Chapter 11
When bodyguards escorted Katia into the study, she remained oblivious.
She cooed, “Elijah, they’re hurting me…”
But when her eyes landed on the surveillance screen, her face paled. Tears instantly squeezed out.
“Elijah, I love you! Since I first saw you at sixteen… Sister had everything. I’m father’s daughter too! Why should I get nothing?”
Elijah ignored her rant, his gaze fixed on her swollen belly.
Katia froze as if paralyzed, desperately clutching at Elijah’s pants leg.
When her pleas failed, she burst into hysterical laughter with tears streaming down:
“Wasn’t it you who froze her bank accounts? Didn’t you enter this sham marriage? Just another hypocritical bastard wanting everything!”
Elijah flinched as though stung, violently shaking off her grasp.
“Ah!”
Katia crashed onto the coffee table, blood streaming down her thighs.
“Elijah… save our child…”
Elijah watched the scene impassively before turning to leave.
Katia dialed her father, only to hear a more devastating reply:
“Katia darling… Daddy just had Sandra committed to the psychiatric hospital.”
Gerald’s voice carried a perverse delight.
“Go apologize to Sophia right away. Dad will soon become the Johnson family father-in-law…”
When police stormed the guest room, Katia was barely breathing.
Before her pupils dilated completely, she gasped her last words.
“Karma… it’s all karma.”
Three months later, my daughter came crying into this world.
Larry convened a family meeting.
Every Johnson family member filled the conference room.
Larry publicly signed the asset transfer documents, granting me 50% of the Johnson fortune.
The remaining 50% went to our daughter, held in trust by him until her coming-of-age ceremony at eighteen.
“Starting today, I’ll be working for you two ladies.”
Larry teased, his eyes filled with affection.
Everyone was a bit surprised, but they were long accustomed to Larry’s decisive and unwavering style.
They all offered their congratulations.
The giant LED screen displayed breaking news:
[Williams Group Files for Bankruptcy, Former CEO Elijah Leaves Suicide Note Before Alleged Love-Driven Plunge]
[Overseas Chinese Gerald Deported for Financial Crimes, Repatriated to Australia This Morning]
Mr. Justin hurried over clutching an envelope.
“Mrs. Williams, Elijah’s final letter… would you like to see it?”
The room fell silent. All eyes were on me.
Larry frowned but didn’t intervene.
He simply clasped my hand in silent support of whatever I chose.
I shook my head gently, without a ripple of emotion.
“No need.”
Justin nodded and silently withdrew.
Larry switched off the TV, his eyes flickering with tenderness and pride.
He softly kissed my forehead: “It’s all over.”
Leaning against his chest, I gazed at our daughter’s peaceful sleeping face and smiled faintly.
“No, it’s a new beginning.”
I was no longer anyone’s caged songbird.
I could be my daughter’s mother, could be Emily Johnson.
But more importantly, I was master of my own destiny.
This life of mine had just begun.
