Chapter 19: No Room for Resistance
Ella took a cab back to the Rossi family home.
The front door was tightly shut. She rang the doorbell twice, and the housekeeper opened it just enough to stick her head out.
When the housekeeper saw Ella, she was visibly surprised. “Miss, you’re back?”
Ella gave a soft reply and walked inside.
”
“Miss…” The housekeeper hesitated, looking like she had something to say but couldn’t.
“Are you looking for Madam? She has a headache and is resting in her room. She said she doesn’t
want to see anyone,” the housekeeper added, her gaze full of pity.
Who would have thought that the eldest daughter of the Rossi family, who was once so proper,
would end up in prison for three years?
Just look at her–skin and bones. Those three years in prison must have been tough on her.
“I’m not looking for her. Where are my things? Where did you put them?”
The housekeeper blinked, then quickly said, “They’re in the storage room.”
Ella nodded and walked toward the storage room.
All her belongings were piled up in a small box in the corner of the storage room.
The box was covered in a thick layer of dust, which made Ella cough. She waved her hand to clear the dust and quickly found her ID card inside.
She wasn’t planning to stay long. She closed the box and was about to leave.
But as she turned, her eyes caught something in the corner of the box.
There, neatly folded, was a men’s scarf.
10.22
Chap 1 Nom for e
It was a gray knitted scarf, and perhaps because it had been kept for so long, it had lost its original shine.
Ella felt dazed for a moment.
She slowly crouched down and gently ran her hand over it. The warm, smooth texture still felt the same as it once had–comforting and familiar.
But her feelings had already changed.
She picked up the scarf and draped it over her arm, planning to throw it away, tossing it into the trash outside. After all, it belonged to Liam, and there was no reason to keep it anymore.
Just like her feelings for him–there was no more attachment.
But as she stepped out of the storage room, she bumped into Natalie, who was rushing back from
outside, looking frantic.
Natalie seemed to be running from something–maybe a ghost.
She stumbled and fell to the ground, letting out a startled cry. When she saw that it was Ella standing
before her, she froze.
“Why is it you? Why are you back?”
Ella glanced at her coldly. “This is my home. Is it so strange that I came back?”
When Natalie saw the scarf in Ella’s hand, her expression suddenly stiffened.
Of course, she knew that scarf belonged to Liam. For the past ten years, Ella had kept it like a treasure, almost treating it as a precious possession.
“So, are you planning to take that to Liam and apologize to him? Trying to win him back?”
Ella didn’t want to get entangled in this conversation. She spoke calmly, “You’re overthinking. I have
no such intention.”
“You must have seen the news by now,” Natalie said suddenly.
Chapter 19: No Room for Resistance
The news about her and Liam had probably already spread like wildfire.
The paparazzi were hired by Natalie herself.
Her plan was to use the intimate photos the paparazzi took to cry to Liam, pretending that their affair would be exposed.
Of course, it wasn’t really about exposing it–just a little act in front of him.
Liam, in order to suppress the public opinion, would probably go home and beg his mother to change the engagement to her.
And his family would most likely stay silent, just to protect their reputation.
D
After all, once this matter was exposed, the moral implications would put the Byrne family in a
difficult position.
The negative impact would be much worse than marrying her.
This was the only way Natalie could think of to marry Liam.
However, things didn’t go according to plan! Somehow, the paparazzi turned into television
reporters.
This morning, as she walked out of the hotel room, she was bombarded by dozens of cameras in her
face. Natalie was stunned.
It had escalated beyond control! It even made it to the morning news broadcast–there was no way
to resolve it now!
Now, everyone knew that she and Liam had an affair, and that she had stolen her sister’s man.
No one knew what the Byrne family’s stance was, but apparently, Byrne Corporation’s stock price had plummeted when the market opened this morning.
What could have been solved with a few intimate photos had now become a public spectacle. Natalie was frustrated; her reputation was ruined.
She regretted acting impulsively! And she was also furious–who was the idiot that brought the
Chapter 19: No Room for Resistance
reporters in?
This had completely messed up her plans!
“Ella, you must have seen how Liam protected me on camera, right? His heart is with me.”
Natalie quickly masked her troubled thoughts and looked at Ella with a mocking expression. “Do you really think Liam would care if you apologize now?”
Ella didn’t want to waste any more time on her. “Since you like picking men out of the trash, Liam can be your prize. I’m not interested.”
She said this and moved past her, preparing to leave.
Mentioning Liam, Ella’s expression remained so calm, almost detached.
J
Natalie froze, disbelief filling her face. “You’re really not marrying Liam anymore? Then what’s that scarf for? Are you going to go to him and try to win him back?”
Ella lowered her head, looking at the scarf in her hand. “I’m planning to throw it away.”
With that, she casually tossed it into the nearby trash can.
Natalie’s eyes widened in shock. She was about to say something when suddenly, a loud voice came from upstairs: “Ella! What have you done to your sister? Why is she sitting on the floor?”
Lydia rushed downstairs, furious when she saw Natalie sitting on the floor.
“Did you push your sister?”
She hurried over and helped Natalie up, turning to Ella with anger. “What’s wrong with you? You come home and cause trouble right away? Are you trying to kill me with anger?”
Lydia carefully checked Natalie, making sure she wasn’t injured, before letting out a sigh of relief.
Ella felt calm inside. That night, she had already given up on family ties. “I didn’t push her. If you don’t believe me, ask her.”
Lydia looked at Natalie, who quickly said, “Mom, I tripped and fell on my own.”
19:23
Chapter 19: No Room for Resistance
Lydia paused, a little taken aback. “Natalie, you don’t have to cover for Ella. If you’ve been wronged, just tell me.”
“It really was my fault. I tripped,” Natalie said quickly, then turned back to Ella. “Ella, don’t blame
mom. She didn’t know.”
Ella’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she couldn’t help but smirk.
“Mom, did you see the news this morning?” Ella asked coldly.
Hearing this, Natalie’s face instantly stiffened, and a flicker of guilt flashed in her eyes.
As expected, as soon as Ella mentioned the news, Lydia’s expression grew colder.
In her mind, her usually obedient eldest daughter could never have done something so shameless and brought shame to their family.
But the live broadcast was so detailed–it gave her a headache all morning.
Lydia pursed her lips. “Natalie, you and Liam really…‘
Natalie’s eyes turned red, and before she could speak, tears began to fall.
“Mom, I’m sorry. Liam drank too much last night, and he took me to the hotel. I was too weak to resist.”
19-97
(0)
0
