Just then, Leon suddenly waved his little hand. "Dad, let Eliza have Mom's room. It's big and bright perfect for Eliza and Offie." 

Victor paused for a second. 

Eliza immediately caught the subtle shift in his expression and rushed to speak before he could say anything. "No, that's not okay if there's really no space, I'll take Oliver and find somewhere else to stay. I'm so sorry for bothering you." 

"It's no bother," Leon said, suddenly pouting. He turned his head and looked at Serena with urgency and grievance, raising his voice. "Say something. What, you lost your voice today?" 

Serena looked into Leon's eyes, full of blame. "If Eliza takes my room, then where am I supposed to sleep?" she questioned 

Leon puffed out his cheeks, clearly indifferent, his face turning red as he shouted like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "The storage room has a bed. Just sleep there. 

"You should be glad you even have a place to stay. Why are you being so picky?" 

Hearing that, Eliza looked troubled. She stepped forward slightly, her eyes full of sincerity and apology. 

She looked at Leon as she spoke gently, "Leon, I'm a guest. Your mom is the host. How could I take the host's room? I'm already thankful she's letting me stay here. Oliver and I aren't going to be picky." 

Eliza turned to look at Oliver, who had been quiet the whole time. "Right, Oliver?" 

Oliver gave a calm nod. 

"Well, Ms. Stone, you really know your place," Serena replied evenly, going along with her. "So you all can figure out another plan for the room." 

Serena had swallowed her pride for years. She wasn't going to back down anymore. 

Hearing that, Leon was furious. "You're such a wretch. I knew you didn't really want Eliza to stay. You're so annoying." 

He put his little fists on his hips. "But don't even think about kicking Eliza out. I'll just sleep with Dad, and Eliza and Ollie can have my room." 

Victor's eyes lit up. "That works. It's settled then." 

Leon happily pushed the suitcases toward the elevator, and Victor led Eliza and Oliver to Leon's room. 

Once again, Serena was the extra one. She was used to it. She went back to her room and started packing. 

Not long after, Eliza came in with a cup of hot coffee in her hands. "Mrs. Powell, may I come in? Are you packing for something? Going out?" 

Serena didn't respond. She couldn't exactly tell Eliza she was leaving. 

Eliza said, "Leon poured this coffee for you. He may be little, but he's got a lot of pride. He was too embarrassed to bring it.

Serena didn't believe for a second that Leon had poured that coffee for her.  self." 

If Eliza hadn't shown up, maybe Serena would've believed it. But Leon now hated Serena too much to even get her a cup of coffee. 

Serena said, "Ms. Stone, you don't need to smooth things over between me and teon. The four of you living happily ever after is better than anything else." 

Even though Eliza had played innocent ever since she walked in–and had even stepped in a few times to help correct Leon–Serena didn't believe that  was her true colors, Serena's instincts told her Eliza was far from simple. 

Eliza bit her lip, looking guilty. "Mrs. Powell, did I do something to make you misunderstand me?" 

She walked over to Serena anxiously. Seeing Serena folding clothes, Eliza quickly reached out and grabbed her hand. 

Eliza said, "Mrs. Powell, if you don't want me to stay, just say it. I can leave. But please don't get the wrong idea about me. I never meant to sabotage your relationship with your family. I really didn't-" 

Serena cut in coldly, "Let go." 

"I'm begging you, please don't misunderstand me, okay? I'll leave, alright?" 

"I said let go." 

Serena had no idea what Eliza was trying to do. Seeing her stubbornly clinging on, Serena yanked her wrist free. 

Before Serena could say anything, Eliza, who had been standing just fine, suddenly fell. The hot coffee in her hand spilled onto Serena's skin, instantly turning a large area red. 

"Ow!" Eliza's sharp cry pierced the air. 

"What happened?" Leon and Victor rushed over the moment they heard the noise. The moment they saw the scene in front of them, their expressions suddenly changed. 

Victor rushed forward, his eyes tinged red with panic. "Ellie, are you okay? Are you hurt?" 

Eliza raised her hand pitifully. Her delicate skin was now marked with a small red burn. "Victor, it's my fault. I shouldn't have come today. I upset Mrs. Powell. Please don't blame her." 

Victor turned to glare at Serena, his eyes filled with anger. "Why did you do this? Ellie's just here to stay for a couple days. 

"It was already bad enough how you kept giving her a hard time, but now you actually laid hands on her?" 

Instantly blamed for something she didn't do, Serena was shaking with rage, knowing full well she'd just been set up. But her mind went blank. She blurted out the truth, "She fell on purpose." 

Serena had thought Victor still had some ability to tell right from wrong. But not only did he lack that now, his face darkened even more. 

He yelled, "Serena. How can you be so cruel? Why would Ellie fall on her own for no reason? You did it, just admit it. You've really let me down." 

He scooped Eliza into his arms and rushed to the living room to apply medicine to her burn. 

Even Leon pointed at Serena's face and cursed her out, screaming, "You're such a wretch. I hate you. You're evil and disgusting. You don't deserve to be my mom. Just die already. Stop ruining things between Dad and Eliza." 

Serena shoved him away, her breathing heavy. "Leon Powell, you little brat, say that again." 

Leon lost his balance and fell to the floor, tears welling up in his eyes. "You wretch, I don't love you anymore. I hate you." With that, he took off running. 

Serena's fingers trembled, and a dull pain throbbed on the back of her hand. Serena lowered her eyes and looked at the large burn across it, then laughed. Eliza had only gotten a few drops on her and Victor was already that worked up. But Serena was hurt far worse, and no one cared. 

Serena's throat moved with a deep swallow as she walked alone to the bathroom to run cold water over her hand. 

The water was colder than usual, and the twisted, jagged scar in her palm seemed even more noticeable now. 

Outside, she heard Leon's cheerful voice. "Yay. We're going out to eat. Daddy's the best, Ellie's the best too, I wish every day could be like this," he laughed. 

"Victor, are you sure Mrs. Powell won't be upset we're not taking her?" Eliza asked. 

Victor said, "She won't be. And even if she is, she'll get over it by the time we're back." 

Serena turned the faucet up to full blast, drowning out their voices from the living room. 

After a long while, she suddenly shut off the water with a loud clack and walked straight into the bedroom, her steps firm and unwavering. 

Serena thought, 'I'll get over it? No, Victor. Not this time.'

"Today was so much fun. Eliza, I want to go again tomorrow," Leon said excitedly, tugging Eliza's hand as they walked into the living room. 

Eliza reached out to pat Leon's head, her smile bright. "Of course, Leon. If there's something you want to do, I'll definitely take you. But everything I let you eat today was just the kind of stuff Oliver eats all the time. Nothing special." 

Leon pouted and started complaining, "My mom never lets me eat those things. Eliza, you don't even know how jealous I am of the other kids. Their moms are way better than her." 

Serena had just come out of the bathroom and heard the entire conversation. She walked down from the second floor, and the moment she looked up, she saw the ketchup still smeared on the corner of Leon's mouth. 

Serena asked sharply, "If you knew I don't let you eat that stuff, why did you still eat it?" 

Leon looked up at the sound of her voice. The moment he saw Serena, his face turned sour. 

Eliza spoke up, sounding apologetic, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Powell. I didn't know you don't usually let Leon eat that kind of stuff. But it's really no big deal once in a while. Oliver eats it too." 

Serena snorted, "Fast food is junk–loaded with fat and salt. It causes weight gain. Leon has a sensitive stomach. What makes you think it's no big deal? " 

Eliza's expression stiffened slightly. 

Leon shot back, "I've never eaten fast food before. It's just this once because Eliza brought me along. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Don't take it out on her." 

Leon's automatic defense of Eliza made Serena feel bitterly ironic. After everything Serena had done to take care of him, all it took was one fast food 

meal from Eliza to win him over. 

Eliza explained patiently, "Mrs. Powell, I understand how you feel as a mom. I'm a mom too. It's normal that kids like fast food. It's not like they eat it all the time. 

"Plus, Leon is fine right now. I just think maybe sometimes you don't need to be so strict with him."" 

Serena sneered, "Really? And if something did happen, would you take responsibility?" 

"Eliza would never be as stingy as you. Ollie eats this stuff all the time and he's fine. You just can't stand seeing me happy." With that, Leon wiped his tears angrily and ran upstairs. 

Seeing Leon run upstairs, Victor lost his temper and snapped, "Serena, was it really necessary to blow up over something so small? 

"Ellie was just being kind. If you didn't keep telling Leon what he can and can't eat, he wouldn't crave junk food so much." 

They all acted like it was Serena's fault. She didn't bother arguing and turned to leave. She thought, 'Since Victor, as Leon's father, doesn't care, why should I go out of my way to cause trouble for myself? 

Back in her room, Serena packed up her things and thought, 'Just a little longer. Once I get through this, I won't have anything to do with this family ever again.' 

Early the next morning, just as Serena was waking up, she heard a knock at the door. Before she could respond, the door was already pushed open. 

Eliza walked in with a smile, holding a glass of milk. "Mrs. Powell, Victor took the kids out. He asked me to let you know you don't need to prepare any meals for us today." 

Serena didn't even glance at her. She turned and sat down at the vanity, calmly taking off the bracelet from her wrist. 

"I'm not interested in any of that. You don't need to tell me. And Me, Stone, didn't anyone ever teach you to knock and wait for permission before entering someone else's room?" Serena remarked. 

Eliza's fingers tightened slightly around the glass, her knuckles turning pate. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Powell. I wasn't thinking, I just felt like maybe there's been a misunderstanding between us. 

"When I had issues with my house, Victor invited me to stay here. I didn't think too much at the time. But don't worry. Once my place is fixed, I'll leave with Oliver right away" 

Serena could hear the provocation in Eliza's words. "Eliza, there's no one else around right now. You don't need to keep pretending. Do you think that act of yours still works?" Serena turned and looked her straight in the eye. 

"Mrs. Powell, I'm not sure what you mean," Eliza said as she sat down on a stool across from her. She set the glass of milk on the table, rested her chin on her right hand, and put on a troubled expression, 

She continued, "I thought you were smart. When you saw me come back, I figured you'd know better and leave. 

"I know the Powell family has a lot of money, and you want to stay a bit longer to get a bigger cut. But think about it–do you really believe someone like Victor would give you anything?" 

Now that Eliza had dropped the act, Serena smirked coldly. She had no interest in the Powell family's money. But now, she was genuinely curious about why Eliza had come back to the country. 

Serena asked, "Eliza, if you chose to leave Victor back then, why come back now? Is it because your ex–husband broke?" 

Eliza's face darkened. Her hand clenched slightly, but after a pause, she let out a breath. "Serena, stop trying to get a read on me. It won't be long before Vic divorces you. You'd better start thinking about how you're going to live after that." 

As she spoke, the smile on her face grew wider. "I've only spent a few days with Leon and he already adores me this much. There's no way he'll choose you." 

It felt like a sharp knife stabbed straight into Serena's heart. She thought, "If even the son I gave birth to prefers another woman, then so be it. I don't want anything anymore.' 

Sensing the shift in Serena's emotions, Eliza got an idea. She stood up, walked over, and snatched the emerald bracelet Serena had just put away. 

The emerald bracelet was high–quality, clearly expensive, and easily worth millions of dollars. Eliza hadn't expected the Powell family to give Serena something this valuable. 

"You're not allowed to touch that." Serena reached out to take it back, but Eliza dodged her and stepped away. 

Eliza turned the emerald bracelet over in her hands, clearly amused. "So this bracelet's enough to make you lose control. No wonder you're clinging to the Powell family like your life depends on it. Let me help you out." 

Eliza's expression shifted instantly as she suddenly hurled the emerald bracelet to the floor. Even with carpet underfoot, the bracelet still snapped apart. 

Serena's expression changed. She rushed over in a panic, picked up the broken emerald bracelet from the floor, and looked it over carefully. Only when she saw that it was still salvageable did she calm down. 

With proper jewelry repair, it should be possible to restore it. When Serena returned it later, at least she'd have something to show for it. 

Eliza stood there, looking down with open disdain and contempt in her eyes. "You really are pathetic. Sorry. But since it's already broken, I'll throw it out for you." 

Caught off guard, Serena let Eliza snatch the bracelet away. 

The emerald bracelet was only broken into two pieces–there was still hope to get it repaired. But if Eliza damaged it further, there would be no way to fix 

Serena's eyes turned cold as ice. She stepped in front of Eliza at the top of the stairs. "Eliza, give me the bracelet." 

Eliza glanced toward the front door and heard the sound of Victor returning with the kids. 

Just as the door opened, Eliza suddenly grabbed Serena's hand. Tears streamed down Eliza's face, and her voice trembled with sorrow as she said, "Mrs. Powell, it's all my fault."

A flash of malice and calculation passed through Eliza's eyes. The next second, she suddenly threw herself backward. Her face was filled with shock and fear as she tumbled down the stairs. 

"Ellie." Victor rushed forward and cradled Eliza in his arms. "Ellie, are you okay?" 

Eliza weakly reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "Vic, don't blame Mrs. Powell. It's my fault. I shouldn't have upset her." 

Serena walked down the stairs and saw Eliza putting on a show. She said, "She broke my emerald bracelet and tried to run. I didn't push her. She fell on  her own." 

Leon started shouting at Serena like crazy, "You wretch. Why are you so mean?" 

Victor's rage exploded. He stood up and slapped Serena across the face. The sound echoed through the villa. The burning pain spread quickly across her cheek, snapping her back to reality. 

Serena's lips trembled slightly. Tears welled in her eyes but stubbornly refused to fall. "I said I didn't push Eliza." 

Looking at her expression, Victor faltered for a moment. "Seri, what's happening between us has nothing to do with Ellie. Why would you take it out on her?" 

"I told you I didn't. She's the one who broke my emerald bracelet first," Serena said. 

"Victor." Eliza looked at him through teary eyes. "Vic, don't blame Mrs. Powell anymore. It's all my fault. I accidentally broke her emerald bracelet. That's why she got so upset. Victor, I'm hurting all over." 

Only then did Victor snap out of it and remember Eliza had fallen down the stairs. He didn't have time to argue with Serena. He quickly carried Eliza out to take her to the hospital. 

In just a few minutes, the huge villa was completely empty–Serena was the only one left. 

Her cheek was swollen and red. Not a single person cared about her injury. They had all rushed Eliza to the hospital to take care of her. To Serena, the whole thing felt like a joke. 

At the hospital, Eliza lay weakly on the bed. Victor held her hand with concern and said, "Good thing the injuries aren't too serious. I really didn't expect Serena to go that far–actually pushing you down the stairs." 

Seeing that Victor had taken the bait, Eliza hid the satisfaction in her eyes and put on a gentle, understanding expression. "Victor, this whole thing is really my fault. It has nothing to do with Mrs. Powell." 

Victor replied, "Ellie, I know you just don't want me to fight with her, but what she did was way out of line. I think she really meant to get you killed." 

Eliza shook her head. "Mrs. Powell isn't like that. She was right–I broke her emerald bracelet, and that's why she got upset. But I only wanted to take it to get it fixed. Maybe Mrs. Powell misunderstood." 

Victor thought, 'Serena pushed Ellie down the stairs over a bracelet?' 

His anger flared. "Ellie, stop making excuses for Serena. I know exactly what kind of person she is. She's just mad because Leon's getting closer to you." 

"Victor, don't say that about Mrs. Powell. She'd be heartbroken if she heard you," Eliza said softly. 

Victor looked at Eliza who seemed so kind and understanding. He then thought of the way Serena had acted. He figured the contrast between the two couldn't have been more obvious. 

Victor comforted her, "Don't worry. I'll make sure Serena apologizes to you. You're not going to suffer for nothing." 

"I think I should move out," Eliza said. "As long as I stay with you guys, Mrs. Powell will keep picking fights with you. I don't want to be the reason you two keep arguing. I don't want to come between your marriage." 

She turned her head slightly, letting Victor see the tears falling from her eyes, deliberately triggering his urge to protect her. 

Victor explained, "Ellie, things between me and Serena aren't how you think. Just get some rest and don't overthink it. As long as I'm here, you'll always have a place in my house." 

After settling Eliza in, Victor headed back to the villa and went straight up to the second floor, only to find that Serena wasn't there. He turned and made his way to the kitchen. 

In the kitchen, Serena had just grabbed an ice pack to put on her face. When she turned around, she saw Victor storming in, full of anger. He walked straight up to her and slapped the ice pack out of her hand. 

"What are you doing?" Serena asked. 

Victor grabbed her hand and started dragging her out. "Ellie feels guilty because of you. She's hurt that badly and still thinking about you. Come with me to the hospital and apologize to her." 

Serena let out a laugh out of sheer rage as she thought, 'He wants me to apologize to Eliza?' 

She yanked her hand out of his grasp, the love in her eyes completely gone. "Victor, don't you see the swelling on my face?" 

"You brought that on yourself. I don't care what your reason is. You hurt Ellie, so you're coming with me to the hospital to apologize," Victor snapped. 

Serena felt like it was all a sick joke. She stepped back and finally saw Victor for who he really was. "In your eyes, no one matters more than Eliza. I've been married to you for years. 

"I'm the one who took care of you. I was the one by your side during the hardest time of your life. And now Eliza shows up and suddenly I'm invisible?" 

Victor flinched slightly at the look on her face. He thought back to how she had truly looked after him back then. It really had been her who stayed with him through the worst period of his life. 

He thought, 'Why do I feel guilty right now?' 

Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Victor pulled it out and saw a message from Eliza. 

Eliza: [Victor, maybe this isn't my place, but I can't let Mrs. Powell keep hiding this from you. Turns out, she only got close to you because your father paid her.] 

Attached below were two photos–one of Victor's father, Albert, handing Serena a check, and another of Serena passing that check to a man Victor didn't recognize. 

Everything suddenly clicked for Victor. All those memories now felt like a setup. He thought, 'And to think I actually believed I owed Serena something. Turns out I was just fooling myself. 

He demanded, "Serena, tell me–why did you approach me in the first place?" 

The question stunned Serena. She murmured, "What are you talking about?" 

Victor waved his hand and stepped toward her, his eyes bloodshot. He grabbed her shoulders tightly, his voice turning sharp. "I'm asking you-did you take money from my dad? You got close to me because of the money. 

"Everything you did to take care of me was fake. It was all for the money, wasn't it?" 

Serena's body started to tremble uncontrollably. She couldn't deny that in the beginning, she had done it for the sake of the orphanage. But over time, her feelings had become real. 

She muttered, "Victor, let me explain. I really do love you. If it was all fake, why would I give birth to Leon? I could've left once you recovered. Why can't  you believe me?" 

"Believe you?" Victor let out a bitter laugh. "I let you stay in the Powell family because I believed you. I married you because I believed you. And now  you're telling me you were only with me for the money?" 

Serena felt like something heavy had slammed straight into her chest.