A Worthy Sacrifice

Mom blurted out, "I want you to give Elaine the bracelet you got from Andy."

The bracelet was what the Fitzgerald family had given me when Andreas and I got engaged. Everyone knew this was meant for the future Fitzgerald family daughter-in-law.

So, in the end, my bond with Mom as her daughter meant less to her than Elaine's marriage.

I turned to look directly into Andreas' eyes and asked sincerely, "Is this what you want, too?"

The room fell silent. Andreas kept quiet for a long time. I thought I already knew his answer.

Even though I already knew what it would be, my chest tightened with pain, and I struggled to breathe. In the end, I said softly, "If you want the bracelet, I'll give it to you."

Elaine's eyes lit up instantly. Even Mom stared at me, as if she couldn't believe her luck.

Quentin snapped, "Don't tell me you're thinking of asking for shares in the family company. Let me be clear—that's all going to Elaine. Don't even think about taking what's not yours."

"I don't want anything!" I shouted back.

For the first time in my life, I had lost my temper with Quentin, and he shrank back like a frightened quail.

Dad said, "As long as you're willing to give up the bracelet, your mother and I will treat you the same way we treat Elaine, and you can move back home."

For the past seven years, I'd dreamed of being treated like Elaine. But now, I no longer wanted it.

I shook my head. Before I could speak, Mom slapped me hard across the face.

My ears rang, but I still heard her say, "Enough! Isadora, don't think you can threaten us just because you have the Fitzgerald family bracelet. Elaine will always be our child, and you'd better not demand that she leave!"

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth. After cleaning it up, I said indifferently, "I want you to sign a legal disownment agreement. From now on, we'll have no—"

Before I could finish, Quentin interrupted, "Isadora, what are you trying to do? Cut ties with the family just to get attention? Do you think this'll make Mom and Dad finally care about you? You're delusional."

Even Elaine chimed in, "Isadora, if you don't want to give me the bracelet, just say so. Why make things so difficult for me?"

Andreas' gaze couldn't hide the storm brewing underneath, his fingers slightly curled as he tapped the table lightly. It was as if he couldn't believe I was really willing to give up the bracelet.

I immediately pulled the disownment agreement from my bag and pushed it toward my parents. "I've already put my signature down. Once you sign this, the document becomes legally binding."

Before coming here, I was still hesitating about having them sign this document. But now, there was nothing left to hesitate about.

After Mom read the contents, her hand holding the pen trembled as she mocked, "You'd better not come crawling back to the Wilde family!"

Quentin glared at me viciously and said, "Isadora, without the Wilde family, I'd like to see how you survive out there. When life hits you, don't come running to us."

I kept my head down and said nothing. Even as their daughter, when life hit me, none of them came to help me. I had long ago stopped fantasizing that the Wilde family would ever treat me well. I'd much rather serve my country anonymously forever and benefit humanity than return to the Wilde family.

After everyone had signed, I took the document and prepared to leave. "I'll mail the bracelet to the house tomorrow."

Since we had severed our relationship, we would absolutely never meet again. As I walked out, Andreas somehow followed me. He grabbed my hand and forcibly pulled me into his arms.

My nose hit his chest, causing a slight pain, and I pushed him away with all my strength. "Andreas, let me go!"

He held me tightly with both arms, trapping me in his embrace so I couldn't move. His voice was somewhat hoarse as he spoke. "Isadora, don't you have anything you want to explain to me?"

I frowned, wondering what I had to explain to him.

Once, when I was stabbed in the chaos, he had instinctively protected Elaine. I had investigated afterward and found that Elaine hired those attackers.

When I presented the evidence to him, he said, "Isadora, I will marry you. Just stop making trouble, okay?"

After Elaine had switched my materials with acid, causing my disability, I explained over the phone and told him the truth. Yet, he still chose not to believe me.

A person's heart wouldn't grow cold in an instant—it would grow cold one incident at a time.

I told him, "I have nothing to explain."

Just then, Elaine ran out of the house. "Andy, Dad wants to go over the wedding plans with you."

He relaxed instinctively. And in that moment, I shoved him away with everything I had.

He grabbed my hand and said, "Isadora, wait for me. It'll only take a few minutes."

I didn't respond. Then, he turned around and went back inside with Elaine. I knew he wouldn't leave the Wilde residence tonight.

There had been many moments like this when Elaine would call him away, leaving me standing alone. The worst time was when I had waited for him in the snow all night. But now, I wouldn't be that foolish anymore.

I flagged down a cab and left without looking back.