Chapter 3

The banquet ended in disappointment.

I was forcibly kept at the Wheeler family's residence by Emily under the guise of "talking about Ian" that night.

I was arranged in a guest room on the third floor, where everything was exactly the same as it had been before my imprisonment. They hoped to soften me with nostalgia.

But I knew it was all an illusion.

At dinner, the long dining table seated only four people: me, Marc, Emily, and Leanna.

The servant, Mary Nash, who once adored me, now diligently served Leanna, picking out fish bones for her, completely ignoring my presence.

There was no place for me in that house anymore.

Emily was the first to speak, and her tone was a mix of feigned concern and condescending scrutiny. "Valerie, you've been in jail for five years and must have suffered quite a bit. You must be mentally unstable. We all understand it."

Her words were like a dagger, stabbing into my heart. She intended to brand me as mentally unstable.

Leanna immediately chimed in, and her voice was sickeningly sweet. "That's right, Valerie. Marc and Emily have always been worried about you. Don't overthink it. We just want you to be well."

I looked at Marc. He finally showed his attitude in a chillingly cold voice. He was like issuing a decree. "How much money will let you leave?"

Emily quickly pushed a black bank card towards me, and her tone dripped with charity. "Here's ten million. Consider it compensation. Take the money, and start anew abroad. Don't come back to embarrass us."

Ten million.

They tried to use ten million to buy off my five years of imprisonment, the billions my mother left me, my reputation, and my future.

How broad-minded they were!

Leanna pretended to be gracious and asserted her position as the hostess of the house. "Valerie, Marc really cares about you. If you go abroad, I can persuade him to give you a monthly allowance."

I laughed in anger. "Do you think you can arrange my belongings?"

Emily's face darkened. She slammed her cutlery down and created a sharp noise. "Valerie, don't be ungrateful. You have been to prison. Your reputation is already ruined. We are kind enough to give you ten million dollars."

My smile grew colder. "Is that so? Then shouldn't you thank the woman who's been to prison? The Wheeler Corporation is valued in billions of dollars now."

Marc's expression turned completely dark. He threw some documents onto the table. "Valerie, don't talk to me about the past. Look at these. They're Ian's medical bills from last month. It is one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. The month before that, it was one hundred and fifty thousand."

He was cold, and each of his words seemed to be slicing me. "Without the Wheeler family, he wouldn't survive a month. Are you really willing to give up his only hope for your pitiful pride?"

He was threatening me with Ian.

Leanna's eyes welled up again. "Valerie, how can you say that about Marc? He's worked so hard these past years. He's exhausted himself over Ian's illness."

She used Ian as a shield once more.

I had completely lost my appetite.

I stood up and said, "It seems we have nothing left to discuss."

"Stop right there," Emily yelled sternly. "Ian spends millions of dollars for his treatment every month. If you leave, who will take care of him?"

I paused, but I didn't turn back. My voice was still calm. "Whoever made him like that should take responsibility."

With that, I headed straight for the door.

Behind me, Emily's furious curses echoed, along with Marc's voice, suppressed with anger yet brimming with confidence. "Let her go. I want to see how long she lasts without the Wheeler family. She has not a dime now."