Chapter 123 Eliminate Ophelia

Chapter 123 Eliminate Ophelia

Emily couldn't accept that her family background was this ugly, couldn't accept that her whole glamorous life had been a lie from start to finish.

She turned to leave, but Qiana grabbed her tight and wouldn't let go.

Qiana's eyes were full of tears, her voice small and pleading. "Emily, I know this is too much to take in. I'm the one who wronged you. I've owed you all these years. I'm not asking you to accept us right away—I just want the chance to make it up to you."

"Make it up to me?" Emily turned back, a wild smile creeping onto her face. "You want to make it up to me? Really?"

"Of course we do." Qiana and Raymond both nodded quickly.

Emily let out the obsession she'd buried deepest in her heart. "It's simple. Get rid of Ophelia. Once Ophelia is dead, the truth gets buried forever. No one will question me anymore. I'll still be the only heiress of the Jones family, the only daughter, the girl everyone adores."

"That's the best way you can make it up to me. Do it, and I'll forgive you. If you can't, then don't ever come looking for me again."

A sharp tremor ran through Qiana, her heart heavy with conflicting feelings. The blame fell entirely on her—she'd twisted Emily's values with her own hands, bringing up a girl who was selfish and unyieldingly stubborn.

Raymond stood nearby and saw the deep hatred and resentment burning in his daughter's eyes. The guilt inside him came flooding back.

He had never protected her for a single day. Now the only way he could make it up to her was to give her what she wanted and clear every obstacle from her path.

His guilt overrode his reason. His shame drowned out whatever lines he had left.

"Alright. I'll help you." Raymond was quiet for a moment, then spoke. "I'll get rid of Ophelia for you and make sure you keep your place as the Jones family heiress."

A flicker of light finally crossed Emily's eyes when she heard his answer, but her voice stayed cold. "I only care about results. Don't come looking for me until it's done."

With that, she shook off Qiana's hand and walked away without looking back.

Qiana watched her go, eyes full of bitterness. "It's all my fault..."

Raymond put his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry. I'm here."

The two of them reached out to Max right away.

Max got the message and rushed to the hideout. When he heard Raymond's plan, his interest lit up fast.

Ophelia and Mason had broken through his schemes multiple times, costing him dearly. He'd long wanted to tear them both apart. Now with Raymond on his side, the timing couldn't be better.

"Ophelia is at the top of her game right now. The National Security Agency trusts her, and Mason has her fully covered. Going at her head-on is a losing move. We need to draw her out and get her to walk into our trap." Max sized up the situation quickly.

Raymond said in a low voice, "The Jones family has one weak spot—Cynthia."

Cynthia traveled back and forth between the hospital and the Jones family home every day to care for Geraldo. Her security was thin, making her the easiest target.

"Grab Cynthia." A cold, ruthless look crossed Max's eyes. "Use her as leverage to force Ophelia to come make the trade. Once she steps outside Mason's protection, we can finish her for good."

The two of them were immediately on the same page and locked down the plan fast.

Inside the hospital, Geraldo had been resting for days and was steadily getting better, slowly coming back to full awareness.

Cynthia stayed by his bedside every day without leaving, taking care of him with everything she had.

One evening, Cynthia decided to head home to grab a few changes of clothes. She walked out of the hospital alone and made her way slowly along the sidewalk toward the parking area.

The moment she reached for her car door, two unmarked black sedans shot out from the alleys on both sides. Before Cynthia could react, several large men in black jumped out and moved fast toward her.

She barely opened her mouth to scream before one of them pressed a cloth soaked in something over her nose and mouth. Within seconds, her vision blurred and she went completely limp.

The men dragged her into one of the cars, and it sped away.

When Ophelia got the call, her heart dropped. Without a second's hesitation, she drove alone to the address Silver Fox had given her.

The abandoned warehouse district on the outskirts of the city was full of hidden dangers.

Ophelia walked into the warehouse alone, dressed in all black, without a trace of fear on her face.

In the center of the warehouse, the lights were harsh and cold.

Cynthia was tied tightly to a chair, unconscious. Three people stood in front of her.

Qiana looked uneasy and nervous. Raymond stood in front of her, tense and on guard, his whole body radiating hostility. And at the front, with a cold and arrogant expression, stood Emily.

Seeing the three of them together—and noticing how much Emily looked like Silver Fox—Ophelia's eyes sharpened slightly. All the scattered pieces clicked into place in her mind at once.

"So that's how it is," she said calmly. "I think I've figured it out. Emily, you're Qiana and Silver Fox's daughter. Am I right?"

Emily's face went pale. She glared at Ophelia, furious and embarrassed. "So what if I am? Are you going to mock me? Ophelia, what does it matter where I came from? I spent nearly twenty years as the beloved heiress of the Jones family, spoiled by my parents and brothers. But you? "

She stepped forward, her voice dripping with contempt. "You grew up in the slums. Even if you are the real Jones daughter, you're too rough around the edges. You'll never be worthy of the Jones name."

"Ophelia, you're lowborn to your core. You'll never be better than me. Not ever."

Ophelia's expression didn't change. She just watched Emily fall apart in front of her.

Emily's anger burned hotter when she got no reaction. She raised her hand and pointed at the unconscious Cynthia. "I'm done talking. Do you want your mother to live? Simple—come take her place as the hostage. Do what you're told, and I'll let Cynthia go. Try anything clever, and I'll have them finish her right now. Then you'll have no mother left."

Silence fell over the warehouse the moment she finished. Every eye locked onto Ophelia, waiting for her answer.

Ophelia frowned. "Emily, you called her Mom for almost twenty years too. Can you really bring yourself to hurt her?"

"So what?" Emily had completely lost it by now. "I was her daughter for nearly twenty years, but ever since you showed up, has she spared me a single glance? If she doesn't want me, then I don't want her either."

Reasoning with her clearly wasn't going to work. Ophelia let out a quiet sigh and gave a small nod.

"Fine. I'll take her place." Ophelia's gaze moved to the unconscious Cynthia, and something soft flickered in her eyes.

Emily broke into a smug smile when she heard Ophelia agree, convinced she had finally gotten the upper hand.

Just as Ophelia was about to step forward, steady, measured footsteps came from outside the warehouse. Countless dark figures quickly surrounded the building.

Mason walked in, dressed in all black, his dark eyes sweeping over everyone inside. They burned with a fury that could tear the world apart.

"What exactly were you planning to do to my fiancée?"