Chapter 3

Amelia flinched and immediately retorted.

"I didn't!"

Susan's son, Leo, added, "Uncle Oliver, but there's no one else here. It must be her."

My daughter retorted, "It wasn't me! I swear..."

"But you looked poor and suspicious," Leo said angrily, rushing over.

He shoved Amelia, throwing her onto the ground. Oliver didn't stop him, just stood there, looking at Amelia with pure disappointment. "I knew you came here with bad intentions!

First, your mother incited you to frame Susan, and now you dare steal? How could I have a daughter like you? Tell me, where did you hide the bracelet? Bring it out now!"

My mind went blank.

I rushed to stand in front of Oliver, tears streaming down my face as I said,

"How dare you hit my child! Did you really believe every word Susan said?" But no one saw my anger.

My daughter looked at her dad in disbelief and sobbed uncontrollably.

"I didn't steal her bracelet! Mom never lets me do bad things. She frames me on purpose.

She's not as good as you think! She's been bullying me and Mom. You're being fooled by her!"

My daughter's sobs didn't convince Oliver, and they only enraged him more.

Oliver asked aggressively, "Tell it! Where's the bracelet?"

My daughter saw that she was getting no support from her father, so she just wanted to come home early to wake me up herself.

When she was ready to run home, Oliver grabbed her and shook her shoulders angrily. My daughter struggled wildly from her father, but she couldn't, like a helpless cub.

"Didn't you hear what I just asked you? Where did you hide the bracelet?"

"I don't know. I really didn't steal it! I need to go home and wake Mom up."

Oliver only pressed harder, leaving purple bruises on my daughter's shoulders.

My daughter wailed in pain, and my heart ached as if it had been broken.

I kept pulling Oliver away, but I couldn't. I was just a useless spirit.

Susan watched leisurely, her eyes dripping with disdain.

When my daughter was pushed onto the ground by Oliver, she stopped struggling.

Hate filled her eyes as she looked at Oliver.

Finding the bracelet in my daughter's pocket, Oliver froze.

Then he saw my daughter's hateful stare and lost all reason.

He got furious, dragged her body, and threw her into the snow.

"If you won't behave well, stay in the snow and sober up." Then Oliver added:

"Go reflect on your actions and apologize to me, and then you'll be allowed to leave."

Oliver even asked the butler to keep an eye on my daughter.

Biting cold surged through me.

I knew Amelia would obey for my sake, but I didn't want this obedience.

My daughter stayed put in the snow. Her tiny figure stood in the freezing night, letting snow cover her bit by bit.

Inside the warm and grand mansion, Susan held her daughter and pretended to ask:

"Oliver, Amelia is still a little child. Isn't this too cruel?"

Oliver stared out the window, frustrated:

"Cruel? She was the one who did wrong. If she can't take this lesson, how can she be a leader to take over my business?

Susan's smile faded, jealousy burning in her eyes.

She hadn't expected Oliver to still consider my daughter as heir.

But then she looked outside the window and relaxed.

What did it matter? The little girl was not a match for her at all.

Susan's smile grew sweeter as she smoothly changed the subject.

Inside: warmth and happiness.

Outside: howling snow and sadness.

My daughter finally collapsed in the snow. Before losing consciousness, she mumbled:

"Dad, I haven't stolen her bracelet. Why don't you believe me? Mom..."

After a while, the old butler rushed into Oliver’s study nervously.

"Mr. Johnson, it's been three hours... Miss Amelia has fainted in the snow..."

"What?" Oliver's face paled, and he stood up at once. Just then, his phone rang.

"Hello? Is this Mr. Johnson? We received a report. A body was found in a rental department under your name."