. "What are you doing!"