“Ma’am, Ms. Smith ising out.”


    Kimberly looked up and spotted Liz walking slowly toward her, a cardboard box in her arms. From the look of it, she had just been fired from the firm.


    “Useless,” Kimberly muttered under her breath.


    If her friends had found out that Liz had been fired, they would haveughed about it behind her back for days.


    Suppressing her irritation<b>, </b>Kimberly stepped forward and blocked Liz’s path. “You sounded so tough on the phone earlier, but look at you now–fired in no time. Other than bringing shame to the Smith family, what exactly are you good for?”


    Liz hadn’t expected Kimberly to wait downstairs all this time. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes before they turned cold.


    “Mrs. Smith, do I need to remind you again that I’ve already cut ties with the Smith family? Even if I embarrass myself, it won’t reflect on you.‘


    “If there’s nothing else, please step aside. You’re in my way.”


    Kimberly’s expression hardened. “You think blood ties disappear just because you say so? With all those negative stories about you online, people areughing at the Smith family behind our backs.”


    “That’s the Smith family’s problem. It has nothing to do with me.”


    She tried to walk past, but Kimberly grabbed her arm. The sudden tug sent Liz’s box crashing to the ground, scattering its contents across the pavement.


    Kimberly hadn’t meant for that to happen. Her face stiffened for a moment before she let go.


    Liz didn’t look at her. She crouched down and began picking up her things.


    “They’re just a pile of junk,” Kimberly scoffed. “Why bother?”


    Liz’s hands paused briefly, then she continued gathering her belongings in silence.


    To Kimberly, it wasn’t just the items on the ground. Liz herself was nothing more than a permanent stain on her life—one she couldn’t scrub away, no matter how much she wished she could. But they were bound by the closest blood ties, impossible to sever.


    Sometimes Liz thought that if the Smith family had never discovered the baby swap, nevere looking for her, it would have been better. She wouldn’t have built up so many false hopes. She wouldn’t have been let down over and over again.


    Once she had everything back in the box, Liz stood and started to walk away.


    Kimberly’s angry voice followed her. “Your father told me to meet you and ask you toe home for dinner


    next week.”


    Liz didn’t even slow down. “I’m busy.”


    The indifference drove Kimberly crazy. Her voice rose. “iz, I’m already speaking to you politely. Don’t be


    so ungrateful!”


    Liz gave a faint smile and turned back. “Mrs. Smith, you can keep your so–called politeness. Find someone else.”


    Kimberly stared at her in disbelief. “Do you really think you can stand on your own? Without the Smith family, let’s see how you handle all that dirt online.”


    “That’s my problem, Mrs. Smith. Not yours.”


    Spotting William’s car parked by the curb, Liz didn’t give her another nce. She walked quickly over, opened the door, and slid inside.


    “Mr. Sanders, starting tomorrow, you don’t need to drive me to and from work anymore.”