Chapter 3:

Jennifer remained unchanged in Emma's memory, oppressing others without affection, whether towards herself or her daughter-in-law, Omega Hana. Emma stared at Jennifer intently, instinctively wanting to speak. Still, Omega Hana blinked at her as if silently warning her not to open her mouth, as speaking would only bring more trouble upon her.

Omega Hana was a gentle daughter-in-law, but no matter what she did, this wicked mother-in-law, Jennifer, never paid her any attention. She spent her days nitpicking and finding faults. When she saw Omega Hana trying to help Emma, she immediately assumed she was deliberately defying her and became even more ruthless towards them. Emma gritted her teeth and stared fixedly at Jennifer.

Instinctively, Jennifer glanced at Emma and noticed a coldness and a hint of icy indifference in her gaze. A sense of unease rose as she scolded, "Are you out of your mind, you little wretch!"

Emma hadn't even had a chance to question why she had reverted to her thirteen-year-old self. Her thoughts were spinning when she felt something in her chest. She reached inside and indeed touched a gemstone pendant. It was warm to the touch. Her biological mother had left this pendant for her to remember her by. General Beta Henry had brought her to the Beta Henry family, where she stayed until she was seven. At first, they were still looking for a nursemaid but later discovered that General Beta Henry had no intention of taking her back to the capital. Someone must have instigated him to decide to send her to a rural family for foster care with a monthly living allowance of ten silver coins. Half a year ago, even the living allowance was cut off for some reason. Jennifer sternly went to the door three times to inquire, but the Beta Henry family ignored her. That's why Jennifer grew even more resentful, treating her not only as a nursemaid but also subjecting her to a hundred times more mistreatment, not allowing her to leave and occasionally ordering someone to beat her until she was bruised.

Jennifer looked at Emma's appearance, furrowed her brows, and scolded, "You foolish child!"

This gemstone pendant was the only thing left by her birth mother for her to cherish, so she had hidden it at the risk of her life, not daring to let Jennifer find out. But today... Emma raised her head and looked at her. Her eyes showed a fleeting glimpse of a fierce and icy light. A smile that touched one's heart appeared on her face in the blink of an eye. "Aunt Moona, since I'm here, you've taken care of me to some extent. I have nothing to thank you with, so I'll give you this pendant."

If she remembered correctly, this ordinary Pisces gemstone pendant was discovered and stolen by Jennifer half a month later. She had wanted to take it back at that time but was ruthlessly beaten. Later, when she became the Third Imperial Consort, she sent someone back to find it. Still, the village had experienced an epidemic, and many of the people who had been there years ago had died, including Jennifer. Therefore, she couldn't retrieve the pendant.

Jennifer never expected that the pendant she had always wanted to find and that nursemaid had hidden so carefully would be handed to her by Emma herself. Her face brightened considerably, and with a cold snort, she snatched the pendant from Emma's hand and said, "You finally came to your senses!"

Omega Hana was startled as she looked at Emma as if she didn't recognize this little girl. In her memory, Emma had always been cautious about hiding the pendant, ensuring that no one could take it away. How could she suddenly give it to Jennifer?

Jennifer held the pendant, feeling much better. With a cold snort, she said, "Forget it, you've been lying in bed all day, but you have to get up and work tomorrow!"

Emma smiled sweetly, "Of course, Aunt Jennifer, I will work tomorrow!"

Emma's gentle obedience took Jennifer aback. She was about to say something when suddenly a tall man walked in. Upon seeing the scene inside, he seemed accustomed to it. His angry face glanced briefly at Omega Hana, appearing annoyed. He chuckled and said, "Mother, why are you so angry? Today, I bought you a piece of woven fabric in the market. You'll look just like Lady Li in the town when you wear it. Hurry up and come with me to see!" He pulled her along as he spoke, urging Jennifer to go outside.

As Jennifer left, she turned to Omega Hana and said, "Let me catch you giving food to her, or I'll skin you alive!" Muttering angrily, she walked away.

With Jennifer gone, Omega Hana burst into tears, covering her face with her hands.

Emma looked at Omega Hana and shook her head slightly. She had to pretend to be weak and not reveal her true strength. As for that pendant, of course, there were many ways to retrieve it! Dealing with someone as despicable as Jennifer required nothing less than stripping her of her skin!

o0o

It was now the 31st of the Blue Moon pack, the 12th of February, thirty-one years ago. In other words, Emma had returned to the events of twenty-three years ago when she was thirteen years old.

Throughout the night, Emma was tormented by the memories of her "past life." She lamented silently, unable to cry out loud because the room was too small, and others would overhear any sound. She feared that even the slightest noise would turn her into a disabled person abandoned by the world, trapped in a prison cell. She was terrified at mentioning the Beta Henry residence but despised the two people she hated, now living a luxurious life in the capital. She yearned to bring a knife there and slash them a hundred thousand times...

After shedding tears for a while, Emma cried until she had no tears left, exhausting all her emotions. She gradually calmed herself down, raising her head to look at the dark sky outside the window. Her gaze became gloomy and dark. In her past life, she believed that as long as she fulfilled her duties and wholeheartedly did her best, she would overcome the hardships and enjoy a peaceful life—a withered tree would encounter spring. But who could have anticipated that it was all illusory, like a moonlit flower in the water, a mirage? She had used her righteousness and patience to trade for terrifying betrayals. Betrayed by her indifferent father, mistreated by her cruel husband, and even her beloved sister turned against her...

Although she was inferior to Felicia in appearance, Emma had devoted herself wholeheartedly to Alpha Jeffn. She had forgotten about life and death for him. Without her, Alpha Jeffn would have died long ago. How did it end up with him ascending to the throne of the Lycan King while she became nothing more than trash thrown into a prison cell?

The heavens had granted Emma a chance to return. She took a deep breath, her gaze determined. Why would she still want to spare them? Someday, she would reclaim everything from them, piece by piece!

The night gradually faded, one day had passed, and a new day would arrive in the blink of an eye. Omega Hana hesitated, unsure if she should wake Emma up. The rooster was about to crow, and if Emma was still asleep, Jennifer might scold her.

She contemplated and hesitantly entered the room, only to find it empty. Panic immediately set in. Where was Emma? Seeing the neatly arranged room, she was astonished.

Emma moved back and forth in the kitchen, having finished preparing soy milk and pouring hot porridge into bowls for everyone. She carefully arranged a few pickled black radishes on a plate and then placed the pot of porridge on the table. When she saw Omega Hana's surprised expression as she entered, Emma smiled and said, "Sister Hana, I've finished cooking our meal."

Emma had never called her by name so affectionately before. She had always appeared timid, as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

Emma had no idea what was happening in the other person's mind. Others took care of her life before the age of seven, and suddenly, she was thrown into a self-destructive rural household. Naturally, she couldn't bear it, especially with Jennifer becoming even more ruthless in the past six months due to the lack of money. Emma became even more frightened, like a fledgling bird scared of a bending branch.

But now, after experiencing the heartlessness of Alpha Jeffn and the twelve years of erosion with two broken legs in the prison cell, Jennifer? She was just a minor obstacle, not even a block, just a tiny stone on the road. What was there to be afraid of? Thinking this, Emma smiled and said, "Aunt Moona and the others are about to wake up. Sister Hana, please prepare yourself."

In this house, there were a total of five people. Beta John, the head of the family, used to be the peripheral steward of an Alpha family and was often away from home. His wife, Jennifer, and their eldest son, Mason, along with their daughter-in-law, Omega Hana, and finally, their youngest daughter, Amie.

The more Omega Hana looked at her, the more confused she became, while Emma continued to smile and turned to leave.

In the dilapidated mansion of the Beta John family, the large door slowly opened, and a twelve or thirteen-year-old maid walked out with a wooden tub. The tub was filled with clothes. The maid wore a tattered blue dress that had turned black from repeatedly soiled and washed. There was even a patch on her back. She had two tiny buns of hair tied with a rope on her head.

She was dressed in rags, but her appearance was delicate and graceful. She had an oval-shaped face with fair skin. Her long and slender eyebrows matched her clear black and white phoenix-like eyes, which were agile and lively. Additionally, she had a delicate nose and a small mouth. Her jet-black hair shone, turning even the tattered clothes into something adorable. Compared to the majority of maidens in the village, this young girl was undoubtedly much more beautiful. As a result, numerous eyes followed her along the way.

Emma was dressed in coarse clothing, with no makeup on her face, and she maintained a calm expression as if she didn't see anything. She carried the wooden tub, stepping toward the river bank.

What did it matter if she was beautiful or not? Before, she thought she was extraordinary, but after arriving in the capital and seeing Felicia, she realized her true beauty, akin to a celestial being. Compared to her, her appearance was quite ordinary.