From Cell to Crown- The Disgraced Heiress Returns

Chapter 9

After he left, Narissa hired a private investigator. Watching the figures through the window, she spoke calmly, "Keep an eye on him."

The first update she received was about Drake's whereabouts—he had gone to her mother's company, picked up Liora, and the two of them headed to a hotel, not returning until late that night.

The following updates came in the form of intimate, suggestive photos. Narissa stared at the stuffed animals in the room, her expression blank. With a steady hand, she began clearing them out, one by one, and set them all on fire.

The next day, she learned that her brother had known all along about Drake's affair with Liora. He had even gone abroad to buy a necklace for Liora.

She read the message without a flicker of emotion. Then, she began packing up everything in her mother's house, erasing all traces of herself. She even cut herself out of the family photo and replaced it with Liora's face.

On the third day, she sold all the clothes in three large suitcases. When Drake and Evan walked through the door, they froze, seeing the luggage packed and ready.

Drake's right eyelid twitched involuntarily, frustration bubbling up in him. It was as if something was slipping out of his control.

He walked over to Narissa, his unease evident in his tense gaze. "Narissa, what are you doing?" His voice was tight with tension.

Evan glanced around, his eyes landing on the clothes—many of which were gifts he'd personally given her. His brow furrowed in surprise, and he turned to Narissa, waiting for an explanation.

Narissa felt their probing eyes on her, her heart tightening, but her face remained composed. "We're about to get engaged, so I thought I'd start packing."

The two of them relaxed, not giving it much thought. Evan casually reached into his bag and pulled out a gift box, revealing a necklace. "This is the one I got for you from abroad."

Narissa glanced at it, recognizing it as the same necklace he had given to Liora. Her tone was distant, "Thank you."

Evan frowned at her cold response. In the past, Narissa had always been thrilled to receive his gifts, her face lighting up with joy whenever he brought something back for her.

He realized it had been a long time since he'd seen her smile. Drake, noticing the lack of enthusiasm, raised an eyebrow and pulled out a bright red engagement dress. "I know you don't like going out, so I thought this one would be perfect for you." Narissa stared at the dress for a moment. She'd seen it before—in a photo, on Liora.

Narissa had always preferred softer, lighter colors. Only Liora would have picked something so bold and garish. Seeing Narissa's lack of a smile, Drake felt a pang of unease. "What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

"I don't like bright colors. This is something only Liora would want."

Drake's face froze, his emotions shifting rapidly. After a beat, he spoke, his voice strained. "I thought you girls would like something like this. I'll take you to pick something you like instead."

Narissa's smile was faint. "It doesn't matter anymore. It's not like I'll need it."

"How could you not need it…" Drake began to protest, but just then, both their phones vibrated. They exchanged a glance before turning to Narissa. "We have to step out for work for a while."

Not long after they left, Narissa received photos of them visiting Liora. It was Christmas Day, and her father had taken Wilde out for a trip, leaving the house eerily quiet. Meanwhile, at her brother's private villa, fireworks lit up the night sky. In the photo, Evan was gently ruffling Liora's hair, looking at her with affection.

Narissa stood alone on the balcony, watching the fireworks light up the sky. She thought to herself, If they no longer love me, then I don't need them either.

On the fourth day, she sold all of her clothes for money and donated it to children in need. As she looked around at the empty room, Elowen returned and was taken aback. "What's going on here?"

Narissa casually replied, "We're getting engaged. I'm just tidying up in advance."

Ironically, the household maid had sensed Narissa's departure was imminent, but her family remained completely unaware.