Chapter 437

Florence Atlante was startled by her daughter's grave expression.

She had never seen Isabella Sullivan look so serious.

"Amin, what's wrong?"

"Mom, Dad, please sit down first."

The elderly couple followed her to the sofa.

"Jinxing, Clara, you come too."

Father and daughter exchanged a glance and sat down quietly.

Sophia asked softly, "Mom, what happened?"

"Most of my memories had already returned, except for the period of my disappearance. How I got to the neighboring city, how I ended up in the water... until yesterday."

Yesterday?

New Year's Eve?

Isaac's expression tightened. "What happened yesterday?"

Isabella Sullivan enunciated each word clearly. "I remembered everything."

"Who was it?"

"... Irene."

She did not hide it.

Her parents had searched for her for over twenty years. They had the right to know the truth.

Isabella Sullivan had not slept all night.

She was worried the elderly couple couldn't bear it.

She was also concerned there was no evidence, just her word against Irene's.

But she quickly realized.

Even without evidence, her parents would believe her.

Sure enough—

Isaac slammed his hand on the coffee table.

The teacups rattled loudly.

"How dare she?! What did the Atlante family ever do to wrong her?! She's despicable!"

The old man trembled with rage.

After hearing, Florence's face was deathly still.

Sophia saw the old woman's hands, hidden in her sleeves, shaking uncontrollably.

"I knew it—I knew it—" she gritted her teeth!

"I suspected her back then! But there was no evidence! If I had known, I would have risked my life to force the truth out of her!"

Florence's voice choked with tears.

Restraint, grief, regret, hatred…

Too many emotions intertwined.

"Mom, don't be like this…" Isabella Sullivan quickly soothed her, "I'm back now. She's not worth getting so upset over!"

Isaac also advised, "Don't get agitated! Calm your breathing! Don't make Amin regret telling us."

These words calmed the old woman.

Yes, if she fell ill because of this, how guilty would Amin feel?

Florence took a deep breath. "I… I'm fine… Don't worry, Minmin. Let's all stay calm."

Isabella Sullivan, her eyes red, nodded. "Okay."

Nearby, David's fists were clenched so tight they creaked. "This was premeditated murder!"

Sophia pressed her lips together tightly.

She never expected her mother's disappearance was caused by Irene.

No, it was more than just disappearance.

These over twenty years of separation, the elderly couple's suffering, all started because of her.

If the Atlante family had received the news in time back then, they likely could have saved Isabella Sullivan.

Isabella Sullivan wouldn't have had to drift away from home. The elderly couple wouldn't have suffered for decades.

Florence looked at Isaac. "Now do you understand why I distanced myself from Irene?"

"I had no evidence. I searched but found nothing. But I had a feeling. A mother's intuition."

A long time ago, Florence had suspected Irene.

The two sisters went out together, but only Isabella Sullivan was kidnapped.

If the kidnappers wanted money, shouldn't they have taken both?

If for looks, they should have taken both!

But Irene returned safe and sound.

This suspicion reached its peak when Irene married Theodore Valdemar.

With Isabella Sullivan missing, she became the biggest beneficiary.

Too many details were suspicious.

Florence: "...I had no evidence, so I couldn't go to the police. But I was sure she was the culprit! I couldn't live under the same roof as a murderer. I couldn't pretend to be mother and daughter."

If she herself forgave the murderer, how would Isabella Sullivan feel?

So she deliberately kept her distance, spoke harshly, openly cold-shouldered her.

She just wanted to make Irene uncomfortable!

She wanted to deny her everything she desired!

She couldn't control others, but she could control herself!

Isaac's eyes were full of pain. "You kept all this to yourself. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you? Would you have believed me? You thought I was just being difficult, deliberately alienating Irene. I knew you wouldn't believe me."

The old man felt a tightness in his chest.

"I'm sorry… Minmin… I'm sorry, Azhen…"

Isabella Sullivan: "Dad, it's alright… I told you not to make you feel regret or sadness, but—"

She enunciated each word clearly: "So that from now on, we won't give Irene any more chances to hurt us."

Florence tightly grasped her daughter's hand, tears streaming as she nodded. "Yes, from today onward, no one can hurt us again!"

Isaac suddenly stood up. "No! We can't just let this go!"

"What do you want to do?"

"Make her pay!"

Florence immediately stopped him. "Don't be foolish! We've only just been reunited. Don't do anything illegal."

"Then we just let her go?!" Isaac's teeth were gritted audibly.

"Since we're sure it was her, there must be traces left behind."

Isaac frowned. "What do you mean?"

Florence: "The kidnappers haven't been caught yet. We keep looking! Amin, do you still remember what they looked like?"

Isabella Sullivan nodded. "I remember!"

"Good. Before, we couldn't find them because we had too little information. Now with Amin's identification, it will be much easier."

Florence paused, then suddenly asked, "Is your birthday coming up soon?"

Isaac was stunned. "Why bring that up suddenly?"

The old woman's eyes narrowed slightly. "Our family hasn't had a proper celebration in a long time. Let's use this opportunity to throw a birthday banquet. Invite all the elite of Kyoto."

The old man still didn't understand. "And then?"

"Announce Amin's identity, formally introduce Clara and Jinxing. And also…"

A flash of ruthlessness passed through Florence's eyes.