Chapter 5 She Is About to Die

• Kenneth put on his clothes with a cold expression and was about to leave when Camelia stopped him.
• "Isn't your company on break? Why are you leaving so early?"
• Kenneth mentioned the issue briefly, but Camelia stood up without hesitation.
• "I studied finance abroad, and I have some connections in banking. Maybe I can help."
• Her eagerness made Kenneth hesitate. "I haven't told my parents about you yet. They..."
• "It's fine. You can explain later. Let's deal with the money problem first."
• Camelia's urgency made it seem like it was her own family's finances at stake.
• Kenneth couldn't refuse any further and brought her back to the Johnson residence.
• As soon as they arrived, Madison rushed over. "Ken, you're finally back! Come, look at this..."
• Before she could finish, she noticed Camelia behind him. Her expression instantly turned cold. "Why did you bring her back? Where's Rachel? If Rachel finds out, good luck trying to smooth things over!"
• Madison's attitude flipped in a heartbeat, and she made no effort to hide her disgust toward Camelia.
• Back then, the Johnson and Quinn families were close, and Kenneth and Camelia, as childhood sweethearts, were expected to marry once they finished college.
• No one expected the Johnson family to go bankrupt. Without so much as a goodbye, the Quinns left for abroad. Despite years of friendship, they didn't even offer a loan to help. They simply vanished.
• Since then, Kenneth's dad, Samuel Johnson, and his mom, Madison had long lost any fondness for Camelia.
• In truth, at first, Samuel and Madison hadn't approved of me and Kenneth, either. But after nine years of staying by his side, supporting the family both financially and emotionally, I had finally earned their acceptance.
• Now, it seemed like Camelia's new plan was to win over Samuel and Madison too.
• "Madam Madison, I know you have some misunderstandings about me, but right now, fixing the account problem is more important," Camelia said politely.
• Kenneth, already irritated by the mention of Rachel, didn't bother explaining and handed Camelia his phone so she could handle it.
• "Mom, it wasn't Camelia who left on her own back then. It was Rachel who..."
• Kenneth gently revealed the truth from back then. Madison's face softened, though skepticism lingered.
• "Rachel would never do something like that," Madison muttered. "Anyway, you're about to get married soon. Rachel's done so much for you all these years. If it weren't for her giving us that five million, how would we have ever recovered from bankruptcy?"
• Her words made Kenneth pause in thought.
• I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. That five million was real money. I used them to save the Johnson family.
• My parents had passed away, and my greedy relatives had all set their sights on my inheritance. For years, I fought alone to protect it. Yet, when it came to saving the Johnsons, I handed over five million without hesitation. There was nothing to doubt about my intentions.
• I saw Kenneth's eyes waver, softening once again.
• But his weakness no longer brought me comfort.
• A sense of unease clawed at me as I watched Camelia handle the phone, pretending to fix the issue with the bank account.
• The timing was too convenient, leaving little doubt that if it wasn't Camelia, someone else must have tampered with it.
• "Mr. Samuel, Madam Madison, the money can still be recovered," Camelia said, smiling sweetly. "Even if the account has issues, it can be sent back to my card along the same route. I'll transfer it to you afterward."
• The room fell into complete silence.
• Kenneth's shocked gaze wavered, and Madison took a long moment to process what she had just heard.
• "What do you mean?" Madison's voice was low and sharp. "Isn't that Rachel's inheritance from her parents? Why would the money be transferred to your account first?"
• She grabbed Camelia's wrist tightly, suspicion written all over her face.
• Even though I had expected Camelia to pull something, hearing it out loud still left me stunned. So this is how shameless a person can really be.
• Camelia quickly covered her mouth and shot a glance at Kenneth, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Oh... so Rachel didn't tell you? Just take it as you misheard. Don't worry, I'll take care of it after this transaction goes through."
• That forced, pitiful expression on her face was clearly hiding something darker, and anyone could see that.
• She pretended to hide the truth, but it only fueled Madison's curiosity even more. "Camelia, just tell me. What's really going on with that money?"
• Five million wasn't an enormous amount, but for the Johnson family back then, it was life-saving.
• Kenneth suddenly grabbed Camelia's wrist, his narrow, upturned eyes dark with cold fury.
• "Forget about Rachel for a second. Tell me, was that five million really from you?"
• The edges of Kenneth's eyes burned red with intensity, his relentless questioning making my heart sink deeper into despair.
• He's doubting me again? Didn't he see me transfer that money straight from my parents' account? And now, just a few words from Camelia are enough to make him question even that life-saving money?
• In the end, Camelia spoke up, wearing a troubled expression as she revealed her so-called truth. "I saved that five million myself. I knew the Johnson family was struggling back then, so I asked Rachel to pass it along for me without telling my family. I never thought she wouldn't tell you... Please, don't blame Rachel over this. It's been so many years, and the Johnson family is doing better now, so just let it go..."
• Before Camelia could finish, Madison slammed her hand on the table, her once-kind face turning cold in an instant. "Rachel lied to us for all these years!"
• I froze.
• Madison, who once swore she loved me like her own daughter, now turned on me without hesitation, all because of the very person she once claimed to despise.
• She grabbed Kenneth's arm, her voice low and furious. "Camelia gave Rachel that money right after high school, and yet she didn't give it to you until her third year of college? If we'd gotten that money sooner, the Johnson family wouldn't have suffered through those awful years!"
• My body went cold. Facing these two people who had never truly trusted me, I no longer had the strength to explain.
• I had to wait until my third year of college to access that money because, according to the terms of my parents' notarized will, I couldn't withdraw a single cent of my inheritance until I turned twenty.
• And during my third year of college, I had just turned twenty.
• Camelia truly had everyone fooled.
• Kenneth took a deep breath, his eyes darkened with disappointment.
• It was clear that he believed her.
• He truly believed that the money he had always seen as his salvation was something I had stolen from Camelia.
• Just then, his phone rang, cutting through the silence like a blade.
• Kenneth answered the call, his voice low and heavy. On the other end came a cold, emotionless voice. "Kenneth, your fiancée is about to die."