Chapter 5 Severe Ties

• Leah froze. Her expression grew even more uncomfortable as tears streamed down her face.
• "It's all my fault," she sobbed. "I'll leave. I'll stay away from all of you. As long as everyone focuses on you, that's all that matters."
• "Leah, ignore her. She's nothing but an ungrateful snake!" Milo snapped, feeling Leah's pain. He turned to Charmaine and yelled, "Leah was the one worried about you and convinced us to come check on you. If we had arrived any later, you would not have had the opportunity to clear your name. You're just biting the hand that feeds you!"
• Alec's brow furrowed as well. "Leah has already apologized. You need to know when to stop."
• Olympia's face was just as displeased. She declared, "It was the hospital nurse's mistake all those years ago. Why are you blaming Leah? She was as unaware as you were. Now that we've brought you back, what more do you want?"
• Observing their defense of Leah and hearing their malicious yet self-righteous words, Charmaine's lashes fluttered as she lowered her gaze.
• "You're all just like before. That is good," she muttered.
• When she looked up again, a resolute determination gleamed in her eyes.
• "Go ahead, keep favoring your precious darling, always trusting her every word and treating her as the pride of the family. You won't have to worry about me causing you any trouble or bringing any disgrace to the family. And you certainly don't have to fear that I'll take any attention away from Leah."
• Olympia frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
• Charmaine pulled up the recording app on her phone. Her voice was clear and precise as she spoke, "From this day forward, I, Charmaine Nelson, sever all ties with the Nelsons. Nor will I take anything from the Nelsons or ask for help. I've stayed at your house for less than four months, and I will pay back every penny for the expenses incurred. I won't take anything that belongs to the Nelsons. From now on, the matter of who the Nelsons' daughter is has nothing to do with me. Whatever you choose to cherish has nothing to do with me. I will have no further connection with the Nelsons."
• "I'll send this recording to every member of the Nelsons for the record. Alec, you can draft the agreement to formally end our ties. Don't worry—I won't go back on my word."
• With that, Charmaine sent the recording to the group chat.
• The notification sound pulled them all out of their shocked daze.
• Milo was visibly stunned. He barked, "You've lost your mind! Are you really severing your ties with the family simply because you don't want to donate your kidney to Leah? You're insane!"
• Alec gripped his phone tightly, staring at Charmaine as if seeing her for the first time. "Do you even realize what you've just said?"
• Was this really the same simpleton sister they had retrieved?
• Charmaine's face remained indifferent and she declared, "It's not like you've ever acknowledged my relationship with the family publicly, nor have you compensated me in any way. This saves everyone a lot of trouble. Since you can't bear to lose Leah, I'm simply granting your wish."
• Olympia was shaking with rage. She said, "Fine! If you have what it takes, then you can leave! Do you really think you can threaten us?"
• Without hesitation, Charmaine walked out.
• The Nelsons watched in stunned silence as she left without looking back, too bewildered to even react.
• Leah bit her lip hard. No way. She had worked so hard to bring Charmaine back to donate her kidney. There was no way she could let her leave the family so easily.
• "I'll go talk to Chara and get her back!"
• …
• After leaving, Charmaine was about to call a cab when a sleek Maybach slowly pulled up in front of her.
• Three men in black suits got out of the car. Their robust frames strain against their tailored suits. They appeared polite, but there was an underlying sense of threat.
• "Ms. Nelson, my employer would like to see you."
• Charmaine's mind whirled, quickly piecing together the most likely scenario.
• With a shrug, she bent down and got into the car.
• Leah and the others came rushing out just in time to see Charmaine being driven away in the Maybach.
• Leah's tone was sour. "When did Chara meet such powerful people?"
• Milo sneered, "It's just a Maybach. What's so impressive? Leah, once your lead role in that drama comes out, Maybachs will be paving the way for you!"
• Leah smiled and said, "Hmm."
• Alec's eyes stayed fixed on the disappearing car, his gaze dark and troubled.
• He had a feeling that something was about to change.
• …
• "Boss, isn't today your birthday? Why was that imposter showing up at the birthday party instead?"
• Inside the car, Charmaine finally had a moment to respond to the messages on her phone.
• "I won't celebrate my birthday with that imposter," she replied, allowing herself a rare, teasing moment.
• "Exactly! Who wants to celebrate with an imposter? "Boss, why would a bigwig like you abandon a comfortable retirement life to endure such humiliation with the Nelsons?"