18
At the press conference, Sebastian played the surveillance footage. Behind the scenes, he had also hired hackers to retrieve the chat records between the Sanders family members and their bodyguards, revealing irrefutable evidence of their crimes.
With Aunt Zamara and me testifying, we laid bare all of the Sanders family’s heinous deeds. There was no exaggeration, no embellishment–just a calm recounting of facts. And yet, the truth was shocking enough to leave the audience in stunned silence.
I watched as the prominent business leaders in attendance began making calls, one after another, severing their partnerships with the Sanders family. Even the banks promptly froze their dealings with them. Within hours, the Sanders family’s financial lifeline had been cut.
As the press conference was nearing its end, the Sanders family barged into the venue.
Joseph stormed in, grabbing a teacup and hurling it at me. “You ungrateful wretch! Are you determined to destroy our family?!”
Sebastian immediately stepped in front of me, shielding me. He glared coldly at Joseph. “Mr. Sanders, do dare to assault someone here in front of all these people?”
It was only then that Joseph seemed to realize the room was full of journalists, cameras clicking and livestreams rolling.
He waved his hands in a panic. “It’s all lies! Everything Sebastian said is false–pure defamation!”
Other members of the Sanders family rushed forward, pale–faced, desperately trying to defend themselves. Diana turned to me, pleading, “Yanna, why are you standing there? Say something to defend your family!”
I let out a derisive laugh. “Family? Don’t make me sick. Do I have anything to do with your so–called family?” “When you deceived me, you didn’t see me as family.”
10:30 AM
A Fake Poverty that My Parent Build for Me
“When you beat me, you didn’t see me as family.”
“And now, suddenly, I’m family again? Is there no end to your shamelessness?”
Diana, enraged and humiliated, screamed, “Yanna, you ungrateful brat! I’ll kill you!”
She lunged at me, hands reaching for my throat, but Sebastian intercepted her with a swift kick, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Rianne rushed over to help the disheveled Diana, while Julian pulled out a knife, threatening to harm me.
Just then, the sound of sirens blared outside.
Police officers stormed in, swiftly restraining the Sanders family members. Their struggles were futile as cold handcuffs clicked into place.
As they were being led out, Diana suddenly turned back, pointing a finger at me and shouting, “Do you even know who this Yanna is? She’s just a cunning girl from the slums! To earn money, she did everything–worked as a maid, cleaned toilets, and even sold herself! She’s riddled with diseases!”
“This kind of trash–who would ever want her? I’ll make sure she dies alone!”
Her venomous words spread through the room like wildfire, and I felt the weight of skeptical gazes falling on me.
I didn’t bother to defend myself. I was exhausted from everything. The Sanders family’s downfall was enough for me. As for Diana’s baseless accusations, I couldn’t care less.
But then, something completely unexpected happened.
Beside me, Sebastian pulled a diamond ring from his pocket and suddenly knelt on one knee.
I froze, staring at him in shock.
The room fell silent as every pair of eyes, every camera, turned to focus on him. Flashes of light burst across the
room.
In front of everyone, Sebastian gazed at me with warmth and tenderness.
“Yanna,” he began, his voice steady and filled with emotion, “ever since I met you, I’ve been captivated by you.‘ “I’ve observed every step you’ve taken. I know how hard you’ve worked–taking on jobs that were exhausting and thankless. But I also know that every penny you’ve earned was honest and clean.”
“At first, I simply admired your integrity and character. But over time, your resilience, your determination to keep fighting for a better life–it drew me in completely. I fell deeply and irreversibly in love with you.”
He looked into my eyes, his gaze unwavering.
“Yanna, I love you. Will you marry me?”
