pter 8
Meanwhile, I’m on a small island in Monaco.
This house is a gift from my father. He told me that besides him, no one knows its location.
He didn’t ask me why, or inquire what happened.
He only asked, “Is this what you want?”
I nodded and said yes.
With my father’s help, I begin training as the family heir.
The house is near the ocean, so every morning when I wake up, I can feel the breeze flowing through the windows.
In my leisure time, I walk along the beach collecting shells.
When I need social interaction, I volunteer.
I don’t lack money or time.
My only wish is to be alone, with no one disturbing me.
Back in New York, Philip and James grow increasingly anxious.
They’ve been searching for a month but still have no trace of me.
The person most satisfied with this situation is Lydia.
With me gone, she lives more comfortably.
Gradually, she begins taking possession of my things.
One day, when Philip returns home dejected again, he finds Lydia sitting in my bedroom.
She’s wearing my pajamas, using my skincare products.
When she sees Philip’s reflection in the mirror, she winks at him playfully.
“Philip, come here and help me put my hair up.”
Saying this, she reaches out her hand, casually trying to flirt with him like before.
She’s so confident that she doesn’t notice Philip’s dark expression.
The next moment, Philip grabs her and throws Lydia out.
Along with all the skincare products she’d been using.
“If you want them so badly, take them!”
Lydia gets hit in the face with skincare products. Her cheeks flush red with humiliation.
She shouts angrily: “Philip, do you think I’m a beggar? I don’t want your garbage!”
With that, she angrily kicks away one of the containers.
Philip gets a headache from her constant shouting.
Finally, he can’t stand it anymore and points at the door, yelling: “Didn’t you hear me tell you to get out? I already found you an apartment–why are you still here pestering me?”
Lydia shouts loudly: “I’m not leaving! This is my home!”
‘You’re only taking your anger out on me because Clara won’t come back, aren’t you? That’s the kind of man you are!”
‘Ha! I’ll tell you right now–she’s never coming back. Want to know why? Because that night when you and I were together, Clara saw everything!”
Philip’s mind goes blank.
When he came to his senses, he’s already slapped Lydia to the ground.
Lydia looks up at him in shock, covering her face with disbelief in her eyes.
At this moment, Philip’s last trace of feeling for her completely disappears.
He looks down at her from above, just like he looked at me three years ago.
He coldly calls security to drag Lydia out.
The butler tries to intervene but is cut off by Philip’s order.
‘If you don’t want to work here, you can leave.”
The servants hold their breath. They realize Lydia is finished.
Even James no longer pays attention to her, letting her wander from club to club in self–destruction.
A month later, James runs to find Philip with good news.
At this point, Philip is on the verge of giving up.
Eighty long days and nights have exhausted him emotionally and physically.
But James has found something.
logged into Dad’s email and found Clara’s address!”
Philip stands frozen, still not daring to believe it.
Not until James repeats it three times does he suddenly stand up.
Philip rushes frantically out of the room, as if afraid that being one step slower means I’ll disappear forever.
