I was never a magnanimous person.

Zelda tore me away from my birth family for more than 20 years and treated me terribly that whole time. I had always harbored resentment toward her. Naturally, I could never bring myself to feel close to Amber, the one who had benefited from it all.

Back then, Jeremy had remarked, seemingly offhandedly, "What did Amber do wrong? She was unaware of it all back then too."

I had sulked over that for two whole days. In the end, he came to pacify me with a packet of candy, and all was forgotten.

Looking back now, that moment seemed to have been the dividing line between us. Life went on as usual, but only now did I realize that we had already stepped onto different paths from that moment on.

I placed the candy into my mouth. It melted on my tongue, sickeningly sweet.

I summoned my most trusted maid and handed her a sealed letter. "Send this to Kingstown at once. Deliver it to Ms. Simon."

The letter was for my best friend, Giselle Simon. She was the only one in Bergdorf who had seen through every one of my disguises and still chose to treat me with sincerity.

Three years ago, she moved to Kingstown with her family, and since then, we had kept in touch only through letters.

In the letter, I wrote, "Giselle, I intend to get a divorce and leave for Kingstown. I will never return here again. But I will need your help to make it happen."

When she reads it, she would likely be shocked at first, then relieved.

On the day my injuries finally healed, I returned home from the retreat without informing anyone. When I pushed open the gates of the Scott residence with unsteady steps, I heard laughter drifting from the living room.

My breath caught, and I froze in place.

Outside, the bright moon hung high, gently spilling light over the four figures inside. They looked warm and harmonious. Not a shred of that warmth reached me. Only I was cold and alone.

When they saw me, the laughter came to an abrupt halt. The air instantly froze.

I smiled slightly and asked coolly, "May I ask where my room is?"

Christine's expression stiffened, while Amber immediately stood up and pointed toward a small door at the outer edge of the estate. "Maisie, your things… We've already packed them up for you. They're all over there."

It was a small and cramped maid's room. In just a few short days, every trace of me had been erased, swept clean, and shoved into that tiny corner. Meanwhile, Amber's vanity and belongings had openly taken over the bedroom that Jeremy and I once shared.

I let out a self-mocking laugh. "I thought you all were working together to deceive me. But seeing where I'm meant to live now, I suppose it confirms that I really am just an adopted daughter."

"Maisie…" Embarrassment was written all over Jeremy's face as he stepped forward. "Why didn't you tell us that you're well now? I could've gone to pick you up."

I looked at him coldly and sneered. "And trouble my brother-in-law? How would I dare trouble the great Mr. Scott with such a task?"

The moment those words left my mouth, Christine's face darkened. "Maisie, what kind of attitude is that? Amber kindly helped pack your things, and instead of being grateful, you're being sarcastic!"

Amber's eyes instantly reddened as she hid behind Christine, looking utterly wronged. Seeing this, Robert shouted at me, "You bad woman! Don't bully Mommy! Get out of our house!"

At that moment, I couldn't help but laugh. The pain in my chest spasmed violently, and my entire body began to tremble.

Jeremy had remained silent until now. Finally, his unfathomable gaze locked onto mine as he asked slowly, "Have your memories returned?"

I looked at him and suddenly laughed bitterly. A flicker of unease appeared on Christine's face. Amber, however, still stood tall, righteous and unyielding.

Robert seemed to piece something together from the adults' reactions. He screamed at me viciously, "I don't want you as my mommy! You're not my mommy! You should never remember anything. Leave our family forever!"

"Robbie, that's enough!" Jeremy shouted.

Noticing my terrible expression, he reached for my hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Maisie, Robbie is still young. He didn't mean it. Children's words shouldn't be taken to heart."

I withdrew my hand and said with a smile, "He's not that young anymore. He knows right from wrong. Do you really think words like that can be brushed off as thoughtless?"

Seeing Jeremy begin to waver, Amber's face turned pale. She immediately collapsed weakly into his arms. "Jeremy, I feel so dizzy…"

Amber cried out in pain, instantly drawing all of Jeremy's attention.

He turned to me, his voice cold. "Are you satisfied now?"

The entire household erupted into chaos as everyone rushed to support Amber, even urgently calling for a doctor. As they were leaving, Christine didn't forget to turn back and scream at me. "You cursed wretch!"

I stood in place until my legs went numb before finally making my way to the maid's room. The exhaustion, both physical and emotional, crushed me completely. I collapsed onto the narrow single bed and fell into a deep sleep.

I didn't know how much time passed before I was jolted awake by rough hands yanking me up.

Jeremy's eyes were bloodshot as he dragged me off the bed. "Maisie! How can you be so vicious?"

I wasn't even fully awake before his furious accusations came crashing down on me.

"You know Amber is weak now, and that she's allergic to almonds. Eating them could kill her. Yet, you deliberately had the pastry shop send her almond croissants. You're so spiteful. You could've killed her!"

I was stunned. Almond croissants? When had I ever ordered such a thing?

I laughed in exasperation. "If I really wanted her dead, would I use such an obvious method? Isn't that practically inviting myself to get caught?"

"If it wasn't you, then who? Your name is clearly written in the shop's records!" Jeremy roared, slamming an account book down in front of me. "Maisie, I'm disappointed in you."

Disappointed? If anyone had the right to be disappointed, it was me. Every time Amber was involved, he never hesitated, believing her without question and pushing all the blame onto me.

"Think whatever you want," I said flatly, no longer interested in arguing. "If you think I did it, then report it to the authorities."

With that, I shoved past him and walked straight out of that nauseating house. Then, I immediately sent word to Giselle.

Not long after, Christine stormed into my hotel room. "Maisie! How could I have given birth to such a malicious daughter? What has Amber ever done to you that you would try to kill her like this?"

I listened quietly until she finished screaming, then spoke calmly. "Mother, do you know? The first year after I was brought back into the Liddell family, I secretly hired a doctor to perform a DNA test. Because I couldn't believe that a mother could be so cold to a daughter she had lost for decades."

Christine's breath caught in her throat.

I continued, "The results confirmed that you are my biological mother. But I felt not even an ounce of joy. Because I finally understood that blood alone decides nothing. 20 years of favoritism had already seeped into your bones. In your heart, Amber is your only daughter."

"You're talking nonsense!" Christine snapped, though guilt flickered in her voice.

"Am I?" I didn't press further. I only said quietly, "Mother, this is the last time I'll call you that. From now on, you have only one daughter, and that's Amber. I will sever all ties with the Liddell family."

With that, I chased her out. I felt no sorrow, only a lightness I had never known before, like someone who had carried an unbearable burden for far too long and finally laid everything down.

Three days later, Giselle's reply arrived swiftly. Her letter was filled with excitement.

"Maisie, everything is ready! The embroidery workshop in Kingstown is up and running. The embroiderers and illustrators I recruited for you are all top-tier talents. Your land, shops, and funds have also been discreetly transferred under your name. Just say the word, and we can officially begin."

At the end of the letter, she added one more line, "But are you truly willing to let go? Of everything in Bergdorf, and Robert."

Willing?

I closed my eyes. The twisted expressions of the three of them by my bedside flashed through my mind. When they conspired against me, had they spared even a shred of reluctance?

Jeremy once said I was soft-hearted. I used to believe I would hesitate too.

I smiled, but my eyes were ice cold. Now, my desire to cut everything off had long surpassed any lingering attachment.

Jeremy thought he could toy with me as he pleased. Well, it was time I gave him a gift in return!