Chapter 4
Blood poured down my face, but Dad turned a blind eye, laughing gleefully.
“Good job! That brat was born to be beaten. Back when her mom was pregnant, I used to beat her just like this. Hahaha…”
Sage sneered at me with a mocking tone.
“I was planning to ask for a favor from the Grayson Family after I marry Steven, to have Jake cripple you instead of killing you outright. At least that way, you’d survive.”
“But since you’re so ungrateful, don’t blame me for having the Grayson Family pressure the Oakleys to finish you off. You can look forward to being played to death.”
She spoke with the arrogance of someone who already considered herself the Crown Princess of Capital City.
I was kicked out through the back door by the security guards, falling to the ground.
Having not eaten all day and after being kicked by Dad earlier, my stomach throbbed
uncontrollably. I curled up on the cold ground, writhing in pain, barely able to stay conscious.
Out of desperation, I called Jake.
“I’m hurt… My stomach hurts a lot. Can you come get me?”
Jake let out a cold chuckle before replying in an icy tone: “Didn’t you seem lively enough to drug me just a couple of days ago? And now you’re playing the delicate damsel? Emily, your tricks never
cease to amaze me.”
He hung up.
Mom was gone, and Dad couldn’t wait for me to die. Was I doomed to the same tragic fate in this life
as well?
The biting wind lashed against my body, and I slowly lost consciousness.
Somewhere in the haze, I thought I saw a beam of light. Someone was calling my name, but I no longer had the strength to respond.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a villa.
3
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1
All my wounds had been carefully treated, and my clothes had been changed.
Jake sat by the bed, his expression complicated as he held the pearl necklace in his hand.
“That… belongs to me,” I said, trying to take it back.
But Jake grabbed my hand and asked, “Your full name is Emily Carson. What’s your nickname?”
I froze, not understanding why he suddenly asked this.
“EL” I replied. “When I was little, I was chubby like a little dumpling, so Mom gave me that
nickname.”
ke didn’t say a word.
After a long silence, he handed the necklace back to me and pointed to the bowl of hot porridge on
the bedside table.
“The taste might not be great, but at least it’s warm. Eat it and get some rest.”
“I know everything that happened today. In a few days, you’ll accompany me to a banquet.”
With that, Jake left the room.
I stared blankly at the bowl of porridge. Did he mean… he made this porridge?
But didn’t he hate me?
The banquet Jake wanted me to attend was the welcome dinner for the Crown Prince of Capital City.
According to the invitation, the banquet was not only to formally introduce the Crown Prince but also for him to announce his wife to the public.
Rumor had it that the Carson Family’s invitation was personally delivered by the Crown Princes personal secretary, who emphasized multiple times that their attendance was essential.
Under normal circumstances, the Carson Family wouldn’t qualify to attend such an elite event. This invitation alone showed how highly the Grayson Family regarded them.
Since the night at the hotel, Steven had disappeared, leaving Sage and the others a little uncertain.
But now, they were all grinning from ear to ear.
fom, I told you, Steven must’ve been preparing a surprise for me. See? Now he’s going to make it
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gmficial!”
Exactly, my daughter is the best! Oh, honey, we’re about to become the in–laws of the Crown Prince of Capital City. We need to buy some new clothes and jewelry so we don’t embarrass ourselves in front of the Grayson Family.”
Dad waved his hand grandly.
“Buy it! Get the most expensive ones!”
Recently, my dad’s company had run into trouble with its product line, so they had set their sights on the Grayson Family. Now, their dream was finally coming true.
or appearances, Dad risked breaching contracts and emptied the company accounts, spending tens of millions to order custom gowns and jewelry for himself, my stepmother, and my sister.