Chapter 3

Owen called Emily:

"Honey, I've bought everything needed for the burial."

"Don't worry, everything for our dad is absolutely the best."

"Stop crying so much. You need to take care of your health. Our family will depend on you from now on."

Emily was moved to tears:

"Owen, you're the one who works hardest for our family."

"Don't rush. There's still time. Drive carefully and stay safe."

After hanging up, an old lady in a wheelchair came to Emily's side.

"Emily, where's Owen?"

Emily wiped away her tears and forced a smile.

"Mom, he'll be home soon."

She looked at me again.

"I still have things to attend to. Could you help look after my mom?"

With that, she turned to greet other newly arrived guests.

Emily's mother Laura sighed softly:

"Emily's father passed away suddenly. Owen prepared this wheelchair for me, afraid I'd be overcome with grief."

"He means well, so I can't refuse this kindness."

Mentioning Owen, Laura's face filled with pride.

My heart had already gone numb with pain.

Inadvertently, I caught sight of the gold earrings on Laura's ears—they were my mother's heirlooms!

I thought I was seeing things, so I leaned closer to confirm several times.

Both earrings had scratches I'd accidentally made as a mischievous child.

In exactly the same positions!

I was certain—these were my mother's belongings!

Inner fury surged up, rushing straight to my head.

I reached out my hand, wanting nothing more than to rip them off right now and burn all bridges!

But ultimately reason prevailed over impulse, and I didn't do it!

I did want to blow up this scene, but not to become a laughingstock!

Making a scene like that would only make people think I was crazy.

That would be too easy on Owen and this family.

I retracted my hand frozen in midair. Laura asked me:

"Are you married?"

I tried to keep my tone steady: "Yes."

"How does your husband treat you?"

"He cheated on me, wouldn't let me have children, but secretly had a bastard with some tramp.

He even used my family's money to support that household."

Laura was slightly stunned, seemingly not expecting me to say such things, then anger appeared on her face.

"Disgusting! That man is absolute trash, and that mistress and her family are no good either."

Her words actually carried some indignation on my behalf.

"People like that belong in hell."

"You can't let them off easy, or they'll think you're a pushover."

Coincidentally, that's exactly what I was thinking.

Just then, Owen called me, his tone urgent:

"Bruna, something happened with my friend."

"I urgently need fifty thousand dollars. Transfer it to me quickly!"

My hand holding the phone kept trembling. I suppressed my rage and asked back:

"What happened?"

"Did someone in the family die?"

Owen was stunned, seemingly not expecting me, who usually supported him unconditionally, to say such a thing:

"Why are you talking like that?"

"Is that harsh?"

"What do I care about their business?"

"Figure it out yourselves!"

After hanging up, within seconds, a new message from Owen came through.

[You usually act so understanding, but you're actually this heartless.]

[Bruna William, don't regret this!]

The next second, Emily's phone chimed with a new message, and she walked over to Laura.

"Mom, Owen says he bought you some jewelry."

Laura smiled and said, "That boy, so extravagant."

While looking at the images Emily passed her on the phone.

When I saw that jewelry, I completely froze on the spot.

They were all my mother's heirlooms!