Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Keys

"Why?" Ivy’s first thought was why Brenda knew about the location of Ophelia’s boyfriend.

"My boyfriend came to propose, but my mother asked for a dowry of 1000 kg of rice." Ophelia sobbed as she continued, "Since he was poor, Mother stated a condition: as long as he fulfilled one of her wishes, she would agree to let him marry me."

A trace of impatience flashed in Ember’s eyes; she wasn’t interested in Ophelia’s sob story.

"He agreed, but from then till now... he hasn’t returned. I don’t even know if he is alive." Ophelia wiped away her tears.

"Are you stupid? Your mother is greedy. She might have asked for his flesh. My guess? He might have hooked up with someone else." Ember mercilessly told the harsh truth.

"Stop! He won’t! He must be waiting for my rescue..." Ophelia began, but Ember cut her off midway.

"For now, you should worry about yourself. From your mother’s words and actions, I am damn sure she is planning to sell her children in combos."

Ophelia pursed her lips as tears pooled in her eyes, but this time, Ember didn’t even bother to ask her to stop sobbing; she was just so fed up.

"Now tell me? Will you steal the keys for us?" Ember asked, a trace of impatience flashing in her eyes.

"I will..." Ophelia whispered, feeling helpless. She thought, ’First, I need to save myself... then I will go and find my boyfriend on my own.’

"Good, so here is the plan. You will slip away and try to find the key. Ivy will distract that old hag by bidding high and make sure that she doesn’t chase you. Once you find the key, meet me in the backyard, and I will help you escape. Ember finished firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Ophelia nodded weakly, her trembling fingers twisting the edge of her sleeve. "I understand."

Just then, Ophelia saw her mother going upstairs from the window and turned toward Ivy and Ember, "I will leave for now."

...................

Present.

Ivy sensed how restless Jay was in her temporal storage and sighed. She wanted to soothe him and tell him that he would meet Ember soon, but she couldn’t. Not yet.

Soon she reached the Nightbane’s house and met Ember.

Her eyes fell on trembling Ophelia, and she smirked, "What are you afraid of? Your mother didn’t succeed in selling you."

Ophelia kept her lips pursed; her heart was trembling, remembering her own mother’s hysterical words.

Contrary to Brenda’s expectation, Ophelia hadn’t run away; instead, she was hiding and waiting for her mother to lose control.

Once the chaos began, she took away the key and left with the guests.

Hence, she had heard her own mother’s lunatic behavior and greed.

"Keys." Ember’s pale, cold hand flooded her vision, and for a moment, Ophelia was dazed. Then, without hesitation, she took out the key and handed it to Ember.

"You... can you help me?" Ophelia whispered in a pleading voice as she handed the keys.

"Rescuing you was the biggest mercy I have done, Ophelia." Ember’s cold eyes remained emotionless as she stared at Ophelia. "Now scram before I lose my temper and tattle about your location."

"But... but where can I go?" Ophelia sounded lost and helpless like a weak animal; the fearful expression on her face reflected her inner turmoil.

If some other man was standing there, they would have rushed to protect her, but Ivy and Ember were women, and worse... they hated Ophelia.

Ivy and Ember’s indifferent gaze shattered the hope in Ophelia’s heart.

With a heavy expression, she turned to leave but paused midway. "How... did you know what I have done?"

"Hm? That... you should thank your drunkard father, Gavi." Ember mocked.

When the Nightbane family exited the temporal storage, they got to know about the auction, and after catching Gavi, they enticed him with food and made him reveal what had happened.

Ember sneered coldly.

"Your father didn’t even hesitate. He told us everything...the auction, the chained son, and the daughter who betrayed her own brother. All for a few kilograms of rice."

Ophelia’s face went white as snow. Her knees weakened, and she nearly stumbled. "No... no, Father wouldn’t... he wouldn’t do that."

"Believe what you want," Ember replied flatly. "But we saw it with our own eyes. He didn’t even blink before selling your secret."

Ophelia’s lips trembled. For a long moment, she said nothing, just staring blankly at the floor as tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

The betrayal from her family left a hollow ache in her chest, one too deep for words. And for the first time, she realized what her brother might have felt when she had knocked him out.

With slumped shoulders, she left the Nightbane family, while Ivy closed the door and led Ember to the temporal storage.

"Are you going to let her off so easily?" Ivy asked in confusion. She had expected Ember to beat Ophelia up until she cried.

"I don’t beat pregnant women." Ember pursed her lips. "But one day... when she gives birth and becomes healthy... I will take my revenge."

Ivy shook her head.

What kind of revenge was she even talking about? If Ember wanted, she could have punished Ophelia in the worst manner, but she didn’t... it was because of the soft corner she had for her sister-in-law.

"Do you think Jay will hate it?" Ember questioned in a worry-laced voice.

"Most likely not," Ivy stated. "You haven’t let Ophelia off the hook completely, have you?"

"I have installed a tracker," Ember admitted. "In case Jay wants revenge... I will catch her and hand her over to Brenda."

"Good." Ivy heaved a sigh of relief. A soft heart in an apocalypse was equivalent to knifing one’s own throat.

A cold hand clutched her warm hand, and she heard Ember’s nervous voice, "Ivy... how will Jay react... I feel as if my... my heart will pop out of my chest."