Chapter 1

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• The Gilded Cage   Chapter 15

  And so, the Sterling family crumbled, vanishing like smoke until nothing was left.Daniel suddenly let out a laugh, muffled behind his hands.He laughed and laughed, until tears slipped through his fingers, his shoulders shaking with something between grief and bitter amusement.This was their fate—the price for trampling all over Elaine’s heart.Their downfall was nothing but karma.…Epilogue 2Unlike the fallen Sterlings, Elaine had thrived.She earned her doctorate from Westbridge Institute of Technology in just four years.She never forgot the dream she had at eighteen—to become a pioneer, a leader in her field.After returning home, she founded Laine Technologies, securing hundreds of millions in investment and rising to prominence in the tech world.At an academic conference, she caught the eye of a renowned industry leader.He was young, brilliant, and deeply in love with her.He pursued her relentlessly, unwavering in his devotion, until Elaine finally smiled and said yes, ste

• The Gilded Cage   Chapter 14

  But the warmth Anna once knew was gone. Scarlett barely spared her a glance, her lips curling into a sneer. "Your mother has left. Don’t expect me to spoil you the way she did. "You’d better behave, or you’ll regret it." Anna’s face turned bright red with fury. "You shameless woman! If you hadn’t seduced my dad, my mom never would have left!" Scarlett’s expression darkened instantly. With a sharp crack, she slapped Anna across the face. "You still think you're some spoiled little princess? "Let me make this clear—your father doesn’t want you. Your grandmother doesn’t want you. "I run this house now!"Anna clutched her burning cheek, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. And in that moment, the truth hit her like a tidal wave. All those years of comfort and protection had only been possible because Elaine had been there, shielding her from the storm.And Anna was the one who pushed her mother away. By the time Anna understood, it was already too late.No on

• The Gilded Cage   Chapter 13

  For half a month, I waited anxiously, my hopes slowly fading. Then, with a soft ding, a new email arrived. It was an email from Westbridge Institute of Technology. The professor wrote that he still remembered me and was willing to offer me another chance to study. I clapped a hand over my face, letting out a silent scream as my heart pounded wildly in my chest. I did it. At thirty-five, I had pulled myself out of the abyss once again. The future stretched before me like a glowing path, unfolding step by step. Nine years later, I boarded a plane to Westbridge, this time with Samuel by my side. Before leaving, I compiled every shred of evidence against the Sterling family—their crimes, their corruption, everything they had done over the years—and submitted a detailed report. With that, I put the final period on that chapter of my life.As the steady hum of the plane filled the cabin, I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep. And once again, I dreamed of my eighteen-y

• The Gilded Cage   Chapter 12

  "But that thread between us was too light and fragile—worn thin by the weight of the years. "Daniel, whatever bond we had is gone. "Let’s end this with dignity, like adults. Walk away while there’s still some grace left." Time seemed to still. Daniel sat there in silence, unmoving, like a statue carved from stone. His hands curled into fists, knuckles turning white, veins standing out against his skin. He stayed that way for a long time before finally speaking, his voice low and strained. "You’re never going to forgive me, are you?" I nodded, as effortlessly as if I were making an offhand remark about the weather."I won’t forgive you. And I don’t love you anymore." Daniel turned his face away, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable. But deep in his eyes, I saw something like the reflection of a still, silent lake, its surface barely rippling. And just for a second, I caught a faint shimmer in his gaze. Anna finally realized that I wasn’t taking her with me.

• The Gilded Cage   Chapter 11

  I wanted to start living for myself. After hearing everything, Daniel stood frozen, his breathing turning shallow and uneven. His chest rose and fell violently as he struggled to process my words. "All these years… Elaine, why… why didn’t you ever tell me?" I turned away, my voice steady. "Some things don’t need to be said—they’re understood without words. "And some things… saying them wouldn’t have made a difference."With that, I closed my eyes, exhausted, unwilling to look at him any longer. Sunlight crept through the window, casting its glow in neat, golden lines, yet it never quite reached either of us. Daniel hunched over, his broad frame seemingly crushed under an invisible weight. He buried his face in his hands. A long silence stretched between us, broken only by the barely restrained sound of a choked sob. …From that day on, it was as if Daniel and Anna had become entirely different people.Daniel moved his entire office into my hospital room. During th

• The Gilded Cage   Chapter 10

  "I searched for you every single day for the past three years. As long as the rescue team didn’t find your body at the bottom of that cliff, I refused to believe you were dead. "Do you know what I felt when I finally found your passport records? "I had you. I finally had you. And… you have a daughter, don’t you?"His gaze shifted to Anna. Daniel’s eyes suddenly turned red. With a trembling breath, he carefully picked her up, holding her as if she were made of glass—fragile, precious. "She looks like me… she really looks like me." But his reckless move to ground the plane had been too high-profile. It instantly exposed his location to the enemies of the Sterling family. Just as he cradled Anna in his arms, a sharp crack shattered the air. A bullet pierced through the glass. "Watch out!" Without thinking, I shoved both Daniel and Anna aside, throwing myself to the ground. A stray bullet grazed my left eye. Pain exploded across my face as I let out a muffled groan,