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.