Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Chapter 52

[ What Elysia still doesn’t know the muth ! She’s holding a phone , isn’t she ? ]

[ That phone … wasn’t it the one Rowena threw at her during the VR perspective scene ? ]

Then how can she not know how Mrs.

Drayton died if she has a phone ! ]

[ You golden – digger – level geniuses .

First , she only just started learning how to use a phone .

Second , do you Google how your mom died as soon as you get a device ?

The real point is Rupert calling Elysia “ unclean and saying she’s not worthy of seeing her mom .

Seriously , is that even something a biological father would say ? ]

Torin , equally baffled , manered , “ How could Dad say something like that to Elysia ”

Unfortunately , Rupert was currently enjoying lunch with his “ kind and virtuous wife , Althea , and was unavailable to respond .

Fenwick , however , decided to chime in , his expression unusually solemn .

“ Because Elysia stole Rowena’s hair clip .

I remember it clearly .

She went to Dad to ask if she could visit Mom’s grave , and Dad noticed she was wearing that hair clip he had given to Rowena .

That’s when he accused her … of being unclean .

”

[ Excuse me ? So just because Elysia was wearing Rowena’s hair clip , they automatically assumed she stole it ?

[ Let’s be real , who would steal something and wear it out in the open for everyone to see ! ]

[ Fenwick , you literally heard Elysia wanted to see your mom’s grave .

Why didn’t you take her ? And how could no one in that house bother explaining to Elysia how Mrs.

Drayton really diedt She’s been blaming herself for a year now .

If that officer hain’t overheard today , she would’ve carried that guilt forever .

On the screen .

Elysia sat motionless after hearing the truth from the officer .

It was as if her soul had left her body – her eyes vacant , her limbs limp against the soft chair .

The officer , perplexed by her reaction , asked cautiously , “ Kid , what’s wrong ? Your mom didn’t die because of you .

Why do you still look … so down ! ”

While his phrasing was clumsy , his point was clear .

Surely learning the truth should’ve lifted the unbearable burden she had carried for the past year , the guilt that had weighed on her

But instead of relief , Elysia’s face showed only shock and disbelief ,

Elysia slowly looked up at the kind officer , her lips trembling as she tried to form words .

But every syllable seemed too heavy to utter

Finally , she lowered her head , mustering every ounce of strength she had left to say , “ Then why do they all hate me ? ”

Her voice cracked under the weight of her question .

.

Elysia wanted to ask , “ Why does Torin ignore me and treat me like I don’t exist ? Why does Fenwick only acknowledge Rowena as his sister , as if I’m dead to him ? And Dad ”

Meanwhile , in the Drayton family mansion , Rupert felt a sudden chill , shivering as if cold air had seeped through the room .

“ Darling , are you cold ? “ Althea asked , concerned .

“ Ill go grab a sweater for you upstairs .

“ She handed him a napkin before hurrying out of the dining

footh

Rupert

glanced toward the air conditioning unit , puzzled .

The temperature seemed perfectly normal , yet the chill persisted .

Taking out his phone , he initially planned to adjust the thermostat through the remote app .

But an accidental tip reopened the livestream he had been watching earlier .

Back on the screen , the soft glow of a memory transition enveloped Elysia once again , plunging her into another flashback .

kuper

supert froze as the

younger version of

version of himself appeared on – screen .

Rupert said .

“ Today is Rowena’s birthday .

You’d better not show up at the party .

Got it ? ”

The words rang out cold and authoritative , leaving no room for argument

[ Thas man .

This man really told his own daughter not to attend her sister’s birthday party ! For what ? What was the point of that command ? ]

Chapter 52

Rupert’s face turned beet red as he watched himself deliver such an unkind order .

Furious and embarrassed , he ignored his wife’s calls and stormed out of the house .

“ Rupert ‘ Where are you going ? Lunch isn’t finished ! “ Althea called after him .

“ To the office ! ” Rupert loudly responded to someone before storming back into his car , gripping his phone tightly .

He had planned to shut it off and leave everything behind , but curiosity got the better of him Hesitantly , his trembling fingers opened the livestream once more .

[ Now that I think about it .

I’ve only ever attended Rowena’s birthday parties .

What about Elysia’s Did Rupert really not throw her one ?

[ See ‘ Some people don’t even know what it’s like to have a birthday party .

Elysia should already consider herself lucky to have been born into the Drayton family .

Rupert probably just didn’t want her embarrassing herself with any bad habits she picked up in the countryside .

]

The fast – forwarded footage shifted to Rowena , elegantly dressed , stepping gracefully into view .

In her hands was a small cake , which she carried with practiced ease .

She approached Elysia , stopping directly in front of her , and extended the cake with a bright smile .

“ Sorry about this ,” Rowena said sweetly .

“ We didn’t realize yesterday was your birthday .

Happy belated birthday ! ”

The color drained from Elysia’s face .

It was as if someone had pulled the rug out from under her .

She had grown used to her father and brothers forgetting her birthday .

But for Rowena to remember ? And for Rowena to be the one acknowledging it ? Elysia thought .

Wait a mi

a minute .

Rowena’s birthday is the day after Elysia’s Rupert couldn’t just combine their celebrations ? ]

Who would want to share a birthday with their stepsister ? That’s just awkward .

]

At first , Rupert felt a pang of pride for Rowena’s thoughtfulness .

But as the realization sank in , a nagging thought began to eat away at him .

Elysia’s birthday was the day before Rowena’s .

Rupert racked his brain but ultimately couldn’t recall anything

Reflecting on the past ten years of their relationship , he realized with a sinking heart that he had never once thrown a party for Elysia – not even remembered her birthday .

As her father , if he had paid more attention to her back then , perhaps Elysia wouldn’t have grown jealous of Rowena or stolen the hairpin he had gifted her .

Rupert was consumed by a mix of guilt and anger – but the anger far outweighed the guilt .

On the screen , Elysia stared at the cake in her hands for a long moment before finally asking “ How did you know ? ”

Rowena didn’t respond immediately .

Instead , she reached up and removed the crystal hairpin from her own hair , carefully placing it on Elysia’s head .

Smiling sweetly , she said .

“ Oh , Dad told me .

He just called for you .

Maybe it’s about your mom .

You should go

Elysia’s previously pale face lit up with joy , her expression radiating hope .

“ Thank you ,” she whispered , overcome with emotion .

Unable to stop herself , she wrapped her arms around Rowena in a tight hug .

As she left , her gaze toward Rowena was filled with heartfelt gratinade .

[ Wait a second , that hairpin … isn’t that the million – dollar one Rupert gave Rowena ? Why else would it be worth 300 thousand dollars ?!

[ You’re missing the point .

Rowena tricked Elysia into wearing that hairpin to go see Rupert , using her dead mom as bait .

.

]

[ Rowena ! How dare you mess with Elysia’s emotions like that ? Elysia even gave you a hug and a thank you for it ! ]

The scene fast – forwarded to what Fenwick saw.

net

Rupert’s face darkened the moment he saw Elysia .

She cautiously asked , “ Tad .

could you take me to see Mom ? ”

Rupert’s anger exploded .

“ Elysia ‘ It’s bad enough that you’re so dishonest , but now you dare parade around in that hairpin and come to me asking tover your mother ? Do you even deserve to see her !”

Elysia flinched at the sound of her name , ber body trembling as his words froze her in place ,

“ 1.

I’m not dishonest , ” she stammered , her voice small and unsure .

But Rupert’s look of disappointment pierced her like needles .

His words were a mystery to her , their meaning elusive .

Chapter 52

Elysia thought , “ Dishonest … Did he mean I’d stolen something ? Or was it something else ? Was he disgusted by mer

Tm not dishonest , Dad , ” Flysia pleaded , her voice breaking “ Please , Dad … Please take me to see Mom .

” Then , suddenly , her knees buckled , and she knelt before him , tears brimming in her eyes .

Rupen remained unmoved .

Without a word , he reached out , removed the hairpin from her head , and walked away .

Before the livestream ashence could react , the scene shifted to another room

“ Wow .

Thanks , Dad .

I’m so glad you found it If I’d really lost it , I wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight from guilt .

Rowena said w

smile .

with a swe

sweet

Rupert was Rowena , the very girl who had set everything in motion .

She threw herself into his arms , her face lighting up

with

Standing before Rus

excitement .

[ This is insane ! If I were born into the Drayton family , 1 wouldn’t survive a day before that witch got me killed .

]

[ What a perfectly orchestrated performance .

Forget rookie awards , Rowena deserves an Oscar for Best Actress ! ]

Rupert , oblivious to everything , patted Rowena’s shoulder , clearly enjoying her adoration .

“ It’s all right now .

I found it for you .

But Rowena , stay away from Elysia from now on .

Okay ?”

e sister ! ”

“ Why , Dad ” Elysia didn’t push me away today , and she even gave me a doll .

Doesn’t that mean she’s starting to like me as her linte

Rowena held up the patched , tattered doll Elysia had given her , cradling it in her arms with an

an innocent

smile .

Her childlike display only deepened Rupert’s anger and concern .

“ Rowena , listen to me .

You’re too young to understand ”

With that .

Rupert grabbed the doll from her arms and stormed out of the room .

He quickly returned to where Elysia still sat on the ground , stunned and silent .

Without hesitation , he flung the doll at her feet .

The fragile doll , painstakingly stitched back together , shattered into countless pieces , irreparable this time .

The glow of the scene dimmed .

The dashback ended

Elysia’s red – rimmed eyes seemed to hold something far beyond tears .

A single drop of crimson slid from the comer of her eye – a tear of blood

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