Honey, You're a Billionaire?

"It's a message from madam!" Harriette thought.

All eyes were fixed on Rose. Even Miles couldn't tear his gaze away from her. Seizing the moment, Harriette discreetly slipped away, her departure unnoticed by the crowd-or so she believed. Unbeknownst to her, a watchful gaze followed her every move. With a subtle glance, Jonathan signaled Leonard, who immediately sprang into action.

On the rooftop, a gentle breeze tousled Lizzie's hair. Though typically attentive to her appearance, she had no interest in fixing it now.

She had sent a message to Kelly some time ago, yet Kelly was still nowhere to be found. Lizzie checked her watch, her impatience growing by the second. Finally, the sound of footsteps approaching from behind broke the silence. Without bothering to turn around, Lizzie spoke in a voice laced with irritation. "What's this? Do you think you can keep me waiting now that you're the Young family's prized daughter?"

Before she even received a response, she asked, "Kelly, did you know about Rose being the Young family's true bloodline descendent and kept it from me?" She had been observing Kelly's reactions earlier and had pieced together the truth.

Feeling guilty, Harriette stammered, "I-I'm sorry, madam. I didn't mean to—"

Before she could finish, Lizzie whirled around and instantly closed the distance between them before delivering a stinging slap across Harriette's face. The sharp sound echoed alongside the wind as Harriette's head snapped to the side, her cheek burning from the impact.

Despite the pain, she dared not utter a word of protest, only managing a stuttered, "Madam, I—"

"Spare me the excuses," Lizzie interjected coldly.

Panic welled up within Harriette. "Madam, I... what can I do?"

"She's asking me what can she do?" Lizzie thought as she narrowed her eyes.

With a tone dripping with calculated malice, she said, "You were so keen on taking what belongs to Rose, weren't you? Well, now you won't get the chance.

"But there's still something you can do you can make sure she doesn't live to see another day."

She reckoned that Rose wouldn't be able to marry Jonathan once she was dead.

Harriette bit her lip. Although she desired Rose's demise, she had assumed Lizzie wanted to minimize her involvement to avoid being exposed, as demonstrated during the Aurora Crest incident. This latest suggestion, however, indicated otherwise. Harriette froze at the implication. "You... want me to do it myself?" She looked at Lizzie, seeking confirmation.

Lizzie smiled faintly. "Given your hatred for her, wouldn't it be quite satisfying to do it yourself?"

The idea of taking Rose's life herself stirred a mix of emotions within Harriette. It would be satisfying, yes, but Rose was now the eldest daughter of the Xanth family, the rightful heiress to the Young family, and had Jonathan's backing as well. Taking Rose's life wouldn't be easy, and even if she succeeded, the combined wrath of the Xanth, Finch, and Young families would be unavoidable. It was clear that Lizzie was setting her up to be discarded.

A cold fear gripped Harriette's heart. There was no way she could let that happen.

Just as she realized what was unfolding, Lizzie brushed past her, about to leave. In desperation, Harriette called out, "Madam..."

Lizzie paused for a minute before saying, "What? You're not willing to do it?"

Her tone was icy, and, even from behind, Harriette could feel the chill radiating off the woman. It was a clear threat. If she refused, her fate would be sealed.

"Do you know why you were able to become the owner of this new face?" Lizzie's voice carried a cryptic edge that made Harriette freeze.

Lizzie continued, "Back then, when Harriette disappeared, Miles held onto hope that she was merely missing. But the truth is, she's dead. Gone."

Her firm tone left no room for doubt as if she were stating an irrefutable fact.

At that moment, Harriette, or rather, Kelly, realized the truth. The real Harriette was dead. Despite her body never being recovered, Lizzie's confident assertion pointed to one undeniable explanation-she had played a part in Harriette's demise.

Terror swept through Harriette as the realization hit her. Her heart raced, and the respect and admiration she once held for Lizzie was replaced by abject fear. She

couldn't even bear to meet Lizzie's gaze.

Lizzie's voice cut through the heavy silence once more. "So, you're not willing to do it?"

The chilling insinuation that Harriette was not willing to take Rose's life with her own hands hung heavily between them.

"I-I'll do it," Harriette stammered, her voice trembling with fear, "I'll do it, madam."

A cold smile played on Lizzie's lips. "Good. I shall await your good news then."

Without sparing another glance at Harriette, she turned and gracefully disappeared from view.

Isolated on the rooftop, Harriette's strength seemed to drain from her body as she slumped to the ground.

She was keenly aware that if Lizzie could transform her from Kelly into Harriette, she could just as effortlessly make her vanish.

After all, Lizzie had already made the real Harriette disappear, and the same fate could befall her, the imposter.

There was no other choice for Harriette but to follow Lizzie's orders. However, taking Rose's life would be far from easy.

Harriette bit her lip, her mind racing with potential plans. Unbeknownst to her, her every move and expression was being broadcast on a large screen.

In a hidden room, tension filled the air as solemn expressions marked the faces of those within. After Harriette had left, Leonard had gone to set things in motion.

From the very beginning, Finley's team had installed a comprehensive surveillance system throughout the building, with hidden cameras in almost every corner.

No one could make a move without being seen. And now, they were witnessing exactly what they had hoped for on the rooftop.

While Leonard handled the arrangements, Jonathan had gathered several key individuals into the room. Now, seated on a sofa, Jonathan's sharp gaze swept across everyone present. Clover's face was dark with fury, while Elijah's gaze held a fierce intensity.

Cyrus appeared dazed, and Miles, after an extended moment of shock, cycled through a range of emotions before his eyes fixated on the screen. The warmth his gaze once held was now consumed by fiery anger.

Everything that had happened on the rooftop, even the faintest of breaths between the two women, had been heard with perfect clarity-especially their incriminating confessions.

"Etta..." Miles finally spoke, his voice strained as if he could no longer contain the weight pressing on his chest. He clutched at his heart, his body swaying.

Clover quickly grabbed his arm, steadying him just in time, but despite regaining physical balance, Miles' mind and soul were still reeling.

He couldn't believe that the woman he had thought to be Harriette wasn't her, while the real Harriette was already gone forever.

Lizzie's haunting words echoed relentlessly in his head. When Harriette had vanished years ago, the Young family had exhausted all resources in their search, but she was never found-dead or alive. Oliver had eventually accepted the possibility that Harriette was gone, and everyone else had accepted it as well, believing she was dead.

However, Miles had been the exception, clinging to the hope that she was still alive. Alas, his deep-seated wish had been futile.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

"No. This has to be some misunderstanding. Lizz... How could she be like that?" Cyrus's voice shattered the suffocating silence in the room. Unlike the others, Cyrus had not come directly from the banquet. Jonathan had deliberately brought him here to ensure he witnessed the truth.

The woman he had thought was his kind and understanding second wife had never truly been as she appeared. Now, her true self was finally unveiled for all to see.