Blake was dazed and disoriented, the photo album slipping from his hands.]]
He collapsed onto the floor, mumbling to himself: “Wrong… it was all wrong…”
He thought about Riley standing silently in the corner of the photo, about the scars on her shoulder and abdomen.[]
So she was the one who had risked everything to save him…]]
As night fell, the Rothwell mansion blazed with lights.
Relatives arrived, their faces plastered with smiles, all complimenting Emilia.]]
Emilia basked in their attention, fully embracing her role as the hostess of the house as she accepted their congratulations.
Blake held her hand, his smile somewhat stiff.[]
After everyone was seated, one chair remained empty. It was Riley’s seat, which had never been moved in all these years.]
Emilia noticed it immediately and her face darkened.[]
She let go of Blake and strode quickly to the chair. With a forceful push, the chair crashed to the floor.[]
Then turning to the elderly butler, she snapped: “What’s going on? Why is there still a chair for an outsider at this occasion? Have you gone senile?”
The butler bowed his head, apologizing repeatedly: “I’m sorry, Miss Harper. It was my oversight. I’ll remove it right away…“)
The dining room fell silent. Relatives exchanged awkward glances. Some sipped their coffee, others pretended to adjust their napkins–no one dared speak up.Л]
Mr. and Mrs. Rothwell frowned, wanting to intervene but ultimately remaining silent.[]
Just as the butler was about to remove the chair, Blake suddenly stood up.
“It’s just an extra chair. What’s the big deal?”
“Leave it,” he said softly, but his tone left no room for argument.]
Emilia whipped around, looking at him in disbelief: “Blake, what do you mean?“[]
Blake didn’t look at her, simply saying to the butler: “Put it back properly. Don’t let people think the Rothwells lack even this much class.”
The butler hesitated momentarily before respectfully righting the chair and returning it to its place.[]
Emilia’s face cycled between flushed and pale, her fists clenched tightly. But she eventually suppressed her anger and forced a fake smile: “Blake is right. I was being too sensitive
With that, she sat back down, but her eyes remained dangerously cold.
The relatives exchanged glances, the atmosphere unbearably awkward.]
Mr. Rothwell cleared his throat and raised his glass: “Today is a family gathering. Everyone, please relax. Let’s have a toast first.“]}
Everyone quickly followed suit, the clinking of glasses temporarily masking the tension in the air.
e.“0
Once dinner began. Emilia placed a piece of fish in Blake’s bowl, saying sweetly: “Blake, I remember you love fish. Try some.”
Blake stared at the fish in his bowl, suddenly remembering how Riley would carefully remove all the bones before serving it to him.]
Yel Emilia didin’t even know about his dislike of fish bones..
The table was full of people seemingly lively. But without Riley, Blake felt an unprecedented emptiness.}
He absently ate a few bites before standing up: “Please continue enjoying your meal I’m heading upstairs.“}
Emilia looked concerned: “Blake, what’s wrong?”[]
Biske casually replied: “Im not feeling well
Without acknowledging her further, he en
Passing Lucy’s room on tus way upstairs, some strange pull drew inside
Turmas sp the light, he was shocked to find the zoom completely empty. Everything that had belonged te kiley was gone as if she had never lived there at all
Chapter 5
Blake’s entire body trembled with sudden rage.
He rushed back downstairs and confronted everyone: “Who touched Riley’s room?“]
The guests‘ laughter stopped abruptly.[]
Blake’s fingers gripped the stair railing tightly, his knuckles white from the pressure.]
The butler glanced nervously at Emilia before carefully admitting: “Young master, Miss Harper gave the order at noon.“[]
Emilia set down her fork, her face still wearing that casual smile: “Blake, why get so upset over such a small matter?”
Riley herself said she’d leave with nothing. She won’t need that junk anymore, so I had everything boxed up and sent to the recycling center.”
“Recycling center?” Blake’s voice rose sharply, his eyes bloodshot.]
Emilia finally sensed something was off but still shrugged dismissively: “It’s just old clothes and books. If she didn’t want them, why keep them taking up space?”
Blake’s chest heaved violently as darkness swam before his eyes.[]
Those “junk” included Riley’s treasured albums, birthday gifts she had made for him by hand, and the seashells and leaves they had collected together as children… Twenty years of memories, casually thrown into the garbage by Emilia.
What gives you the right?” he almost shouted. “That was her room, her belongings! What authority did you have to dispose of them?“]]
The dining room fell silent as everyone was stunned by Blake’s sudden outburst.[]
