Chapter 185

Chapter 185

All eyes turned toward the garden entrance. Samantha stood there in a plain summer dress, holding a neatly wrapped gift box as if it weighed more than she could bear.

Her face was ashen, her eyes darting nervously from place to place. She couldn't bring herself to look at Jacob, and she couldn't look at Elizabeth either.

Jacob's smile thinned instantly.

He stared at her with a kind of chill that left no room for softness. "What are you doing here?"

Samantha lowered her head, her voice small. "It's Jack's birthday. I… came to bring a gift."

She lifted the gift box a little, directing it toward Jack. Jack glanced at it, then at Jacob, unsure whether he should take it.

Tina stepped forward, took the box from her hands, and set it on the table. Samantha remained frozen in place, stiff and unsure, as if she no longer knew whether she was supposed to stay or flee.

"Anything else?" Jacob asked, his voice sharp as a blade.

Samantha's lips trembled. "Jacob, I—"

"I already told you," he said, slicing through her words, "you and Michelle take the money and leave the Smith family. I'm not repeating myself."

Tears streaked down Samantha's cheeks. She looked at him with a desperation that only made the silence heavier.

"Jacob, I know I was wrong before. I messed up—badly. But I really regret—could you just—"

"No." His answer landed like a slam of a door. "Samantha, I gave you chances. More than one. You chose to stand with outsiders. You chose to betray your own family. And now you want to tell me you're sorry?"

Samantha bowed her head again, tears dripping onto the stone path. For a moment, she seemed to drown in her own memories—every scheming move she had made with Lilith, every time she had tried to hurt Elizabeth, every moment she had turned her back on Jacob when he needed support most.

She had convinced herself she would always escape consequences, that blood ties would protect her no matter what, that Jacob would never actually push her out. She had been wrong.

"Michelle's little boyfriend," Jacob added, his voice flattening into a cold, indifferent cruelty, "you can take him with you. I don't care."

Samantha swayed on her feet, visibly struggling to remain standing.

She lifted her head, disbelief burning through her tears. "Jacob, you—"

"I'm not your brother," Jacob said before she could finish. "Not since the moment you helped an outsider plot against the Smith family."

Samantha stood there, staring at Jacob's frozen expression, at Elizabeth's quiet composure, at Jack's curious, puzzled eyes.

And suddenly, she looked small. Ridiculously small.
She had believed she could come back. Believed time would smooth everything over. Believed blood would override everything else. But she had been wrong again. Some lines, once crossed, can never be erased.

She turned slowly, taking one step after another toward the exit.

After a few steps, she stopped. Without turning around, she whispered, "I'm sorry."

Then she pushed open the door and walked out.

The garden fell silent again. Jack stared at the closed door, then looked up at Jacob, confusion wrinkling his little face. "Dad, what happened to Aunt Samantha?"

Jacob crouched down and ruffled his hair. "Nothing. She left."

Jack nodded as if that explained everything and immediately ran off to find Tina. Elizabeth watched Jacob, her lips parting slightly.

"What is it?" He asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. "Nothing."

She didn't plan to plead for Samantha.

Not because she was heartless, just because she remembered. Every trap Samantha had set. Every shove when she was already down. Every betrayal wrapped in a sweet smile.

Elizabeth didn't hate her anymore, but forgiveness was a luxury Samantha hadn't earned.

After dinner, Jack begged to go to the amusement park. Elizabeth glanced at Jacob, and he nodded. "Go ahead."

Tina went to get the car, Leon trailing behind her. Jack climbed into the backseat and pressed his face to the window, chattering nonstop as the scenery rushed by.

Elizabeth sat beside him, holding his small hand while trying to follow the stream of excited kid-talk that never quite stayed on topic.

Jacob sat in the passenger seat, watching them in the rearview mirror with a faint smile that softened the sharp lines of his face.
The amusement park buzzed with noise. Kids ran everywhere, their laughter, screams and the blaring music blending into a chaotic but joyful symphony.

Jack tugged Elizabeth toward the carousel. She stumbled a little trying to keep up, and Jacob reached out to steady her.

"Careful," he murmured.

Elizabeth offered a small smile. "I'm okay."

And that was when she saw them.

No—saw him . And then the person behind him.

Kane walked ahead, holding a leather lead in his hand. The other end wrapped around someone's neck.

That someone crawled on all fours, like a dog being paraded through the park. Dirt smeared their skin and clothes, their hair tangled beyond recognition.

People stepped aside, staring. Some whispered. Some lifted their phones to film. Kane ignored them all, walking as though parading a broken human through the park was completely normal.
When he reached the carousel, he halted and said something to the person on the ground.

They lifted their head.

Elizabeth's breath caught.

Lilith—the once untouchable, spoiled, blazing-hot Moretti heiress—looked hollowed out. Bruised. Filthy. Broken. Tears and grime mixed on her face, making her barely recognizable.

But her eyes, those empty eyes, flickered when they landed on Elizabeth.

Kane followed that gaze, and when he spotted Elizabeth and Jacob, embarrassment flashed through his expression.

He let go of the lead and hurried over. "Mr. Smith, Ms. Windsor—didn't expect to see you two here."

Jacob looked at him with cool detachment. "Kane, you're really going all out.."

Kane's smile stiffened. "She's my enemy. Yours too. I just thought—"

"I didn't say anything," Jacob cut in, his tone bored. "Carry on."

Kane exhaled in obvious relief, nodded rapidly, then jogged back to grab the lead and yank Lilith forward again.

Lilith stumbled hard, her knee hitting the pavement with a muted thud. She winced but didn't make a sound. She only turned back once, giving Elizabeth a final look.
It burned with pure hatred, resentment and bitterness.

Elizabeth didn't look back. She lowered her gaze, scooped Jack into her arms, and walked toward the carousel.

"Jack, which one do you want?"

He pointed at the white horse at the front, nearly bouncing with excitement. "That one! That one!"

Elizabeth helped him onto it and stood beside him, one hand steadying his waist.

Music filled the air as the carousel began to turn. Jack grinned widely, his eyes curling into crescent moons as the horse went up and down.

Elizabeth watched him, her lips slowly lifting into a soft smile.

Jacob stood nearby, observing them with a tenderness few ever witnessed.


Sunlight spilled over the carousel, catching the colorful lights and the bright faces of Elizabeth and Jack. It looked perfect. Peaceful.

But Jacob knew better. The dark, ugly pieces of the past hadn't vanished.

They were simply hidden—for now—behind this sunlit afternoon.

But so what? At least at this moment, they were happy. That was enough.