The housekeeper went upstairs to check on Nora. She saw the gauze on her head stained with a terrifying patch of red. She panicked and dialed 911 right away.

At the hospital, Nora leaned against the bed after her wound received treatment. She stared blankly, with no reaction at all.

After some time passed, she walked out of her room in a daze. As she passed another room, she heard a familiar man's voice inside.

Her body stiffened. She froze in place.

"I'm worried. Stay in the hospital for a few days and get checked out, to see how things are."

Nora turned sideways to look. She saw Ethan gently stroking the woman's belly, his face full of concern.

She bit her lips hard. She watched, refusing to believe her eyes.

Madison wiped her eyes beside them. "Thank goodness my precious grandchild is fine. Nora has become more and more unreasonable!"

Jake's tone still carried some anger. "You're carrying Ethan's child. If Nora bullies you in the future, come tell me right away. I'll stand up for you."

Nora's eyes widened as she listened to their obvious favoritism.

Then she heard the man's voice, cold without a trace of warmth. "If she dares harm my child, I'll make her pay!"

His words stabbed into Nora's heart like a knife. They twisted back and forth.

Blood appeared where she bit her lips. Nora remained unaware. She staggered backward, tears streaming down her face. She fled in panic back to her own room.

She lay on the bed and cried silently.

The heart that once beat passionately cooled completely.

For the next week, she stayed in the hospital to receive treatment and recover.

They shared the same hospital, but no one came to see her.

Sometimes she spotted Ethan bringing Lilah for checkups. She glanced once and turned away.

On the day of her discharge, she ran into them again for a prenatal visit.

The moment Lilah saw her, she clung to Ethan's shoulder and sobbed as if frightened. "Ethan, the doctor said everything is okay. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to the baby."

Ethan raised his hand. He gently wiped her tears, comforted her for a while, and then looked at Nora coldly. "What are you doing here? Do you know your mistake? Apologize to Lilah now. I might barely forgive you."

Nora curled her lips in a mocking smile. "You think too much."

Ethan's presence turned oppressively heavy. His face darkened. "Remember this. Don't show up around Lilah anymore. She doesn't like seeing you. If anything happens to her again, I won't let you off!"

Nora lifted her eyes slightly. Her gaze swept across his angry face. "Have you finished? If you're done, can you get out of the way?"

Ethan watched her calm and detached demeanor. A fire rose in his heart.

He gritted his teeth. "I'll settle this with you sooner or later!"

With that, he pulled Lilah along. They left in a furious rush.

After discharge, Nora received the admission guide email from Flison University. Her lips slowly curved up. Her heart filled with anticipation for the future.

Back at the house, Nora began sorting her things.

She dumped all the jewelry from the cabinet. She laid it out there.

She looked at these items, once treasured like gems. Most of them came from Ethan. Without a second of hesitation, she sold them all at low prices.

That included the luxury dresses and bags. She even sold the famous painting she bought for Ethan.

Jake and Madison watched Nora direct people to move things in and out. They thought she planned to move back to her family. Visible joy appeared on their faces.

After selling the miscellaneous items, Nora finally felt a bit lighter in her heart.

At last, she arrived at the cemetery.

She placed a bouquet of roses—her mother's favorite—in front of the grave. She spoke softly. "Mom, I'm leaving. Don't worry. I'll come back to visit you."

After leaving the cemetery, Nora headed back to the Payne house and asked her father for the assets that belonged to her.

Rodrick exploded in anger at the request. He pounded the table and yelled, "I haven't even confronted you about the divorce yet. And now you have the gall to come begging for money? Whether you cry and grovel or get down on your knees, go back and beg Ethan for forgiveness right this second!"

Nora didn't even blink. "Too late. I've got the divorce decree already."

As he glared daggers, she slid the contract across the table to him. "I'm only here to claim what's mine. If you won't sign, I'll blow the lid off how you siphoned off the Stanley family's inventory. Don't think I won't. Try me."

"You—" Rodrick's face flushed crimson with rage.

Nora's mouth twitched in a faint smile. She pressed on, "I know about the shares and the house Mom left me. You'll hand every last one back."

Rodrick leaped up. He glared furiously. "Don't get greedy!"

Nora didn't flinch. She pulled a thick folder from her bag and shoved it toward him. "Read these over first. Then decide."

Rodrick snatched the papers. He stumbled back in horror as soon as his eyes hit the contents. "How did you get hold of this?"

Nora ignored the question. Her voice stayed icy. "Sign it now, or rot in jail."

Rodrick froze. Minutes dragged in tense silence. At last, he slumped and scrawled his name on the contract.

Armed with the signed papers, Nora liquidated every share and sold all the estates.

With all that settled, she made one final trip to the Stanley estate.

Ethan wasn't home. Jake and Madison waited, with odd looks on their faces. Word of the Payne family drama had obviously reached them.

Madison shoved the divorce decree at her like they burned. "You're divorced from Ethan. Stay away from here from now on!"

Nora traced the embossed seal on the certificate. Her tone stayed even. "Relax. I can't stand the sight of you either. I'm flying out today, and I won't set foot here again."

Madison blinked. Unbridled glee seeped into her voice. "Then go already. Never show your face around us. You're nothing but trouble!"

Nora met her gaze. Scorn flickered openly in her eyes. "Forgot about the share transfer from our wedding? Part of Stanley Enterprises is mine. The contract spells it out in black and white."

"You've got some nerve bringing up shares!" Jake hopped mad. "You jinx who couldn't pop out a kid in three years. You robbed us of a grandkid, and now you want a payout?"

Madison's hands trembled with fury. "Nora, you're utterly shameless!"

"Your family's the shameless one!" Nora shot back with a sharp laugh. "Ethan cheated first. And you thought I'd walk away empty-handed? Dream on!"

Madison fumed. "No wonder Ethan said this morning his life's biggest mistake was marrying you! We never should've welcomed you into the family. Bossy. Irrational. Brazen as hell!"

Nora's fingers tightened at the mention of Ethan's name. She lifted her chin. Her words cut like ice. "I've got lawyers on it. Expect the summons from court."

She spun on her heel and strode out. Their string of curses faded behind her.

Before she left, Nora stole one last look at the house she'd once chased after. It felt utterly alien now.

She'd never come back.

Lugging her suitcase, she walked away without a backward glance.

That night, Ethan came home with Lilah. A smile played on his lips until something clicked. His voice turned frosty. "Where's Nora? Divorce is final. If she tries to weasel her way back in, don't say I didn't warn her—I'll toss her out myself."

Madison huffed. "She bolted first thing. Morning flight overseas. Swore she'd stay gone for good! That schemer didn't just bleed the Paynes dry on her way out. She's after our shares too..."

Ethan went still.

He'd gotten the outcome he craved. But joy eluded him. A hollow ache bloomed in his chest, like something vital had vanished beyond reach.

Madison rambled on, yet not a word registered for him.

His phone buzzed then.

He picked up. His assistant's voice tumbled out in a rush. "Mr. Stanley, we've got fresh leads on Miss Rosalyn Harper's old suicide case. A witness says they saw the whole thing go down. They've got video."

Ethan gripped his phone tightly and asked "What did he say?"

His assistant's hesitant voice came through. "That guy says he wants ten million before he'll hand over the video..."

Ethan replied right away. "Agree to it. Tell him to meet me in the private room at Horizon Tower tomorrow!"

After hanging up Lilah noticed his grave expression and asked, "What happened?"

Ethan let out a slow breath. "There's a new development in your sister's suicide..."

He finished speaking but failed to notice Lilah's face drain of color beside him. She paled completely and dug her nails deep into her palm.

Lilah tugged at his sleeve. Her face strained with effort. "Ethan, it's been so many years. Why do you still want to..."

Ethan's expression turned icy. "I need to know who killed Rosalyn and make that person pay what they owe!"

The next morning, Ethan shrugged on his coat and headed out.

Lilah tried multiple times to stop him. First she claimed hunger, then stomach pains.

Ethan assumed she feared being alone and soothed her. "It's okay. I'll be back soon. Stay home and wait for me."

Ethan drove fast. His heart raced in time with the speeding car.

He had sworn the day before to uncover the truth. Now as the moment neared, he felt a twinge of fear.

He dreaded that Rosalyn's death truly linked to Nora.

He arrived at the base of Horizon Tower. Rather than go in right away, he lit a cigarette and leaned against his car.

Just as he steeled himself to enter, his assistant called. "Mr. Stanley, the witness just got into a car accident on his way here!"

Ethan jolted in shock. The cigarette fell from his hand to the ground. "What happened?"

His assistant rushed on. "A drunk driver on West Bridge rammed his car straight into the river."

"And the man? How is he now?"

His assistant's tone sank with dismay. "They're still pulling him out..."

Ethan sped to the scene. He found chaos upon arrival. The rescue team he had dispatched earlier were still looking for the guy. No sign of the man emerged. Ethan's face grew heavier.

Then a person who should not have been there appeared.

Ethan asked her in surprise, "Lilah, what are you doing here?"

Lilah's eyes reddened with tears. "I saw you on the news live stream. I worried so I came to find you. It's so dangerous here. Can we please leave?"

Ethan shook his head. "No. I have to see him pulled out with my own eyes!"

Lilah's face stiffened. Then her eyes lit up. She pointed at the drunk driver, now cuffed by police. "I've seen him talking to Miss Payne before. Did she send him?"

Her eyes brightened more as she spoke. "Yes it must be Miss Payne! She doesn't want you to know about my sister's death. She sent someone to destroy the evidence!"

Ethan frowned at her flushed excited face. He asked suspiciously, "Where did you see them?"

Lilah faltered for a moment unable to answer. She pretended not to hear and covered her face to cry. "Ethan, my sister was only eighteen when she died. You have to avenge her for me!"

"We've got him! They've found the man!" Shouts erupted amid the commotion.

A blood-soaked man got lifted out. He lay gasping on the brink of death.

Ethan pushed past the sobbing Lilah to inspect him. The rescue doctor said the man still breathed, but his injuries proved severe. He needed immediate treatment.

Ethan ordered his assistant at once. "Spend whatever it takes. Get the best doctors to treat him. He cannot die!"

His assistant nodded quickly and made the calls.

Outside the emergency room.

The witness's heart stopped the moment they reached the hospital. Doctors fought to revive him inside.

Ethan paced anxiously back and forth.

Lilah sat nearby. She stared fixedly at the emergency room door as if to burn it through.

A sharp beep cut off. The machines fell silent.

Lilah's heart pounded wildly. Cold sweat beaded instantly on her forehead.