Matthew’s eyes burned with fury, his rage bright enough to pierce the darkness that surrounded him. He couldn’t believe it–he had been utterly manipulated by the woman before him, someone who appeared fragile on the surface but harbored a venomous heart.
Grabbing Charlotte by the shoulders with an iron grip, Matthew unleashed the anger and disappointment that had been building inside him.
“Charlotte, I never imagined your lies could run so deep, that you would twist and manipulate me so completely!”
Charlotte, instead of backing down, leaned gently against his chest with an almost taunting smile.
“Matthew,” she said softly, a trace of triumph in her tone, “why get so angry? Daphne is no longer here. We can leave the past behind and start fresh.”
Her words only fanned the flames of Matthew’s rage. He shoved her away with such force that his disgust radiated like a chill in the air.
“Start fresh? After everything you’ve done–faking illness, spreading lies, sending Daphne fake messages from my phone–you think we can start over? What else are you hiding from
me?”
Charlotte threw her head back in a wild laugh, her voice dripping with disdain.
“Does it even matter anymore? The only thing that matters is that Daphne has divorced
you. I’m the one who truly loves you.”
Charlotte’s words struck Matthew like a bolt of lightning, waking him from a haze of denial.
For the first time, regret surged through him, an overwhelming tide he couldn’t suppress.
He thought back to everything he had done to Daphne—collaborating with others to oppress her, forcing her to sign the divorce papers, and ultimately driving her out of their home.
The pain was unbearable, clawing at his chest like a feral beast.
15:30
Forsaking the Years of Longing
56.0%
Chapter 1
Matthew said nothing more. He trudged upstairs and locked himself in what had once been
Daphne’s room.
The room still carried traces of her presence, as though she had never left. Seeking solace Matthew allowed himself to be enveloped by the memories she had left behind.
Two weeks later, in the Walker family’s study, Jonathan stood before a shelf lined with Daphne’s certificates and awards. His emotions were complicated as he gazed at the tangible reminders of her achievements.
Determined to pull his sister out of her current idle state, he brought Daphne to the study.
“Daphne, look at these. These are all the honors and accomplishments you achieved,” Jonathan said, pointing to the certificates.
Daphne’s eyes lingered on the familiar documents, a flicker of recognition crossing her
face.
“Jonathan, why are you showing me these? They’re just my diplomas.”
Jonathan’s heart leapt with hope. If she remembered these, perhaps not all of her memories
were lost.
“Daphne, do you remember what you studied?”
“Of course,” she replied calmly. “I graduated from Columbia University with a degree in
finance.”
Jonathan’s joy grew. It seemed her memory wasn’t entirely gone. Perhaps giving her a role in the family business would help her move forward and sever any remaining ties with
Matthew.
After a brief moment of thought, he made a suggestion.
“Daphne, how about coming to work at our company with me?”
Walker Group, a prominent financial firm in New York, was every bit as influential as the
Roberts Group.
Daphne hesitated for a moment, but her expression soon became resolute.
Forsaking the Years of Longing
Chapter 15
“It’s true, staying at home is boring. I’ll go with you. But I have one condition…”
Before she could finish, Jonathan interrupted excitedly.
“Say no more–do you want to be a manager or a VP?
happen!”
Whatever you want, I’ll make it
Daphne smiled awkwardly.
“Neither… I just want to start as an entry–level employee.”
Jonathan frowned, his displeasure evident.
“What? That’s impossible! You’re the Walker family’s daughter and a graduate of a prestigious university!”
Daphne met her brother’s gaze with determination.
“Jonathan, please. Let me do this my way. I want to climb up the ladder on my own.”
Seeing the resolve in her eyes, Jonathan finally relented.
4
“Alright. If that’s what you want, I’ll support you. But remember, if you run into any trouble, you come to me. I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you, Jonathan!” Daphne said, wrapping her arm around his. Her face lit up with a genuine smile.
She knew that tomorrow marked the beginning of her new life.
