05

"Noa, don't hold it against Li," Mya said. “He has never met you and is only six years old. He doesn't understand. Grandma is correct; you may progressively mend your relationship.”

Perhaps her heart was simply too shattered to feel anything more. In fact, Noa grinned serenely. "Eli is correct. He was never reared by me. To expect him to refer to me as mom is unfair.”

Heidi relaxed when she saw heard Noa’s response. "I'm happy you comprehend. How about you stay tonight? To strengthen the mother-son bond, you may bath Li and spend the night with him.”

"That's not necessary." Noa’s mouth tightened. "I came here for two reasons, Grandma. One is to make sure you're alright. For the other one,” Her voice broke a little. "I must know the location of Elodie’s grave. I'd like to see my daughter.”

Heidi sighed deeply and let her shoulders drop. "What a horrible finish for that poor child. There was an infectious disease outbreak at the time of her death last year. The hospital took her straight to cremation and refused to let us see her. Even gathering her ashes was forbidden. We were only able to erect a memorial stone in the cemetery.”

Cremated right away?

Noa gave Mya a skeptical glance. Had Elodie truly passed away from illness?

After learning this, she was almost certain that there was more to Elodie’s death than she had previously suspected.

It makes sense why Czar was about to lose it when she brought up Elodie today.

Even untamed creatures defend their young. How could a father treat his own child so cruelly?

With her hands clenched so firmly that they hurt, Noa stormed out of the estate. However, she was unable to let go just yet.

She would make sure to reveal every falsehood and make amends for the four-year-old setup, Grandma's pilfered belongings, and her daughter's passing. She was not going to let that jerk and his mistress get away with it.

~~

She and Gia carried flowers to Elodie’s hilltop tomb that afternoon. Heidi told Noa where Elodie was buried.

Noa sobbed when she saw her daughter's happy photo on the tombstone. "El, I'm so sorry," she whispered as she gently caressed Elodie’s photo. “You're gone because I was jot around to protect you. I'll discover the truth, I promise."

Gia gave her a gentle pat on the back. "I'll work with Damon on it. Perhaps we'll be able to get some information.”

Noa gave a sniff. "Your brother?”

“Yes. The one who used to always follow you. He is now a police officer. We should all catch up when he returns from his mission..”

Noa was older than Damon Monroe. He had just finished his college entrance exams when she was sent to prison. He became a police officer in what seemed like a flash, and she...

She felt as though these four years had been taken from her. She nibbled on her lip. For all of this suffering, Mya owed her.

While everyone had been stepping on her since the beginning, the true villain was having a great time.

She used to be so in need of love from her family, believing that if she gave in to her parents and siblings, they would notice her and perhaps even show her some affection.

However, she was completely wrong.

The Streep family had not paid her a single visit while she was incarcerated throughout those four years.

She didn't need her family to survive. She could put love out of her mind. She may even act as though she had never given birth to a son. However, she would reclaim the life they had taken from her!

..

Heidi had failed to convince Noa to stay, and as dinnertime drew near, she became increasingly irritated by Mya’s continued lazing.

She had tolerated Mya hanging around Eli for the past years because she was concerned that Czar, being unmarried and overburdened with work, wouldn't properly care of the children. She ignored it as a result. But Mya had to leave now that Noa was back.

Heidi didn't agree with everyone's assertion that Noa intentionally caused the vehicle accident four years ago while intoxicated.

She was close to Noa’s grandmother, Rosalind, and had seen Noa grow up. She was aware of Noa’s personality.

However, Heidi had become ill and traveled overseas for treatment when Noa was arrested.

After gesturing for the maids to bring Eli upstairs for his bath, Heidi approached Mya. “It's late, Miss Streep. You ought to go home now.”

Mya was taken aback. "Go? I always assist with putting Eli to bed. He likes—“

"Miss Streep, you are not a member of the Holland family, despite the fact that you and Czar were childhood friends. I'm not your grandmother. Also, Eli is not your son. You should stay away now that Noa is back."

Mya froze.

Heidi continued. "You and Czar are frequently the subject of rumors that claim Eli is your child. Your reputation will suffer as a result. After all, you're still unmarried and young. How are you going to get married if those rumors are true?”

Mya’s mouth quirked. Heidi had taken advantage of her to take care of Eli when Noa was not around, and now she was being discarded as Noa was back.

However, Mya couldn't disagree with Heidi because she was still Czar’s closest friend. She forced a smile and got to her feet. "Grandma, I understand. I was concerned about Eli. But since you've decided, I'll leave."

She then departed.

Mya laughed icily in her car. Without her, Eli would not be able to function.

*****

Noa saw a letter from her grandmother, Rosalind, while cleaning the old house after returning from the cemetery.

It read:

[my dear Noa, I'm worried that I won't be here when you're released because my health is deteriorating. I wanted to send this letter to you, but I decided to keep it here so you won’t worry about me. When you get and read this, please try not to cry. I was able to save this $400,000 and it’s in your name. It might assist you in starting over and carry on the fashion business. I've placed it in a safety deposit box. 8001 is the code."

Noa’s eyes began to flood up with tears once more. Her grandma always regarded her as a treasure, while the Streep family viewed her as a cursed child.

When she won a second-grade citywide painting competition, her grandmother proudly displayed the certificate in each neighborhood, introducing everyone to her.

“Just keep going. I will always be proud of you.” Rosalind would say.

Her grandmother had left her such huge amount, despite the fact that she led such a modest life.

What had she done to deserve such love from her?

She couldn't even give her grandmother a fitting farewell because she wasn't present when she died. Noa thought she was the worst granddaughter ever.

She continue cleaning. She would go to the bank the next day.

..

Noa hurried over as soon as the bank opened at eight the following morning. However, the bank manager gave her a strange look when she inquired about the safety deposit box. "I'm sorry, Ms. Streep, but the safety deposit box was accessed four years ago."

Accessed? Noa was stunned.