Chapter 3

The Leandro family members froze.

Then Liam sneered,

"Charlotte must have felt guilty, so she hid away somewhere and didn't dare show her face."

He paused, then added with disgust,

"People like her only know how to run away when they do something wrong."

Christopher and Martha said nothing, but clearly thought the same.

However, the host disagreed and spoke up,

"But have you considered that perhaps Miss Charlotte didn't hide away, but actually died in that avalanche accident?"

The venue suddenly went quiet.

The host continued,

"Perhaps Miss Charlotte didn't escape alone."

"She might have known that Mrs. Martha had lost mobility, and staying there would have meant death for both of them."

"So she left alone to find rescue, but met with an accident along the way."

"Mr. Christopher, after the accident, did you send anyone to investigate..."

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Liam slammed the table, furiously interrupting him.

Martha's face turned deathly pale, her chest heaving violently,

Looking as if she couldn't catch her breath and might faint at any moment.

Christopher quickly supported her, his brows knitted into a tight knot,

The look in his eyes toward the host full of displeasure and warning.

I floated in the air, unable to help but smile bitterly.

Even strangers had guessed how I died, but only my biological parents and Liam refused to believe it.

They preferred to believe I was the ungrateful wretch who abandoned her mother to save herself.

They had all even forgotten that the day wasn't just Sophia's birthday—it was mine too.

I just wanted their company for once, just once.

That's why I gathered the courage to say I wanted to go skiing.

After the avalanche, Martha was buried under the snow.

I dug desperately, until all my fingers lost sensation, before I finally pulled her out.

But by then, Martha had already lost consciousness.

I couldn't save her alone.

I wrapped all my warm clothes around her body,

While I wore only a thin sweater,

And turned to walk into the wind and snow.

I walked for an entire day, falling countless times,

Finally finding the rescue team just before my strength gave out.

I told them Martha's location.

The rescue team told me to wait by the road.

But I waited by the roadside for less than ten minutes

Before an out-of-control truck came barreling toward me.

By the time I was taken to the hospital, it was too late.

Just before dying, I asked the doctor to donate my organs

So they could see the coming spring in my place.

Everyone at the scene looked at the Leandro family members with doubt.

After all, if the host's guess was correct,

The Leandro family had completely misunderstood Charlotte.

Just as Christopher and Martha's eyes became uncertain,

Liam suddenly laughed coldly.

He stood up, his tone condescending,

"I don't know what person behind you is trying to target our Leandro family."

"But listen carefully—I have evidence to prove that Charlotte is definitely not dead."

Christopher and Martha both looked up at him simultaneously, expressions full of surprise.

Liam took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at his parents,

His voice lowering,

"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry. There's something I've been hiding from you."

"After Charlotte disappeared, I actually received a letter from her."