Chapter 4

Lindsay's pained groan instantly drew Jason's attention.

He turned to me, his voice cold and sharp. "Are you satisfied now?"

Then the whole family sprang into frantic motion, carrying Lindsay and rushing her to the hospital.

Before leaving, my mother didn't forget to turn back and scream at me, "You bring disaster wherever you go!"

I stood there until my legs went numb, then finally walked into the nanny's room.

The exhaustion—both physical and emotional—crushed me. I collapsed onto the narrow single bed and fell into a heavy sleep.

I had no idea how long it had been when I was jolted awake by rough hands yanking at me.

Jason, his eyes bloodshot, dragged me off the bed.

"Wendy! How can you be so vicious!"

Before I was fully awake, his furious shouting came crashing down on me.

"You knew Lindsay was already in the hospital! You knew she's severely allergic to mangoes, and you still deliberately sent her a mango mille‑feuille! You're holding a grudge and trying to kill her!"

I froze.

A mango mille‑feuille? When had I ever ordered something like that for her?

I laughed in anger.

"Do you think I'm stupid? Why would I use such an obvious method to hurt her, then just wait for you all to catch me?"

"If it wasn't you, then who was it?" he roared. "The dessert shop's order clearly lists your name and phone number!"

He slammed his phone in front of me, bellowing, "Wendy, you've truly disappointed me!"

Disappointed? I was the one who should be disappointed.

Whenever anything involved Lindsay, he never hesitated to believe her, shoving all the blame onto me without a second thought.

"Believe whatever you want," I said, too tired to argue anymore. "If you think I did it, then call the police."

With that, I pushed past him and walked out of that nauseating house for good.

I told Gina what had happened. She exploded on the other end of the phone, cursing furiously.

"Damn it! Fuck them! Lindsay obviously staged the whole thing to frame you! Is Jason dumb or what? How can he not see through this?"

"He can see it. Of course he can."

I shook my head, my heart steeped in desolation. "To him, whatever concerns Lindsay matters more than the truth."

Not long after, my mother's call came through.

"Wendy! How did I ever give birth to such a vicious daughter? What has Lindsay ever done to you that you'd hurt her like this?"

I listened quietly. Only after she finally ran out of breath did I speak, my voice calm.

"Mom, do you know something? The first year after I was brought back to this family, I secretly went for a DNA test, because I couldn't believe that a biological mother could be so cold to a daughter she'd been separated from for decades."

On the other end of the line, my mother's breathing faltered.

I went on.

"The results showed we really are mother and daughter. But I didn't feel happy at all, because I understood then that blood doesn't decide everything. Over twenty years of favoritism have been carved deep into your bones. In your heart, Lindsay is your only daughter."

"Nonsense!" she snapped back, though there was a trace of guilt in her voice.

"You think so?" I didn't press further. I simply said, "Mom, this will be the last time I call you that. From now on, you only have one daughter—Lindsay. There is nothing left between us."

With that, I hung up.

There was no sadness in my heart—only an unprecedented sense of relief. Like someone who had carried a crushing burden for far too long, I had finally set everything down.

Gina's call came in again, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Wendy! It's all done! The overseas studio is registered, and I've helped you put together the initial team—top talents from the industry! Your assets have all been transferred too. Just say the word, and we can officially go to war!"

"Good," I replied.

"But…" Gina's tone turned hesitant. "Are you really okay with it? Leaving everything back home, and… Charles."

Was I?

I closed my eyes.

The images of that day—the car accident, the hospital room, the three of them with their ugly faces—flashed through my mind.

When they deceived me, they hadn't shown the slightest reluctance.

Jason used to say I was soft‑hearted. I had believed I wouldn't be able to let go.

I smiled, but my eyes were ice‑cold.

"The desire to cut everything off now outweighs any reluctance I might have had. Jason thinks he can toy with me at will. Then it's time I send him a very special gift."