Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 224 Candlelight Dinner

Mary stormed in, fuming. "Emily, what really went down with your dad's car accident? Was it Victor's doing?"

She yanked me out of my chair, pointing at Ethan, looking like she was ready to start a fight.

Victor had been in prison for a few months now, and Ethan and I were trying to move on. But Mary just had to come in and rip open old wounds. Ethan put down his guitar, his happy mood gone, replaced by a cold, hard stare at Mary.

I shook off her hand. "Mary, you know the whole story and how it ended. There's no point in dragging it up again. It's over."

Kyle walked in behind her. "Emily, how can my mom not be upset when she thinks your dad died unfairly? And you're living with Victor's son?"

Mary stomped her foot and started crying. "My poor brother and sister-in-law died so unfairly. That heartless murderer took their lives without a second thought!"

Her words felt like needles stabbing into my heart. They must've hurt Ethan too.

"Enough!" I shouted.

Mary stopped crying, wiped her tears, and put on a heartbroken look.

"Mary, when my dad had his accident, you weren't this upset. Who are you putting on this show for now?"

People always thought I was the one who kept quiet and took everything. Mary probably didn't expect me to speak up.

After a moment of silence, Mary kept going on about her deep bond with her brother.

"Emily, how can you say that? We didn't know the cause of his death back then, but now we do. How can I be at peace? And you're living with Victor's son. Your dad would never rest easy knowing this." They were trying to push Ethan and me into a corner.

"How much money do you want?" Ethan asked quietly.

Mary's crying stopped, and she and Kyle exchanged a look. Ethan had hit the mark.

But Mary was smart. She wouldn't ask for money outright. Instead, she acted all noble. "Money? You think you can buy us off? That was my brother's life!"

"Ten thousand dollars, is that enough?" Ethan ignored her act and named a price.

Mary's face lit up for a second, but she quickly hid it.

"Victor killed my brother, and now you're with Emily, and she has given you children."

Mary's accusing eyes turned to me.

"Emily, I know you're doing well now, you have money, but you can't forget the past. You can't forget how your dad died."

"Thirty thousand dollars," Ethan said calmly.

Mary's eyes widened, and she swallowed hard, exchanging a look with Kyle. Thirty grand was a lot of money for Mary and Kyle.

I could see right through their act. Remembering how indifferent they were back then and seeing their shameless behavior now, I didn't want to give them a single cent.

still Emily's elder.

to keep making a scene. But after all that fuss, she

elder card and

the children suffer. Just treat Emily well. She's had a tough life. Don't make it harder for her." I couldn't stand the hypocrisy anymore

if you cause trouble again, I won't

say something fake. I pulled my hand back, and she, afraid the check would slip away, hurriedly took it

good mood was shot,

sat down, picked up his guitar,

dimmed, and it got a bit cooler. I went upstairs to grab

something in his pocket, I curiously took

was a jewelry box, and inside was a diamond

It's not my birthday, Valentine's Day, an

quietly put the ring back in the pocket and

suit and put it on without

a while, the nanny took the kids inside

about Mary's earlier words and the

playing and singing

was cheerful, and I knew he was

the tune slowed down, and Ethan's gaze

guitar strings and looked deeply into my

gaze drew me in like

"What?"

owe you a

is planning the ring for a

ring. Maybe he was waiting for a better moment or making some

of them was very assertive and insisted on filing a complaint with me. Following my assistant's lead, I headed from the

had a wealthy husband backing her now, and it showed. Everything she wore

her arms and

was so popular. Do you really need an appointment and wait in line for a

store manager,

at Faye calmly. "Of course, you need an appointment. It's to save our clients' time. Everything works on a first-come, first-served basis. Without appointments and queues, it would

my explanation and slowly pulled out a card,

I haven't experienced The Emoire Artistry Group's services, I wanted to try it now. Do I still need an

stepped

that a senior beautician had a 'resting' sign. She wanted that beautician to do her treatment, but Ms. William

looked at Ms. William, a woman in her forties sitting on the sofa, silently flipping

at Faye and then walked over to Ms. William, extending my

"Hello, Ms. William."

put down the magazine, stood up,

"Hello, Ms. Russell."

William, how did your husband like the men's facial

a few years younger after using it, and I must say his skin did improve a lot. He asked me to thank you, saying you're young and capable, with a meticulous and thoughtful mind." I turned back and saw Faye's embarrassed, flushed face. I told

I glanced at them and then

We'll offer you three complimentary sessions of today's service. You can