“Don’t touch me, you filthy bastard. You make my skin crawl.” Argelia pulled out a tissue, meticulously wiping her hand as if Zachary’s mere presence contaminated her.

Zachary’s pride took a sharp hit, his jaw tightening as her words sliced through him. “What did she just call me? A filthy bastard? I don’t even mind that she’s married, yet she has the nerve to look down on me?"

But considering the inheritance, he forced himself to swallow the sting of her rejection. His eyes softened into a pained, wistful expression, masking the storm brewing inside. “Amy, please don’t be mad. I’m apologizing, aren’t I? Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just forgive me."

“Are you deaf?” Amelia’s laugh was sharp and cutting. “I’m married to Landon now."

Zachary’s lips twitched in frustration, but he quickly composed himself. “I know you’re just acting on impulse. Marriage isn’t permanent, Amy. You can always get a divorce. I don’t mind."

“Well, I do. You make me sick,” Amelia snapped.

Her patience was hanging by a thread, her brow twitching with irritation. She had tolerated enough of Zachary’s relentless badgering. He knows I’ve discovered the truth, and I’ve already married someone else. And yet, here he is, still playing the role of the devoted lover. Does he really think I’m that gullible?

“Amy…” Zachary’s voice cracked as her dismissal hit him square in the chest. His facade of patience slipped, and his tone grew harsher. “What will it take for you to forgive me!”

“Nothing,” Amelia replied with an icy snort. “There’s absolutely nothing you can do.”

Zachary’s temples throbbed as his composure teetered on the brink of collapse. “Amy…”

Amelia’s tone turned sharp and exasperated. “Zachary, I know exactly why you’re here today. You’re after my mother’s inheritance.”

Zachary’s eyes darkened for a split second, the slip of his mask almost imperceptible. So, she knows about the inheritance. That’s why she married Landon–to protect it. Good. That means she still cares about me. This can still work in my favor. I can get her back.

“I’ll never go back to the Edwards family, and I’ll never marry you. Let go of whatever delusions you’re clinging to,” Amelia declared, her words dripping with venom. Her teeth clenched so tightly she could feel the strain in her jaw.

“What inheritance? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Zachary protested, feigning innocence.

Amelia’s laugh was cold and unamused as she turned on her heel to leave.

But Zachary wasn’t ready to let her slip away so easily. He rushed forward, stepping in front of her to block her path. “Amy, I just found out yesterday that you weren’t Mrs. Edwards’ biological daughter. But it doesn’t matter to me; I don’t care about your background-"

“And what’s wrong with my background?” Amelia snapped, her voice brimming with disdain. “I’m the rightful heiress of the Edwards family. What’s so scandalous about that?”

Her thoughts churned with frustration. If anything’s scandalous, it’s Sandra. Officially nineteen years old, but in reality? She’s twenty-two–older than me by months. The audacity of a secret love child to judge me!

“Amy, that’s not what I meant,” Zachary sighed, rubbing his temple as if her words physically pained him.

Since she had come out of that operating room, Amelia had become a completely different person. Every word he uttered was met with a sharp retort, each one so precise it left him utterly speechless.

Zachary scrambled to come up with a plausible excuse, his tone laced with regret. “Amy, I had no idea it was a misdiagnosis. I really thought you were sick. I’m so sorry. I should’ve taken you to more hospitals for a second opinion.”

“A misdiagnosis? How conveniently casual.” Amelia took a slow, deliberate breath, her nails biting into her palms as she fought back her disgust. This was all their doing. Zachary and Sandra’s carefully orchestrated trap. Thank goodness, I was reborn in time. Another second and that scalpel would’ve ruined me for life!

“Amy, please forgive me. I’ll make it up to you. I’ll treat you better from now on, I swear. Just please forgive me for the shock I caused you yesterday.” Zachary’s voice took on a desperate edge as he dropped to his knees in front of her, his loud plea echoing through the street.

Pedestrians halted in their tracks, eyes widening in disbelief. Some began pulling out their phones, recording the scene as murmurs spread through the crowd.

“Look at that. They must’ve had a lovers’ spat,” someone said, chuckling.

“Poor guy. He looks devastated. He must really love her to go this far," another remarked sympathetically.

Zachary ignored the sharp ache in his knees, the gravel beneath them biting into his flesh, as he savored the attention. The crowd’s pity fed his ego. I know Amelia too well. She’s always been weak when it comes to public pressure. She’s a hopeless romantic and annoyingly moralistic. A little gaslighting, and she’ll crumble. With everyone judging her like this, she’ll feel so guilty she’ll pull me up within three minutes–tops–and fall right back into my arms!

Three minutes ticked by, then five, and still, Amelia didn’t budge. She stood firm, unmoved, her cold gaze fixed on the man groveling before her.

Her lips curved ever so slightly, the faintest trace of dark amusement lighting her expression. So, he wants to put on a pathetic show for the crowd? Fine, let him. I hope his knees break before I’m done enjoying this. Nothing will make up for what he’s done to me.

Finally, Zachary’s knees started to tremble, his patience fraying along with his endurance. He tilted his face up to her, desperation written across his features. “Amy, if you don’t forgive me, I’ll just stay kneeling here. Forever, if I have to.”

A concerned bystander spoke up, “Young lady, he’s been on his knees for so long. Can’t you forgive him already?” Another added, “Whatever the issue is, talk it out privately. Letting your boyfriend kneel in the street is humiliating for him.”

The comments kept coming, and Amelia’s laugh rang out, sharp and mocking, as she turned her gaze to the older woman who had spoken sympathetically on Zachary’s behalf. “Has it occurred to you,” Amelia said coolly, “that he might have done something unforgivable?”

The woman faltered, blinking in surprise. “What did he do?”

“Oh, nothing too terrible,” Amelia replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Just slept with my stepsister for half a year and got her pregnant.” She delivered the words loud and clear, her sharp tone slicing through the murmurs of the crowd.

The crowd went deathly silent, the weight of her words crashing over them.

The same woman, her face now a mask of disgust, stopped criticizing Amelia and turned on Zachary. She spat at him, “You’re disgusting, you filthy scum.”

The verbal lash stung more than the gravel under Zachary’s knees. His handsome face turned crimson as the weight of the public’s disapproval bore down on him.

He had never experienced such humiliation, and certainly not from Amelia, who had once been as meek as a lamb. He couldn’t believe she actually exposed him in public.

Face burning, he scrambled to his feet, stumbling away in shame. His retreating figure was greeted with jeers and contempt, his confidence shattered.

Amelia let out a contented sigh, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years. Humming a cheerful tune, she turned on her heel, her mind already racing ahead. The inheritance may be tied up for now, but there’s still the little matter of that misdiagnosis. Time to settle that score.

Amelia arrived at the hospital, her expression steely and determined. She intended to retrieve her medical records—evidence she needed to sue Jacob for malpractice.

However, to her growing frustration, the hospital staff informed her that her records were missing. Not a single trace of her files could be found. Her mind immediately flashed to Zachary and Sandra. Another one of their schemes. Do they really think this will stop me?

After hours of fruitless arguing with the administration, Amelia stormed out of the hospital, her fists clenched and her teeth grinding in anger. Fine. No records? No problem. If they think they can bury me, they’re sorely mistaken.

Her thoughts shifted to Zachary’s current endeavors. If her memory from her last life was correct, he was negotiating a deal for a piece of land in Stonefield.

At present, the land seemed unremarkable, but in three months, due to new policies, its value would skyrocket. The Foster family would reap massive profits, catapulting them into Norava’s elite circle of wealth.

And the funds Zachary had gotten for this ambitious venture were from selling Debra’s heirloom diamond hairpin–an antique treasure Amelia had been forced to liquidate in her last life.

“Not this time,” Amelia thought, determination hardening in her chest. This time, she wasn’t going to let him get away with it. She would beat him to the punch.

Back at Kingsley Villa, Gloria greeted Amelia with a concerned smile. “Amy, did everything go smoothly?"

Amelia shook her head with a sigh. “No. They said it requires both spouses to sign together to claim the inheritance.”

The Edwards family’s greed knew no bounds. Knowing how valuable the diamond hairpin was, they had long been eyeing it, calculating its value down to the last penny. And with Landon still unconscious–his recovery a question of days, months, or even years–Amelia was stuck in limbo.

“Don’t worry. It’s safe in the bank’s custody for now,” Gloria comforted her, patting her shoulder lightly.

Amelia nodded but bit her lip. She couldn’t bring herself to admit the other issue weighing on her–she was broke. Her bank account contained only a few thousand dollars of savings, barely enough for daily living expenses, let alone the investments she needed to rebuild her life.

She couldn’t rely on the Kingsleys forever. She had to stand on her own two feet, carve out her own path, and secure her independence.

“Amy, you look upset. Did the Edwards family bully you again?” Gloria asked, her perceptive gaze zeroing in on Amelia.

Amelia exhaled and admitted, “I went to the hospital to retrieve my records so I could sue Dr. Green for his misdiagnosis. But they deleted the files.”

Gloria’s brows arched, and a sly smile curved her lips. “Oh, that’s an easy fix. I’ll make a phone call and it’ll be sorted in no time.”

Amelia’s eyes lit up with hope. “Really?”

Gloria waved her hand. “Really. You don’t need to lift a finger. Just stay here and take care of Landon. I’ll make sure you get the news you’re hoping for.”

“Thank you,” Amelia said, her voice brimming with gratitude and warmth. Her heart swelled as she looked at Gloria. “To show my thanks, I’ll let you in on a little secret.”

“A secret? Now you’ve piqued my curiosity,” Gloria chuckled, her eyes softening with affection. But as she gazed at Amelia, a pang of sadness flickered in her chest. If Kayla were still alive, she’d be married with children and settled by now. My poor, sweet child…

Amelia’s next words snapped Gloria out of her melancholy. “There’s a plot of land at Stonefield, and its value will skyrocket tenfold in three months.”