As Louis had sent his people searching for her, Verena already arrived at old Residence. This mansion was her grandpa's.
Bradbury!
Not Vandeleur.
Everything changed slowly when her mother brought her brother's family over when they were in different phase.
But what they did to their family was the cruelest thing one relative could ever do!
Verena rang the bell once and the door opened.
Emily Vandeleur stood in the doorway, her perfectly painted lips curling in horror.
"You!" she gasped. "How… did you escape from prison?"
"I didn't escape," Verena said coolly, stepping forward. "I served my sentence. I was released legally. Is that a problem, Mrs. Vandeleur?"
Emily's eyes narrowed. Her painted nails curled into fists at her sides.
"You shouldn't have come here," she snapped. "Look at you! You are filthy! You smell like a dog that's been living in the gutter. Look at your clothes! You belong in the slums, not at our doorstep!"
"I came to speak with your husband," Verena said, voice cold. "Not to be sniffed at like a stray dog."
Emily scoffed and then she leaned in with a venomous smile.
"Talk to my husband? Huh! A whore like you who got pregnant in her teenage isn't allowed in our home anymore!"
Verena's jaw clenched, her breath shallow. This was also another reason why she was here. To know what exactly happened to her back then.
"What… what happened to my child?"
Emily's smile twisted crueler.
When she saw Verena not talking back she knew she had hit where it hurts.
"Oh, that bastard? Did you forget he died during childbirth. Just like trash. Didn't even make it into the world properly. Maybe it was for the best. One more mistake from your cursed bloodline, wiped clean."
Verena frowned her brows in confusion, why she didn't remember anything?
She only recall she was pregnant and was in so much pain.
It had been four years now.
Just then, Jonathan Vandeleur appeared in the hallway behind her, stunned.
Verena turned to him, eyes burning. He stood in the hallway, looking like he'd seen a ghost.
"You promised you will treat my mother's illness." Verena's gaze was very sharp.
"You told me you'd take care of her. That you'd get her help. I accepted the bail because I trusted you," Verena said, her voice rising. "But my mother still died."
"Verena… everyone has their fate. I tried. But your mother… she went too quickly. What could I do?"
"You lied to me," she whispered, trembling.
Emily laughed coldly. "Oh please. Your mother was already a lost cause. You're lucky we didn't abandon you, too. Do you know what people say when your name comes up? 'Oh, that murderer? That disgrace from the Bradbury line?' You're a walking scandal, Verena. A curse. And now you think you can just show up at our door?"
Verena's fingernails dug deep into her palms as she glared at Jonathan.
He looked away.
Emily sneered. "What? Going to cry? Going to claw my face like some rabid animal? I see it in your eyes, you're just like your mother. Always desperate. Always taking up space where you don't belong."
"Where is she buried?" Verena's voice dropped to a dangerous calm.
Emily raised a brow, almost amused. Jonathan muttered, "At the public cemetery. Back in your hometown."
Before she could ask more she heard footsteps coming closer. The moment Arriana saw Verena standing inside their home, her eyes widened in shock.
"Sister?" she gasped, then quickly masked her reaction with a practiced smile. "Sister, you're back!"
Verena didn't even blink. She knew Ariana too well. Sweet words, honeyed tone but behind those soft eyes was venom. One didn't need to shout to hate; sometimes the most dangerous people smiled as they betrayed you.
Emily hd her daughter's arm and sneered at Verena.
"Look at my Ariana. She's genuinely happy to see you and you? Not even a shred of gratitude. Shameless."
Ariana pulled her arm from hed mother's grip and walked closer.
"Sister, why don't you stay for dinner?"
Her tone was soft, but her eyes betrayed her real message: Don't get too comfortable. This isn't your home anymore.
Verena's lips curled into a cold smile. "Sure. But first…" Her voice dropped like ice. "Hand me back my shares."
Arriana froze. The mask slipped for a brief second. "W-what shares?" she stammered.
Just as she was about to feign innocence, she caught Verena's death glare a look so sharp and murderous. It made her heart race in panic.
Emily's mouth fell open. "Shares? You've barely stepped out of prison and already you're asking for things? You should be down on your knees, kissing the ground we let you back on!"
She turned to Jonathan, fuming. Why had Verena been released early? She had paid good money to keep her locked up longer. Why now?
Verena ignored them both and locked her eyes on Ariana.
"You dragged me to that party, slipped something into my drink, and left me there."
Ariana's face turned pale.
Verena's voice dropped lower, colder. "And if I don't get my shares back, every single one. I'll make sure the world knows the truth. That the Vandeluers' rising star, the face of elegance and virtue… is a drug addict. A manipulative liar. And yes. Also a murderer."
"S-Sister," she reached out to grab Verena's hand.
Verena slapped her hand away so hard the skin reddened instantly.
"Verena!" Emily shrieked. "How dare you! You hit Aria's hand. Are you tired of living?!"
Verena raised a brow, amused. "That counts as hitting?" she said casually.
Then, before anyone could stop her, she turned and slapped Ariana across the face.
The sharp sound echoed through the living room.
Ariana staggered, holding her cheek in shock. A red palm print bloomed across her porcelain skin. Her eyes welled up in disbelief.
"VERENA!" Emily screamed, rushing to Ariana.
"What, Emily?" Verena snapped. "Didn't you just say I hit her? Now I've actually done it. You should be grateful I gave you a demonstration."
Emily's hand raised, about to strike but Ariana held her back.
"No, Mom!" Ariana cried. She knew Verena meant it. If any of this got out, no amount of money could clean her reputation. People never forgot things like that.
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Sister, I'll… I'll give the shares back."
Pa! Another slap landed on Ariana's other cheek, as crisp and cold as the first. Now, her face held two perfect palm prints.
"What are you doing!?" Emily rushed forward to shield Ariana, trembling with rage.
Verena stepped back calmly. "The shares were always mine. You were just playing house with something that never belonged to you. Spare me your fake sobs. If anyone's the thief here, it's you."
"I won't allow this!" Jonathan roared suddenly, slamming his hand on the table. "You walk into my house like you still own it? Try to threaten my daughter? Try one more word and I'll…"
Verena met his rage with eerie calm. "Go ahead. Hit me. Maybe the press will love a follow-up to my wrongful conviction story. And if we're reopening cases, who knows what else might come out?"
Jonathan's hand froze mid-air. His heart thudded.
Verena turned to Arriana, whose lips trembled.
Jonathan gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll transfer the shares."
He pulled out his phone and logged into the company's portal. Within minutes, the shares were officially transferred to Verena's name.
Her phone buzzed. She opened the message, clicked Agree, and smiled faintly.
"Done?" she asked sweetly. "Good. But Arriana…"
Ariana looked up, her face tear-streaked and swollen. "W-What… what now?"
"You still owe me something," Verena said, stepping closer.
Ariana's eyes widened. "Sister, what do you mean?"
Verena's expression sharpened. "The black diamond watch. The one I brought back four years ago. Where is it?"