1 The day my father and his ex-girlfriend made headlines at a lavish gala, everyone mocked my mother. They ridiculed her for abandoning a promising career to marry into wealth, only to remain a nameless consort for thirty years, lacking even the courage to openly confront the "other woman." My mother, her eyes swollen from weeping, looked at me wearily. "He betrayed me first, so I no longer want him either," she stated, her voice quiet but firm. "Elara, will you come with me?" Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from Liam, my boyfriend of seven years. 【Elara, it's just signing a paper. Can't you just stay my girlfriend?】 I paused, then nodded. And so, on the day of their wedding, my mother and I vanished in the roaring blaze that consumed our villa. ... The moment I saw the trending news, I rushed home. My mother sat by the window, gazing at the climbing roses she had planted with my father. "Elara, he lied to me," she said, her voice hollow. "He promised that once he took full control of the Blackwood Corporation, he would marry me. I waited for thirty years, only to receive news of his marriage to Valerie Sterling." I knelt, taking my mother’s hands. "Those are just tabloid rumors, Mom. The truth isn't certain yet," I insisted. "Even when Grandpa and Grandma vehemently opposed your union, Dad wouldn't leave you. Now that they're gone, why would he abandon you?" My mother picked up an invitation from a nearby table, handing it to me with a bitter, desolate smile. "Mr. Thorpe, his assistant, gave this to me. He said they hope I'll be prepared and avoid causing any trouble on their big day." Her voice trembled with a raw pain. "He pities Valerie for secretly bearing him a son, but did he ever once think of me? I gave up everything for him, willingly remaining his unofficial partner for thirty years!" Her voice broke. "My daughter, too, has been called an illegitimate child for over twenty years! And in the end, all I get is a warning not to cause trouble?" A child? Was this the reason Father had broken his promise to Mother, insisted on marrying Valerie? Just because Valerie had secretly given birth to a son, an heir to the supposed family empire? So, he would assume this ridiculous "responsibility" and make my mother bear all the consequences? Mother wept uncontrollably, pulling me into a tight embrace. "He broke his word, yet he expects everything to remain as before." Her grip tightened. "But I am not a mistress, and my daughter is not illegitimate." As she spoke, Mother gently stroked my face. "Elara, will you leave with Mama?" She paused, her gaze searching. "Or will you stay in the capital with that young Davies boy?" At the mention of Leo Davies, I glanced down at my phone. The message still displayed: 【Elara, it's just signing a paper. Can't you just stay my girlfriend?】 A strained expression crossed my face. I returned my mother’s embrace and spoke. "No, Mom." My voice was firm. "I am your daughter. Of course, I'll go with you." A beat of silence. "As for Leo and me... there's no future there." My mother stopped crying, looking at me with concern. "What happened? Leo has been with you for seven years. How could he..." I forced a bitter laugh, dismissing the message on my phone. "Dad's thirty years with you meant nothing. My seven years with him are even less." My voice was cold. "The Davies family has a major project they need to collaborate on with the Sterling Group." My gaze drifted to the window. "Leo has already agreed to an arranged marriage with Miss Sterling. Their wedding is on the fifteenth of this month." A wry smile. "As for me and him, Leo says everything will be 'as usual'." Hearing this, Mother’s face flushed with anger. "As usual?" she scoffed. "That means he expects you to be his mistress! Leo Davies is utterly outrageous!" Tears welled in her eyes. "It's all my fault, my darling. It's because of me that you can't even have a proper relationship." Tears streamed down Mother's cheeks. She hugged me tightly, whispering apologies over and over. I comforted her, but my own tears silently fell. "Mom, this was never our fault," I said softly, my voice breaking. "It's good that we found out. Let's leave this place and start a new life. How does that sound?" ... After comforting Mother and settling her in her room, I hurried back to my apartment. The moment I opened the door, I saw Leo Davies and Lily Sterling standing in the middle of my living room. "Elara, you're back." Leo’s voice was warm, almost relieved. "I knew you still couldn't bear to let go of us." My gaze fell on the wedding ring on Leo's hand, and a sarcastic smile touched my lips. "Leo, you're wearing a wedding ring, and you and your future wife have entered my apartment without permission. You don't expect me to welcome you, do you?" 2 Catching the mockery in my voice, Leo hastily explained. "Elara, why don't you understand? I've told you many times, marrying Lily is only temporary. The partnership between the Davies family and the Sterling Group isn't something I can control. And Lily even said she's willing to accept your presence." Lily Sterling stepped forward at that moment, looking at me with a hint of disdain. "Leo is right. Miss Thorne, you might not be aware, but I've seen many like you in our circle." Her voice was cold. "As long as you don't cause too much trouble, I won't involve my parents. And I'm even willing to speak well of you to the Davies family. After all, the name Thorne is quite different from Blackwood." Her condescension was blatant. I simply picked up the glass of water from the table and threw it directly at both of them. "Ah!" Lily shrieked. Leo hastily grabbed tissues to wipe the water from Lily. "Elara, are you insane?!" he raged. "I think you're the ones who are insane!" I looked at them, my eyes cold, and forced a smile. "Miss Sterling, are you deaf or just brainless? Leo and I had a proper relationship for seven years. And now, you expect me to be 'accepted' by you? You two come here, putting on a self-important show in front of me, but did you ever once ask what I wanted?" My voice rose. "Get out of my house. Now!" As if provoked by my words, Lily rushed towards me, her face flushed with fury. "Elara Thorne, what are you so proud of?" she spat. "Your mother shamelessly clung to the Blackwood family for years, without even a marriage certificate. And now Mr. Blackwood is marrying Aunt Valerie, so your mother ends up being nothing but a mistress after all. Like mother, like daughter. I bet you're destined to be a mistress too! If it weren't for Leo's pleading, you wouldn't even be allowed near the Davies family's doorstep!" Slap! Before Lily could finish, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. The next second, Leo shoved me away, sending me crashing into a nearby table. I clutched my bruised forehead, my head swimming. "Elara, don't go too far!" Leo said, heartbroken, protecting Lily. He turned his anger on me. "Haven't you understood yet? Once Mr. Blackwood marries Valerie, you and your mother will both be nothing more than a hidden mistress and an illegitimate child. With your background, even being a mistress is disgraceful!" His voice hardened. "It's Lily being generous, willing to make allowances because of our past. If you continue to be so ungrateful, don't blame me for being unkind." "Unkind?" I let out a low laugh, pushing myself up from the floor. Then, without hesitation, I picked up the glass and smashed it onto Leo's head. The glass shattered instantly, leaving a gash with crimson blood blossoming on Leo's forehead. Lily shrieked, threatening to call the police, but a glare from me silenced her. "Leo Davies, you brought someone else into my house without my permission. That's trespassing. I'm the one who should be calling the police. And I don't need her generosity. Consider my seven years with you thrown to the dogs!" Leo, dazed from the blow, still managed a parting shot as he left. "Elara Thorne, do you really think you're fit to be Mrs. Davies now?" He scoffed. "I'll wait for the day you come begging me!" The moment the door slammed shut, I collapsed to the floor again, silent tears streaming down my face. Leo and I had known each other since childhood, and we'd been in love for seven years. In those seven years, he remembered all my preferences, accompanied me on every anniversary, and was always there when I needed him. I thought I had found someone to spend my life with, and countless times, I had dreamed with him about our married life. But he knew I despised mistresses more than anything, yet he still tried to force me into that position for such a ridiculous reason. All our past, it had all become a cruel joke! He once said he didn't care about anything, as long as it was me. Now he was the one telling me to reflect on whether I was worthy of being his wife. Thinking of this, I stood up again, looking around the apartment. From photo albums to decorative figurines, every brick and stone in this apartment was something Leo and I had chosen together. He said he wanted to decorate this place as our little home, excitedly asking me again and again, buying every item I liked. "Elara, no matter how angry you get with me in the future, please give me another chance, for all the effort I've put in." Leo used to tell me, playfully, as he held me close. But I would earnestly caution him. "That depends on what you do. If you do the one thing I despise most, I will never forgive you!" Leo would then promise, holding me tight, refusing to let go. "How could I? If that day ever came, I'd jump straight off Lover's Peak, where we pledged our love, to atone for my sins! Then you can set me on fire and scatter my ashes!" Thinking of those past conversations, my heart ached even more unbearably. I picked up my phone and made a call. "Yes, sell this apartment. As quickly as possible." 3 I prepared everything, booking flights for my mother and me. However, my father's assistant discovered our plans and immediately sent bodyguards to monitor my mother and me day and night. Even on the day of his wedding, he forced my mother and me to attend. On the wedding day, everyone who saw my mother and me was surprised. "It's Mr. Blackwood's wedding today, and these two women dare to show up?" "Why even ask?" "They're obviously shameless, forcing their way in." "A common actress, truly thinking she could climb high?" "And her daughter is just as brazen, trying to latch onto the Davies family, only to be played." "Indeed! I heard that Davies boy is getting married today too." "Yes, Miss Sterling is a proper match. She wouldn't even look at her." Whispers of contempt and judgment filled the air, and various disapproving gazes fell upon my mother and me. I looked at my mother, worried, but she gently squeezed my hand. "Elara, don't worry about Mama." Her voice was soft, peaceful. "Recognizing a person after thirty years is a steep price, but at least I'm finally clear-headed. From now on, we'll just follow our hearts." The grand doors swung open. Valerie Sterling, in her exquisite wedding gown, walked step by step towards the altar. My father, in a perfectly tailored suit, watched Valerie with a face full of tender affection. Their son, young Gareth, then placed Valerie's hand in my father’s. "Father, I entrust Mother to you from now on." Gareth said, his voice earnest. "She suffered so much raising me all these years. I hope you will treat her well." A flicker of satisfaction crossed my father’s face. He patted Gareth's shoulder. "You rascal, lecturing your old man now. Don't just talk about me; you work hard too. The Blackwood legacy will one day fall to you." It was a picture of filial devotion that moved many to sentiment. As soon as my father finished speaking, his gaze fell upon my mother and me. "And, your Aunt Eleanor, she has, after all, been with me for many years." He continued, his voice calm. "From now on, do not be too disrespectful. Whatever is rightfully yours will be yours. As for anything extra, I will not be foolish." Catching the veiled warning in his words, the scornful and questioning gazes of the guests once again settled upon my mother and me. I firmly gripped my mother's hand. My phone vibrated at that moment. I opened it to a video. In the video, Leo Davies was gazing deeply at Lily Sterling, solemnly pledging his vows to her parents. "Father, Mother," Leo said, his voice earnest. "Rest assured, I will take good care of Lily. I will never let her suffer any grievance, nor will I ever let her be sad." I took a deep breath, then stood up directly. "Mr. Blackwood, there's no need for your passive-aggressive remarks here." My voice was clear and strong, cutting through the murmurs. "If my mother were truly a mercenary woman, why would she have wasted thirty years on you?" My gaze hardened. "I disdain the Blackwood family, and my mother disdains it even more. Keep your so-called legacy for your precious son." My father’s face flushed with anger, seemingly unprepared for such a public scene. "Impudent!" he roared. "Is this the day for your disgraceful antics? If you don't wish to stay, then take your mother and get out!" A group of black-suited bodyguards quickly arrived, practically dragging my mother and me, forcing us into a car, and locking us inside the villa. Only after the bodyguards retreated from the door did I calmly take out my phone and instruct Uncle George to recall all our people. Years ago, his wife and child fell critically ill, and my mother and I paid for their medical expenses, saving their lives. Later, Uncle George, to repay the kindness, became a bodyguard for the Blackwood family. I never thought he would be truly useful today. On the villa's television, news was playing of my father and Leo Davies's wedding. Watching them passionately embrace, the sadness had vanished from my mother's eyes. She smiled at me calmly, picked up her luggage, and said, "Elara, let's go." I nodded solemnly, called for the pre-arranged car, and took one last look at the villa where I had lived for over twenty years. Then, without a backward glance, I drove away.
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