Chapter 201

Chapter 201

The screen began playing footage.

A blurry surveillance video.

The footage had obviously been restored, but it clearly showed Angelina driving an unconscious Daisy toward the suburban accident site that night five years ago.

"This is surveillance footage from a private parking lot five kilometers from the scene on the night of the accident." Elizabeth explained. "The parking lot owner didn't provide it to police at the time because he was afraid of getting into trouble. We recently had the footage restored."

A male voice came through the recording: "Ms. Sullivan, the matter you requested has been handled. Liam will never speak again."

Many people recognized that voice—Isaac's personal assistant.

Isaac shot to his feet. "Fake! This is fabricated!"

No one paid attention to him, because there was more evidence.

A video of Freya. She looked at the camera, very nervous, but still mustered the courage to tell everything—including how she and Angelina had plotted together. She even produced a recording.

Words Angelina had said.

"I'm not willing to accept it. My cousin is one thing, but why Elizabeth? No matter what, Cornelius shouldn't have chosen her! She doesn't deserve him at all! Help me—bring her to that party. Don't worry, I'm just going to teach her a lesson."

Freya hesitated a moment before nodding. "All right."

And so the two reached an agreement.

Freya said, "I never imagined she'd deceive me. She knew those people, and they weren't good people at all. They didn't just want to teach Elizabeth a lesson—they tortured Daisy, dragging her with a car, committing violence..."

Angelina's face turned deathly pale, ghostlike.

"Lies! All lies! That woman and I had a falling out years ago. She's always wanted revenge on me..." Her voice trembled as she spoke.

Elizabeth braced her hands on the table, her voice heavy with pain. "Five years ago, Angelina was jealous of everything her cousin Daisy had—Cornelius's love, the family's affection, even her musical talent. But she hated me even more, because I married Cornelius and got what she didn't."

She looked at Angelina, her eyes cold and filled with hatred. "So you orchestrated my kidnapping, wanting to take compromising photos to break up Cornelius and me. But Daisy rushed to the scene to save me—that was your purpose. At the time, I didn't understand why they didn't take my phone, why they gave me a chance to call for help..."

Now everything made sense.

She'd wanted to call the police then, but those people wouldn't let her. They said she could call one person for help, someone who could report to the police.

Elizabeth didn't understand the reason. She'd called Cornelius—no answer.

So after thinking it over, there was only Daisy.

She'd asked Daisy to help call the police, but never expected Daisy would come herself.

She looked at Cornelius, her eyes full of sorrow. "Cornelius, are you still going to protect her now?"

Cornelius stared at the large screen, his body rigid as a sculpture.

He... had trusted the wrong person.

"It's not over yet." Ethan spoke. "Cornelius, your aunt Liliana Habsburg also died at Angelina's hands."

Cornelius's head snapped up toward him, red threads faintly visible in his eyes.

The final piece of evidence Ethan produced was the truth about Liliana's death—a video recording she'd made before dying.

Back then, Liliana had discovered Daisy's death was connected to Angelina. But she knew that saying so rashly wouldn't convince anyone, so she decided to investigate herself.

But Angelina detected Liliana's intentions first. And so, Liliana died in a car accident.

When Cornelius investigated, the trail led to Elizabeth's father.

Because at that time, the Whitaker family's corporation really did have problems. Elizabeth's father's motives for wanting Elizabeth to marry Cornelius weren't pure either. All of this, Angelina naturally twisted into "truth."

From then on, all of Cornelius's hatred fell on Elizabeth.

The side door of the convention center opened. Several uniformed police officers walked in.

Leading officer Cruz walked up to Angelina and presented an arrest warrant. "Ms. Angelina Sullivan, you're suspected of multiple charges including deliberate injury causing serious harm, attempted murder, incitement to murder, perjury, and incitement to kidnapping. Please come with us."

Angelina screamed and backed away. "It wasn't me! They're all framing me! Mr. Isaac Habsburg, save me!"

Isaac closed his eyes and finally spoke. "Angie, plead guilty."

He knew that at this point, continuing to protect Angelina was meaningless. The Habsburg family had operated in political and business circles for thirty years with deep roots, but continuing to harbor her would only drag the entire family down.

As Angelina was handcuffed and led away, passing by Elizabeth, she suddenly laughed maniacally. "Elizabeth, you think you won? You'll never win! The man you've loved for ten years—how has he treated you these five years? He believed me, not you! Even now that he knows the truth, you two are finished!"

Her laughter was shrill and piercing, echoing through the silent venue.

Elizabeth stood in place, watching her being taken away. She felt none of the satisfaction she'd imagined—only desolation.

Yes, even with the truth revealed, could those five years of estrangement between her and Cornelius, all that hurt, ever be mended?

Cornelius looked at her, finding all words stuck in his throat. Any language seemed pale and powerless in the face of five years of damage.

"Elizabeth..." he finally spoke with difficulty.

But Elizabeth shook her head and said calmly, "Cornelius, let's get divorced."

With that, she turned and left the venue.

Her figure was thin, but she held herself straight.

Cornelius stood in place, watching her figure disappear at the door, feeling as if a huge piece had been carved from his heart.

The launch venue descended into chaos. Media reporters frantically chased after her for interviews, but Ethan's security team had already escorted her away.

Isaac was also implicated in this scandal, taken away by police to assist with the investigation.

What would happen to him—Elizabeth didn't care. She only knew she was about to break free from this marriage.

She would finally be free.

Outside, the sunlight was perfect. But for some people, on this brilliantly sunny day, the trajectory of their lives had completely changed.

As Elizabeth walked out of the convention center, Ethan's car was already waiting at the entrance.

"Get in," Ethan said. "There's a place I want to take you."

Elizabeth looked at him and nodded.

The back entrance of the nursing home in the north district was a quiet side road. The car stopped under a tree by the roadside.

Elizabeth followed Ethan out of the car. They entered through the nursing home's back entrance. Management here was strict, but Ethan was clearly a regular. The security guard simply logged them in and let them through.

They walked through a quiet corridor to an independent hospital room.

Pushing open the door, Elizabeth saw Daisy lying on a specialized hospital bed. Her eyes were closed, her face pale, but her features still showed traces of her former beauty.

From long-term bed rest, she was much thinner than in memory. Nearby equipment displayed her vital signs.

Elizabeth froze in place. "She... she's not dead?"

Ethan walked to the bedside, gently stroking Daisy's face. "These past five years, I've come to see her three times a week. Doctors say her chances of recovery are minimal, but I don't believe it. I've always believed that one day she'll wake up."

"How could you be willing to tell me? I thought..." Elizabeth's voice was hoarse.

"Even though the real culprit has been caught, you're not entirely without connection. If you hadn't called her for help that night, she wouldn't have gone to that place."

Elizabeth's eyes dimmed.

"But," Ethan said softly, "she wouldn't bear to blame you. And the real culprit isn't you—it's the person whose jealousy drove them to arrange everything."

Elizabeth walked to Daisy's bedside, holding her cold hand, and said softly, "Daisy, I'm sorry. I've always owed you an apology."

"But now the truth is out. Angelina has received her due punishment. Ethan has been waiting for you too. So... you need to wake up soon."

She rambled on, but suddenly felt the fingers in her hand move slightly.

Very faintly—so light she almost thought it was an illusion.

But she felt it clearly!

On the nearby equipment screen, Daisy's brainwaves showed a momentary abnormal fluctuation.

A doctor was urgently called in. After a comprehensive examination, a relieved smile appeared on his face. "This is a very good sign. Though we can't determine when she'll wake up, there's... hope."

Ethan gripped Daisy's hand tightly, his eyes reddening.

Elizabeth stood to the side, watching all this, complex emotions surging in her heart. She looked up toward the window. The sunlight was perfect, streaming into the hospital room, falling on everyone.

She could finally lay down all her burdens and truly live for herself. As for her and Cornelius's future...

Elizabeth smiled faintly, her gaze becoming gentle yet firm.

Some roads needed to be walked alone. Some people needed time to settle.

The future was still long. She would walk slowly, look slowly.

Perhaps one day, when all wounds had healed and all misunderstandings dissolved, they might meet again at some crossroads.

Perhaps not.

But none of that mattered anymore. What mattered was that she'd finally found herself again.

Outside the window, the warm spring sun shone bright.

And the story continued.

THE END.