Jim glanced at the unconscious Eric sprawled on the ground. A smirk curled at the corner of his lips.Eric was the celebrated scion of his generation, hailed as the most formidable figure in their circle, both in intellect and in power. Yet, after witnessing his treatment of Charlotte, Jim could no longer hold him in such high regard. How ironic that someone so adept at strategy in the business world was so inept in his personal life—a man blind to the suffering of his own wife, allowing her to be bullied and humiliated by others.The cremation process concluded quickly. Jim carefully collected Charlotte's ashes, handling the urn with a reverence usually reserved for delicate treasures. He paused, staring at the simple vessel in his hands. Releasing her ashes into the sea felt too final, as if it would sever her last remaining ties to the world. The thought unsettled him.Instead, he resolved to organize a proper funeral for Charlotte—a tribute to her that the world could not
When Charlotte saw Meghan again, her eyes brimmed with tears. The system hadn't deceived her—her sister was truly awake.Meghan greeted her with a soft smile, her voice warm and familiar as she called, "Charlotte."Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Charlotte threw herself into Meghan's arms, tears flowing freely. After nine long years, she could finally embrace Meghan again.The doctors and nurses watching the emotional reunion couldn't help but marvel at what they called a medical miracle.Meghan took Charlotte's hands in her own, studying Charlotte's face with tender scrutiny."Charlotte," she said softly, "you've suffered while I've been unconscious.""Not at all, Meghan," Charlotte replied quickly, her voice trembling with emotion. "You've only been in a coma for a little over two weeks."But Meghan shook her head, her smile tinged with sorrow."Charlotte, you don't understand. While I was unconscious, I could look into another world. In that world, there was a g
The next day, Eric deliberately returned to the Lorvis family estate to change into a black suit. Though a faint smile adorned his face, it carried an unsettling chill, like the prelude to a storm.By the time his entourage arrived at the funeral home, a crowd had already gathered. Most were there out of morbid curiosity, eager to witness the unfolding drama.Emily's eyes lit up with surprise when she spotted Eric. Without hesitation, she looped her arm around his, her voice syrupy with concern. "Eric, are you alright? I heard from your secretary that you were unconscious before..."Eric immediately pulled his arm away, his expression impatient. He reminded himself of the purpose of his visit: to bring Charlotte back home. If she saw Emily clinging to him, she might get jealous and throw one of her small, endearing tantrums.Emily's face stiffened in embarrassment, but she wasn't ready to let go so easily. She lingered close, attempting to reestablish her position.Ignoring her co
When the phone buzzed again, Eric unlocked it in a hurry, his fingers trembling with anticipation. He thought—hoped—it was a message from Charlotte. But when the screen lit up, it was something else entirely: hundreds of videos, all documenting how the Spencer family had tormented her.The clearest clip froze him in place. It showed Emily in the hospital room, deliberately slapping herself across the face.Eric felt his world tilt. His heart pounded violently as the weight of the realization pressed down on him. Emily. His sweet, gentle Emily, the girl he had grown up with. The girl he had believed was incapable of cruelty. She was vicious.He stared at the irrefutable evidence, the crisp clarity of the video shattering his illusions."No," he whispered, as if denying it could make it untrue. "No, this can't be." He staggered back and called for his assistant."Find someone. Have these videos and photos authenticated—right here, in front of me. And keep this between us," he ordere
Eric tossed the photos and videos from his phone onto the table in front of Joe and Joyce. Seeing them, Joyce's face shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions, none of them pleasant."Eric, Charlotte is our child. We love her—how could we possibly bully her?" Joyce's voice trembled, an attempt to mask her guilt with feigned sincerity.Beside her, Joe forced a smile, his tone dripping with sycophancy. "Charlotte was withdrawn when she first came to our family. What you've seen must be misunderstandings—perhaps punishments for her own mistakes. We're her real parents, after all. Hurting her? Impossible! These photos are fake, Eric. For Charlotte's sake, you shouldn't treat us like this."Eric let out a cold, mirthless laugh. He marveled, not for the first time, at the Spencer family's sheer shamelessness. "Still denying it? You're not worthy to call yourselves Charlotte's parents."He didn't wait for their feeble protests. Instead, he played the videos—their clarity leaving no roo
The nights were hollow and endless for Eric after he stopped dreaming of Charlotte. His mind, consumed by her absence, sought refuge in answers he couldn't find. He consulted an endless parade of psychologists, their questions and observations falling like leaves into an abyss. One dared to suggest he might be mentally unstable, offering to examine him further. But Eric dismissed such notions. He wasn't sick—he was just haunted, tethered to the memory of her in a way that frayed his every nerve.The weight of longing bore down on him nightly. It was an intangible ache he could neither suppress nor soothe. Meanwhile, in the damp confines of the basement, Brian lay crumpled and barely conscious, his arm now an empty sleeve. Joe and Joyce crouched in silent terror, their bodies curled into the shadows, too afraid to move.Only Emily dared to approach Eric when he descended. When it came to Emily, Eric considered himself merciful. After all, he hadn't resorted to torture—he had m
The maid hastily produced screenshots of her chat history and bank transfers from her phone.Eric's hands, now cold as ice, scrolled through the messages one by one. Each line confirmed his worst suspicions—updates on his movements, dutifully reported to Emily. Among them, a damning voice message: Emily instructing the maid to accuse Charlotte with unshakable certainty.It hit him like a physical blow. Charlotte had been innocent all along. And yet, he had delivered her to Emily, effectively condemning her with his own hands. His chest tightened with unbearable pain, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.The other maids, observing his stricken expression, seized the moment to confess."Sir," one began hesitantly, "Miss Emily was brutal. She insisted on using chili water to lace the whip to whip the madam. When Madam fainted, Miss Emily splashed water to wake her up. She threatened us not to speak, or we'd face the same fate."Emily's eyes widened in panic as the words spill
Though the woman wore heavy makeup, Eric felt certain—this had to be Charlotte. His instincts whispered what logic refused to accept: his little mute wasn't dead.Driven by the thought, he strode forward, intending to block the woman's path. But before he could reach her, two burly bodyguards stepped in and shoved him back."Who do you think you are? Our Miss Vanderwall is here on business. Go drown yourself somewhere else, you drunk!""Take another step, and you'll regret it. Plenty of people chase after Miss Vanderwall, but at least they clean themselves up first!"Eric glanced down at his disheveled appearance. The same suit he'd been wearing for two days reeked of stale alcohol, its fabric stained and wrinkled. A faint sour smell lingered in the air around him. His face darkened in shame, a cold flush of sobriety washing over him as he recalled his recent days of self-destruction.Charlotte, or the woman who so resembled her, cast a glance at him. Her delicate brows furrowed i
The voice on the other end of the line drew in a sharp breath. Lisa was startled—was Dr. Jim confessing to her?It was true that he had helped her, but she was clear on one thing: they were just friends."I'm sorry," she said firmly, cutting him off. "I'll pretend I never heard this today. We're still just friends. And tell your cousin I'll cover his medical expenses."With that, she hung up, not giving him a chance to respond. On the other side, Dr. Jim let out a resigned sigh, lowering his head. He had always known Lisa was cold-hearted and distant, yet somewhere along the line, he had fallen for her completely.The next day, Lisa convened a meeting with the senior executives and shareholders of Alvec Holdings. Her proposal was shocking: she intended to acquire and dismantle Eric's company.Her confidence and resolve left no room for doubt, and the others decided to follow her lead. From that point on, Lisa began scrutinizing every business collaboration with Eric's company, e
After his release from the hospital, Eric took the initiative to approach Lisa. The man who once exuded a steely, aloof demeanor now smiled with a warmth that almost felt genuine, though his muscles betrayed an unnatural stiffness.He began learning to prepare her meals, clumsily navigating the kitchen. With shameless determination, he even visited the Vanderwall home, humbling himself before Meghan for lessons in cooking."Meghan, please teach me," he implored earnestly. "I truly want to apologize to Lisa. She's cooked for me countless times before. I'd like to understand her tastes better."When Meghan first saw him, she was furious—this was the man who had mistreated her sister. But as his visits multiplied, and as she heard of the lengths he went to for Lisa, her anger softened into something more complicated.'What's the use of love that comes too late?' she thought. Lisa had long since let go of regrets.Eric had lived his life as a man of privilege; even boiling porridge se
When Lisa saw the Spencer family's sentencing documents, a faint smile played at the corners of her lips. One term of ten years, two of fifteen, and one life sentence. The thought of the Spencer family spending their futures behind bars brought an unspoken sense of satisfaction.As for Eric, he hadn't fallen into despair. Once he confirmed Lisa's true identity, his relentless pursuit began anew. Every morning at her office, she was greeted with a large bouquet of red roses, each accompanied by his handwritten apologies:"Lisa, I was wrong. Please, give me another chance..."By the time she left work, her desk would be littered with an assortment of milk teas and delicate pastries. At first, her colleagues helped her discard the gifts without a second thought. But as days passed, their resolve wavered. Even the receptionist hesitated, uncertain whether to toss away what might be considered heartfelt gestures.Eric wasn't content with just that. He orchestrated coincidental encounter
Lisa stretched lazily, tilting Eric's chin upward. Seeing the mix of fear and anticipation in his eyes, she couldn't help but laugh softly."Mr. Lorvis, even though I've taken on a new identity, you're still clinging to me. Are you hoping for my forgiveness?"Eric's pupils contracted sharply. "Charlotte, I—"Before he could finish, Lisa covered his mouth and shook her head."I'm a petty person, Mr. Lorvis. You should know that. Emily dared to bully Charlotte because you let her. When she died, do you know how much pain she endured? Do you know how much silent suffering she endured because she couldn't speak? You don't. So let me tell you this, Eric—your love is disgustingly cheap."Tears welled up in Eric's eyes and spilled onto Lisa's hand. He suddenly dropped to his knees, his voice hoarse and desperate."Charlotte, give me a chance, please. Emily's child wasn't mine. I did everything, all of it, just to make you love me more. Charlotte, I only want your forgiveness. Forget the
Eric's assistant found himself unable to say anything harsh to Lisa as he stared at her face. Yet the resentment in his chest wouldn't subside."Mr. Lorvis is simply slow to express his feelings. He loved his wife deeply. After her death, he fell into despair for a long time. Once the truth was uncovered, he made the Spencer family pay for their actions. He's been trying to make amends ever since. Madam—"Lisa interrupted with a laugh, sharp and dismissive.'His love was always for Emily. To his wife, a glorified housekeeper, he was cold and indifferent. And now, he's so desperate to make amends to a dead person—what's the point?' she thought inwardly.Meanwhile, in the hospital, Eric fought for his life. Pulmonary edema had kept him unconscious for an entire day and night. When Eric finally regained consciousness, her expression haunted him—a gaze so cold, so detached, it carved itself into his memory.When he retrieved the urn, the ashes inside had already dissolved into the sea
Dr. Jim stared, his eyes wide. The urn in his hand slipped from his grip and hit the ground with a heavy thud. For a long time, his voice trembled as he spoke."Charlotte, is it really you?""Yes, it's me. I'm fine. Long time no see."The moment he heard her answer, Dr. Jim's heart trembled uncontrollably. The dead had returned in a new form. It was too strange to believe, but now it was happening to Charlotte, and he found himself unwilling to delve deeper."How do you prove you're really her? What if you're an imposter? And how is it that you can speak now?""Well, if I'm sitting here, doesn't that prove it? As for why I can speak now... that's a secret."Dr. Jim paused, then gave a wry laugh."So this is how it is. Does Eric know? Does he...?""I don't love him. He has nothing to do with me. I'm Lisa, not that mute Charlotte..."Lisa casually cut her steak, winking playfully as she spoke."I actually have an older sister named Meghan. The reason I stayed with Eric was for
This was the first time that Eric visited the orphanage, and to his surprise, the children were chattering and laughing. The atmosphere was extremely lively. He exchanged a quick glance with the person he had planted on the scene, who then raised a hand and shoved a boy named Leslie. Within moments, the two were struggling on the ground, Leslie almost entirely pinned beneath the other.When Lisa saw this, her heart lurched. Everyone around her, on Eric's signal, stood back and did nothing."Mr. Lorvis, you called me here to watch a child being bullied?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief."Of course not. This boy, Leslie, was once very fond of my wife..." Eric began, his words trailing off as Leslie, upon spotting Lisa, burst into tears."Charlotte, save me!" the boy cried, his tear-filled eyes looking up at her as he used sign language. That was their secret signal, a silent code between him and Charlotte.Her heart twisted painfully, and her eyes reddened, the sting of
Lisa tugged at her collar, exposing her neck as if offering an undeniable truth to the man before her."Take a good look," she said, her voice sharp. "Does my scar look anything like your wife's?"Eric's gaze followed her gesture. His eyes landed on a long, faint pink whip mark, its clean precision unmistakably different from the mottled, uneven appearance of a burn scar. The sight instantly extinguished half the hope he'd clung to.She wasn't her.The thought battered him as he stared at the woman who bore such an uncanny resemblance to his late wife. And yet, in this moment, the reality seemed inescapable.Lisa, unmoved, pushed him away with no hesitation, a flicker of relief flashing through her mind. Her foresight had saved her—removing the old scars from her body when she arrived in this world. The whip marks, by contrast, were new, inflicted by family punishment just before her return to the country.But Eric wasn't ready to give up. Doubt gnawed at him, whispering that the
Charlotte lifted her chin, a faint, ironic smile playing on her lips."Mr. Lorvis," she said, her tone light and mocking, "your reputation precedes you, but surely there's no need to investigate me so openly in front of my bodyguards, is there?"Eric felt a flush creep up his face. Her voice was gentle, yet so different from the soft, almost inaudible sounds he remembered from the mute girl of his past. Something inside him trembled—a faint, persistent hope."Charlotte," he began, his voice unsteady, "let's not fight anymore, alright? I know I was wrong before. Come home with me. Trust me, I'll make things right—"But she cut him off sharply. "Mr. Lorvis, I don't know this 'Charlotte' you keep mentioning. As far as I'm concerned, I am Lisa. Yes, you might have some influence here in Havenport, but don't think that scares me. Now, step aside."The bodyguards around them inhaled sharply at her boldness. None of them had expected Lisa to speak to Eric like this. But looking at her fa