Chapter 4

The Miller family villa was merely a single-story building, with the roof no more than ten meters from the ground. Yet, when Mona jumped, my parents, my sister, and even Hale all rushed toward her. That night, the sound of an ambulance echoed throughout the Miller family villa.

After they left for the hospital, I limped back to my small storeroom. Lying on the bed, I unlocked my phone. The screen showed December 2nd, 12:13 a.m. Hale had broken his promise—he didn't stay to celebrate my birthday. Strangely, I wasn't as upset as I used to be. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. Only eight days left. In eight days, I would leave this place.

The next five days passed as usual—I went to work and came home. My parents and sister stayed at the hospital to look after Mona and didn't return.

That day, the restaurant TV was tuned to the news. "Hale Brown, CEO of Brown Group, and Mona Miller, heiress of the Miller Group, announce their engagement."

My pupils narrowed slightly. That night, when I returned home, my parents, Chloe, Mona, and even Hale were all there. My mother was the first to speak, scolding me in French, "She comes home this late, who knows what kind of trouble she's been up to."

My father cast her a glance, and only then did she soften her tone. "Lyanne, you're finally back. We've all been waiting for you."

My father chimed in, "Lyanne, the doctor says Mona's depression is getting worse. So, we've decided on your behalf to transfer your engagement to her. You're not against it, are you?"

I listened quietly as they finished speaking, my eyes filled with ridicule. They had already made the decision for me, yet they still pretended to ask for my opinion. I turned to Hale, feigning ignorance. "Hale, you agreed to this too?"

Hale stood up from the sofa, walked over, and clasped my hand. "Mona's only wish now is to marry me. Don't worry—I won't let you down. I'll only hold a wedding with her to fulfill her wish."

He wouldn't let me down? While marrying someone else? I pulled my hand away. "Fine... whatever you've decided."

Hale felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest at my response. He wanted to explain further, but Mona, sitting between my parents, spoke up. "Lyanne, if you don't want to, then forget it."

As she spoke, her fingers dug fiercely into the back of her hand, drawing blood. Chloe, noticing this, hurried to stop her and shouted at me, "Lyanne! Can't you see Mona is sick? Do you want our whole family and Hale to kneel before you and beg?"

Chloe was always so blind to reason. Her words brought back memories of when I first came to the Miller family. At the start, they made me give my room to Mona. Later, they asked me to give up my study abroad opportunity for her. When Mona committed a crime, my mother knelt before me, pleading, "Mona is my child. She's not that bad. Her health is fragile—if she goes to jail, she'll die. Please, I'm begging you, help Mom one last time. Take her place in prison."

Reliving those memories, I looked at Chloe and replied, "Fine. If you all kneel and beg me, I'll agree to give the marriage to Mona."