Chapter 5 Severing Ties

In her past life, her biological mother sold her off to settle those debts.

But this time, things were different. Emily had marketed herself before Diane could do it.

Since she couldn't escape her fate of being trampled on, she decided to choose a man she found more acceptable.

She had cast aside her dignity, trampled her pride, and sold her body in exchange for that thin piece of paper-a check that would give her a different path in life.

Emily always told herself that when your life is at stake, dignity becomes meaningless. Such intangible things were only real to those who had money.

She didn't need dignity; she needed money.

So, there was last night-drugging, seducing, and climbing into Alexander Remington's bed.

Walking through the narrow, garbage-filled stairway, Emily felt numb.

The door to her family's apartment was half-open, and the sharp sound of arguing spilled out. Emily furrowed her brow and stopped outside, waiting for her mother to finish her outburst before entering.

"You're cursed! If you want to die, why drag us down with you? Since marrying you, I've never had a single good day... Fifty thousand, even selling the whole family wouldn't be enough..." Diane's shrill voice echoed through the hallway.

"Why hasn't that wretched girl Emily come back yet? Does she want us all to starve? I've already talked to Mr. King; if Emily goes with him, he'll help pay off our debt and even give us money every month."

Emily's hand tightened around her bag, her eyes flashing with sharp hatred. Did you hear that? That was her biological mother.

She wasn't here today out of any sense of filial duty. By giving Diane this fifty thousand, she would no longer owe her anything-not even her life.

She had paid back Diane in full in her previous life.

Her stepfather Victor's weak voice trembled as he spoke, "I heard... Mr. King is a pervert. You're pushing Emily into a pit of fire!"

Emily's face paled, her body trembling slightly. She knew exactly who Mr. King was.

A man in his fifties, running a modest real estate company, weighing over two hundred pounds, lustful and insatiable, but with sexual dysfunction.

When a person couldn't find satisfaction physically, they sought it psychologically.

So, he took pleasure in torturing young, beautiful women, using his money to ruin countless lives.

A month ago, Diane had tried to sell Emily to Mr. King, but Victor had stopped her.

In her past life, it was this same man. Emily had refused, hitting Mr. King with an ashtray and escaping, only to run into Liam Roberts.

Liam had helped her during the most difficult time of her life, pulling her out of hell, and to Emily, Liam was her savior, her everything. She would have died for him.

But after Liam had her killed, she realized that it had all been a manipulation by him.

Suddenly, a clear female voice rang out, "I disagree! Mom, Emily is your biological daughter. How can you do this to her? Besides, Dad spent thirty thousand on stocks, and the other twenty thousand was spent by our sister. If someone has to sell themselves to pay off the debt, it should be her..."

Emily's younger sister, Lily, stood up for her, her voice firm and determined.

Diane's face twisted with anger. "How dare you! Your sister has already sacrificed so much. Why should she suffer more? Emily is older; she should take responsibility."

Emily took a deep breath, stepping into the apartment. "Enough."

The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at her.

"I have the money," Emily said, holding up the check. "This will pay off the debt."

Victor's eyes widened in relief, but Diane's face remained hard.

"Where did you get this money?" Diane demanded.

"It doesn't matter," Emily replied firmly. "What matters is that we can settle the debt and get those people off our backs."

Diane snatched the check from her hand, scrutinizing it. "Fine. We'll take it."

Emily's face remained expressionless. "After this, I owe you nothing."

Diane's eyes flashed with something unrecognizable-guilt, perhaps, but Emily didn't care.

She turned to leave, her resolve stronger than ever. She would never be a victim again. She had plans to secure her future and exact revenge on those who had wronged her.

As she walked away, Emily felt a weight lift off her shoulders. This was just the beginning. She had taken control of her fate, and she would never let it slip away again.

Back in her small apartment, Emily began to prepare for the battles ahead. She was determined to use every resource at her disposal to ensure her survival and success. Alexander Remington was just the beginning. She would navigate this dangerous path with caution and determination, ready to fight for her future and her revenge.

"You are terrifying, you are not human at all."

Emily leaned against the peeling, mottled wall, a cold, silent smile on her face. Blood ties are never the strongest bonds in this world.

Listen to that. Even your own mother and sister can sell you out for money to save themselves.

These were her family members-five people in total. The two with the closest blood ties were willing to trade her for money, while the two without any blood relation were the only ones who spoke up for her.

Emily laughed coldly. Her mother and sister... It turned out that in Diane's heart, only her second daughter, Lisa, ever mattered. Emily never had a place in her mother's heart.

What she hadn't heard in her previous life, she heard now.

Why were the daughters treated so differently?

An unprecedented anger rose within Emily. She hated them all.

With a loud bang, Emily kicked open the security door. The room fell silent as she coldly scanned Diane's sharp face.

Diane flinched. This eldest daughter had never been close to her, always cunning, making it impossible for her to like her.

Lisa stood frozen for a moment, then hurriedly tried to push Emily out. "Big sister, you should go to work and not come back again."

Emily patted Lisa's hand and motioned for her to step back. She took out the fifty thousand dollar card from her bag and handed it to Victor. "This is fifty thousand. Dad, take it and pay off the debt. Don't listen to people's nonsense anymore. Work honestly; there are no free lunches in this world."

Ignoring their stunned expressions, Emily continued, "And... from today on, I won't step into this house again, nor will I give you any more money. You have nothing to do with me."

Emily had had enough. If she stayed in this house any longer, her heartless mother would eventually sell her out again.

Diane was initially pleased that they no longer had to worry about the debt, but Emily's words made her scream instantly, "What do you mean, you won't bring money home? I raised you all these years for nothing? You're ungrateful! Has your heart been eaten by a dog? I'm your mother, and Lisa is your sister. What are we supposed to do?"

Emily laughed coldly. "Mother? What kind of mother pushes her own daughter into a pit of fire, selling her to a pervert? Diane, don't act tough in front of me. I haven't taken a cent from this family since high school. Over the years, I've given you so much money, and you know it. I've repaid what I owed. As for Lisa, from today onwards, I have no relationship with her or you. If you don't know what to do, you can die. Or, you can sell Lisa."

Diane's face turned red, her eyes glaring fiercely at Emily, but she couldn't utter a word.

"That's all I have to say. I have things to do, so I'm leaving."

As she stepped out the door, Diane's wailing echoed through the hall. "You heartless, ungrateful wretch! What did I do in my past life to deserve a daughter like you?"

Emily lifted her head and walked down the stairs with her head held high. She was stepping from one darkness into another. When would she ever find her redemption?

"Sister, big sister..."

Lisa caught up with her, grabbing her hand, biting her lip, tears welling in her eyes. "Big sister, are you really never coming back?"

Emily looked at her sister, her eyes softening slightly. "Lisa, you're still young. Study hard, get a good job, and don't end up like Mom."

Lisa's tears spilled over. "But... big sister, what will you do?"

Emily smiled faintly. "Don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing."

Lisa nodded reluctantly, releasing Emily's hand. "Take care of yourself, big sister."

Emily gave Lisa one last look before turning and walking away, determined to forge a new path for herself, free from the shackles of her past.