Eleanor's voice echoed in her mind: Ian had used the things he had in abundance to trade for the beautiful youth and health she could never get back. What was there to be proud of?

Vanessa's expression of admiration instantly twisted into one of resentment and bitterness.

She looked at the six dazzling sets of jewelry before her, but they felt cold and piercing.

These jewels couldn't be called gifts at all. They were more like fees lan had paid her.

They were props for her performance in front of Eleanor over the years, badges of her vanity.

Just then, there was a knock on her door. Vanessa glanced at the time. Who would be visiting her so late?

When Vanessa went to the video intercom in the living room and saw who was outside, she froze for a few seconds. Why was her father here?

"Vanessa, I know you're in there. Open the door," Roland's angry voice came through the speaker.

Vanessa spun around and ran upstairs.

She quickly scooped up all the jewelry boxes from the table, carried them to her room, and stuffed them into the closet. After straightening her clothes, she headed downstairs to answer the door.

When the door opened, she saw Faye standing behind Roland. Her expression immediately soured. "Dad, what are you two doing here this late at night?"

Roland's face was dark. "Let's go inside. I have something to ask you."

Vanessa crossed her arms, shot Faye an impatient look, and followed her father into the living room. She got two glasses of water from the dispenser, but Roland first lit a cigarette. After a few puffs, he looked up at his eldest daughter with grim eyes.

Vanessa felt a jolt of alarm under his stare. "Dad, can't this wait until tomorrow? Why did you have to come over so late?"

"Tomorrow? If we wait until tomorrow, the Yeatons will be sleeping on the streets!" Roland fought to control his anger, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Vanessa. "Vanessa, I'm asking you, what is your relationship with lan? How did you two meet? And why did he help our company go public before?"

Vanessa's heart clenched. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, but she quickly hid it, turning her face away. "I told you, I was just responsible for providing stem cells for his mother. It was a simple transaction, nothing more."

Faye's eyes widened in shock. This was the first time she had heard about Vanessa's relationship with lan. Just a transaction?

"That's it?" Roland's voice rose sharply. "You're telling me a simple 'transaction' made you a concert pianist? Put you in a villa like this? Paid for your mother's gambling? And just happened to get Yeaton Holdings listed? Vanessa, do I look like I'm three years old to you?"

Faye sneered from the side. "Sister, now that the Yeatons are going bankrupt, you're just trying to cut ties, aren't you? If you hadn't provoked lan, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

On the way over, Roland had told her that lan was the one behind it all, something Faye still found hard to believe.

"Vanessa, tell me the truth. How did you offend lan? Maybe there's still a chance to fix this," Roland said, softening his accusatory tone.

"Fix this? How?" Vanessa sneered, as if years of pent-up resentment and bitterness had finally found an outlet.

"Yes, I relied on lan to get where I am

today. But paid for it with my own blood!" she shouted, pointing a finger at Roland. "And you? My father?Where were you when you threw me and my mother out like trash in some foreign slum You You were busy enjoying father-daughter time with your precious little girl!"

Her shouting stunned Roland, and his face grew even darker.

Vanessa laughed coldly. "And me? To climb out of that hellhole, I had to scheme and claw my way up to a powerful man like lan. I used my blood my health, to force him fo lift me to where I am today." She gasped for breath and continued her cold laugh. "I was the one who begged lan to help your company go public. I was trying to give you a hand, but not only are you not grateful, now that the company is failing, you're blaming it all on me? On what grounds?"