Caged as His Canary, I Choose to Escape

Chapter 4

It was Willa.

Two maids followed behind her.

She caught up to me quickly, chin raised in triumph. "Grandma Vance has already agreed. From today on, I am the future Mrs. Vance."

She paused deliberately, studying my face, waiting for me to c***k.

But I only looked back at her calmly. Inside, I felt nothing but overwhelming relief. Not a trace of anger.

At the sight of my composure, Willa's smile faltered. She let out a scoff. "You don't have to pretend to be calm. Grandma Vance has always thought you aren't suited for this. A fake heiress, pocketing one million bucks per month, draped in jewelry, yet walking around with a long face all day. Anyone would get tired of looking at you.

"You're about to be kicked out of the Vance family."

She spoke with the arrogance of someone about to take her rightful place, dismissing a servant who had overstayed her welcome.

I watched her quietly, hoping only that we both got what we wanted.

My silence seemed to irritate her. Her brows drew together. "What's that look? Are you bitter about this?"

"No," I said softly.

She lifted her chin and pointed toward the upstairs room. "Then hurry up and pack all your things. That room is mine now."

That room was adjacent to Sterling's. Although I had been with him all these years, we each had our own rooms. I had begged him to give me that separate space.

It wasn't just about his high demands in bed. The real problem was his violent tendencies. So over the years, the only time I could sleep soundly in my own room was when he was away on business trips. But those trips were few and far between.

Now that Willa wanted it, I couldn't have been more relieved.

I nodded and turned to go pack.

But she grabbed my wrist, her eyes fixed greedily on the diamond bracelet circling my arm. "And this bracelet. Take it off."

She yanked at it. I instinctively pulled back.

Willa sneered. "What? Can't bear to part with it? Someone about to be thrown out, still parading jewelry from Sterling, isn't that a little clueless?"

She tugged harder, and the bracelet slid off my wrist. I felt a wave of relief instead of regret.

Willa eagerly slipped it onto her own wrist, holding it up to the floor lamp, admiring it from every angle, her smile spreading wide. "This kind of thing belongs to someone who deserves it more."

I said nothing.

My skincare, my clothes, my personal belongings, all of them were carelessly tossed out by Willa's maids and dumped at the front entrance.

Willa leaned against the doorframe, looking down at me. "Well? Hurry up, pick up your trash, and get out."

I crouched by the entrance, sorting through the scattered luggage. I felt no humiliation. Only joy.

The moment I stepped out of the villa, I looked up at the sky. The overcast day had finally broken through with a sliver of light.

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry.

I was finally free.

Then, from the front driveway, came the roar of a luxury car engine.

The butler's voice rang out louder than usual. "Mr. Vance is back!"