Chapter 4

The police couldn't do anything about it.

All they could do was tell me to work it out with Aria Fox.

Aria Fox agreed.

She'd cash out in a month and pay me back.

I knew this was just Aria's stalling tactic.

But I agreed anyway.

After the police left.

My mother-in-law, who had been rolling around on the floor moments ago, immediately stood up.

She glared at me viciously. "Amber Mason, don't ever expect a comfortable life in this house from now on."

"I'll make trouble for you every single day."

"Let's see how you manage to live!"

Val Henson looked at me with disappointment too.

"I thought you'd be the most important partner in my life."

"But it turns out that was all just wishful thinking on my part."

"A measly two or three hundred thousand is all it takes to see someone clearly."

"You've disappointed me so much."

My brother and his wife were even colder and more sarcastic.

"Some people, you know, value money more than their own lives and family."

"Isn't that the truth?"

"I said back then we shouldn't have let her in."

"Our family was perfectly fine, and the moment she showed up, all kinds of things started happening."

"A total jinx."

Once everyone had gone back to their own rooms.

The moment I walked in, I was met with Val Henson's long, sour face.

He grabbed a bath towel and headed for the bathroom.

As he passed by me.

He stopped in his tracks.

"I'll sleep in the living room tonight."

"Whenever you figure things out and realize you were wrong."

"That's when I'll come back to sleep in here."

I didn't ask him what I'd done wrong.

I just told him, "Handing the whole family's money to Aria Fox to invest."

"This will be the worst decision you'll ever make in your life."

"She's going to ruin all of you."

Val sneered. "I think Mom is right. Brad's wife is quick-witted and has a wide network. She's willing to help us make money because she values family and wants us all to get rich together."

"But you judge a decent person by the standards of a petty one."

"How did I never notice this before?"

"That you value money this much?"

"In your eyes."

"Family, love, and money—which one matters more?"

I didn't answer, and he walked out of the room, full of disappointment.

While he was in the shower.

I dragged out my suitcase and stuffed all my personal belongings inside.

Then, while no one was in the living room, I fled overnight!

The next day.

Val Henson, asleep on the sofa, was woken up by his mother.

As the family ate breakfast.

Everyone tacitly avoided mentioning Amber Mason.

When they'd finished, only empty plates were left.

Aria Fox reminded him, "Time to wake your wife up for breakfast."

Brad Henson grinned, baring his teeth.

The in-laws smiled too.

They just wanted to put Amber Mason in her place.

So she'd learn.

In this family, anyone who didn't fall in line would be frozen out.

Val Henson got up and went to knock on the door.

He knocked for a long time with no answer, and it turned out the door wasn't even locked.

He pushed it open, but there was no one on the bed.

Soon.

He noticed something was off.

The room looked empty. Everything that belonged to Amber Mason.

Was all gone.

His face changed, and he cried out, "Oh no, my wife has run away..."