Chapter 127

Chapter 127:

“Your mother mentioned that money is the one thing you never worry about. Thirteen million might be negligible to you, but I can’t stand to see you squander such an amount.” Aiden looked puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”

“Do you know why I was so determined to acquire this painting?” Janice continued, her gaze turning from melancholy and bitterness to sharp resolve. “It’s because I want to say goodbye to my past.”

With those words, Janice pulled out a lighter and, without a second thought, set the painting ablaze right in front of Aiden. Aiden’s eyes narrowed as he watched the fierce flames devour the painting, consuming the family portrayed within it under Janice’s hands. First the father, then the mother…

As the fire reached the midpoint, Janice threw the painting aside, watching emotionlessly as it burned completely to ashes. She had created this artwork with a heart full of hope and yearning for her family. Yet, after reuniting with them, she discovered they were far from what she had envisioned.

They were cold, selfish, greedy, and ignorant, and over time, they slowly shattered her idea of what a family should be. Reflecting on the past year, Janice felt naive. Although she had been framed by Delilah and punished by the Edwards family so many times, she had clung to the faint hope that they would recognize her value. But in the end, her hope only deepened her disappointment. She had fully awakened, relinquishing any fantasies about her family. At that moment, all she desired was for them to face the consequences of their ignorance and foolishness, providing her some solace after enduring a year of suffering.

“You said you wanted to say goodbye to your past by burning this painting, Janice. Does this mean…?”

“Huh?” Janice snapped back to reality and looked at Aiden in horror.

Holy crap! Had she given herself away? Aiden must have pieced together that she was the artist behind the painting—JE.

“Did JE give you this painting? Were you both at the same orphanage?” Aiden asked.

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“Huh? Yes!” Janice quickly nodded, a sense of relief flooding through her. “We were really close friends back then. She knew how much I yearned for a family, so she painted this for me. Later, when the orphanage faced financial troubles, I had no choice but to sell the painting to help them out.”

She really nailed it with that response. Her explanation was practically perfect. She hoped Aiden wouldn’t catch on that she was improvising.

“It seems your connection with JE must be pretty special. No wonder you were ready to offer thirteen million earlier. I suppose JE gave you the money too?” Aiden asked.

Janice nodded vigorously. She truly admired Aiden’s imagination. The gaps in her story, which she hadn’t yet figured out how to fill, were effortlessly completed by him.

“Yes, we’re like sisters. She always said once she made it big, she’d make enough money for both of us to enjoy. All I need to do is relax and live a carefree life.”

Aiden laughed, folding his arms as he regarded Janice. “Being JE’s best friend alone should have made the Edwards family think twice before disowning you. But what’s your plan now?”

Janice smirked, leaning back and propping herself up with her hands as she looked up at the night sky. “I want the Edwards family to lose everything and live with regret. I want them to see Delilah for who she really is. After how they’ve disgusted me this past year, they’re going to pay for it.”

Aiden sighed, coming to the realization that she was a woman who held grudges. He knew he had to be careful not to upset her.

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