Rising From the Ashes After Seven Years Wasted

I didn't stop. Instead, I walked straight to the kitchen.

Wayne had drunk a lot last night. He suffered from a serious stomach condition. Every time he had a hangover, he needed to drink a bowl of the bone broth I made to soothe his stomach.

For the past seven years, I had prepared that broth dutifully for him. Now, I silently stood in front of the stove and watched the broth simmer in the pot.

This would be the last time I made this for him.

I poured the broth into an insulated container and placed it on a tray. Then, I headed toward Wayne's study.

The door to the study was slightly ajar, and voices drifted out from inside. Wayne was talking with his childhood friend, Jimmy Law.

Just as I was about to knock, Jimmy's voice came through the door clearly.

He said disapprovingly, "Wayne, don't you think you've gone too far this time? You took back the bracelet and gave away the necklace. You even let Ingrid wear the Stargazer gown. Hillary has been with you for seven years. She'd even risk her life for you. Are you really trying to drive her away?"

My hand froze before it reached the door.

Wayne's indifferent voice followed immediately after. "Where could she possibly go? She's an orphan who can't even remember her own past. Other than being with me, she has nowhere to go. I've spoiled her too much over these seven years. Her temper has only gotten worse.

"Now that Ingie is back, she needs to learn how to back down. I'm stripping away that arrogance of hers so she'll understand who calls the shots around here. Once she knows her place and learns to behave, I'll still have a room for her in the house and make sure she's provided for."

Jimmy sighed and asked, "Aren't you afraid she'll give up on you after you humiliated her so badly?"

Wayne laughed derisively, not taking Jimmy seriously at all. "Give up on me? Hillary's greatest talent in this life is clinging to me like a stubborn vine. She can't live without me."

The tray tilted slightly in my hands. A few drops of scalding broth splashed onto the back of my hand. Red welts appeared instantly.

However, I felt no pain at all.

I looked at the half-open door with intricate wooden carvings for a moment before setting the tray down on the cabinet to the side. Then, I picked up the insulated container and walked to the end of the hallway.

There stood an extremely rare orchid. Tilting my wrist, I poured the bone broth, which I had simmered meticulously for three hours, into the soil of the flowerpot.

Just then, Ingrid walked over wearing the gown she had butchered with her scissors. When she saw me pour out the broth, she curled her lips into a smug smile.

She said, "Wayne just told me that the sunlight shines in better in the master bedroom. It'll help with my recovery. He said I can move in there tonight. I think you should pack up your things and make room."

I had lived in the master bedroom for the past five years. Every corner of it carried traces of the life Wayne and I had shared.

Looking at Ingrid's triumphant expression, I nodded. "Okay. I'll go pack right now."

And so, I walked into the master bedroom. I didn't take any jewelry, nor did I take any of the designer handbags Wayne had bought for me. I only took a black travel bag and packed a few sets of basic clothing, along with my identification documents.

My phone vibrated, and a message from Micah popped up.

He texted, "I've begun the process of erasing all traces of 'Hillary Waldram.' There won't be any traces of your old identity left."

I zipped up the travel bag, picked it up, and walked out of the master bedroom.

After that, I moved into the most remote guest room in the manor. It was normally used as a storeroom for keeping miscellaneous items, so the air in here carried a faint musty smell.

I placed the travel bag on the single bed in the corner and didn't touch anything else in the room.

Only 12 hours remained before I left.

By evening, snow had begun to fall from the sky. After finishing a meeting with the senior executives of Seyfried Group, Wayne returned to the manor carrying the chill of the winter air with him.

The moment he stepped into the hall, he swept his gaze across the crowd and immediately started frowning.