Callum looked at me, his initial mockery slowly transforming into horror. "Stephanie Carlson..."


    The fact that he shouted the name Stephanie Carlson indicated that he knew me and would be


    frightened upon seeing me.


    "You''re alive..." Callum dodged in fear and abruptly became frantic. Then, he pushed me aside


    before getting up and fleeing.


    I regained myposure and nced at Steven. "He appeared to be scared of me."


    Steven held my hand and whispered, "He mistook someone else. Let''s head back."


    "Thank you all." Callum''s wife expressed her gratitude despite being covered in wounds and with


    blood at the corner of her mouth.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "He is abusive. You can contact the police or leave him by getting a divorce." I whispered, not


    wanting to intervene further. Then, I turned around and left with Steven.


    "When you reach your breaking point, you don''t have to endure it any longer." I vaguely heard Carol


    say this behind me.


    When I turned around, she was still standing there foolishly,forting the woman who had


    suffered from domestic abuse.


    I followed Steven, feeling puzzled by his attitude towards Carol. "Carol is Simmy''s sister, right? You


    can obviously help her out of trouble even if she doesn''t agree."


    "Everyone has their own life, and we shouldn''t interfere forcefully," he replied with a stern


    expression.


    I furrowed my brow, struggling toprehend.


    "I have repeatedly asked Austin to give her the money, but she refuses. I have even attempted to


    bring her away forcefully and arranged for her to start a new and better life elsewhere. Despite my


    efforts, she could always find a way to escape. She insists on staying here and working, believing


    that she should bepensated for herbor..." Steven looked upset.


    He had helped Carol many times. It was Carol who insisted on embracing her current life. I was


    shocked and remained silent.


    On the way back with Steven, I couldn''t help but gaze out the window, my mind consumed by the


    diary left behind by my mother. In it, she expressed concern about Steven''s violent tendencies and


    the abuse I endured at his hands.


    "When I was 18 years old, I disappeared for a while. Did you take me away? Is it true that you


    imprisoned me and abused me?" I asked in a low voice.


    Steven nced at me knowingly, aware that I had read the diary. He gradually tightened his grip on


    my hand while speaking softly. "If I deny it, will you believe me?"


    "Who is that, then?" I asked this question withplete trust in his response.


    I simply wanted him to exin. However, he once again averted his gaze and chose to escape. This


    indicated a cover-up...


    "You still want to protect him?" Iughed bitterly and forcefully pulled my hand away from Steven''s


    grip.


    The photo captured a harrowing scene where I was on the brink of torture and death, my hands


    bound tightly in chains.


    I had no idea what I was experiencing back then. However, what set apart the person who abused


    me from the murderer who took my life? Steven defended the murderer, and now he wanted to


    shield the individual who had previously caused harm to me.


    "Stephie..." Steven reached out to hold my hand once more, yet I purposely evaded his touch.


    "I''m a bit tired." The car pulled up to the door of the vi. I got out of the car and wanted to go home.


    After walking a few steps, I spotted Michael. Yasmin''s disappearance left Michael quiet for a few


    days, but then he suddenly reappeared.


    Michael reached out and grabbed my wrist. He said confidently, "Stephie, I found Ms. rk."


    I was surprised and nced up at him.


    Amanda rk, a nanny who took care of me at home back then. She was also someone who


    remained in my memory.


    In my recollection, she was the one who began looking after me when I was ten years old.


    Following my parents'' death in a car ident, I could no longer afford to pay her sry, so I had to


    let her go.


    Afterward, I was taken to the Ford residence.


    "She can prove that he was the one who kidnapped and tortured you." Michael lowered his voice.


    This time, he appeared confident that he could take me away.


    I turned to look at Steven and felt extremely uneasy.


    Steven''s expression was not very favorable. It was clear that he did not approve of my leaving with


    Michael.


    Nevertheless, I remained determined to give it a shot. "Tell me who kidnapped me and hurt me


    before."