Chapter 1188

Seeing Ursula's frightened demeanor, Skylar said, “Those responsible have been punished. You don't need to continue hurting yourself. I can help you with this necklace. Afterward, you can focus on recovering.”

Ursula's eyes reddened, a deep sense of grievance overwhelming her. She burst into tears.

Skylar remained silent, patiently waiting for Ursula to compose herself. Anyone who had endured Ursula's experiences would be broken. At such a young age, she had witnessed the world's darkest side, seeing a beloved family member die before her eyes. Her fear was understandable.

Ursula cried while eating. “As a child, I envied kids with their mothers. Mine worked in the city, visiting only once a year. Later, I found her and wanted to work as a maid for the Ruell family to be near her. I thought she feared I couldn't handle the hardship, but I wanted to prove I was capable. I never imagined their cruelty. They bullied my mother, forcing her to endure it for the sake of saving money for my brother's wedding. My father, a gambler, died early, leaving our family dependent on her. Then, I realized my mother had lived in hell for years, sacrificing for my brother and me. They were inhumane. They drugged me, abused me when my mother was absent, and then paid me off, just as they did my mother. My mother wanted to report them, but they threatened to imprison us for life. We were terrified. They're monsters! When they attacked my mother, she fought back, falling down the stairs while escaping. They tried to buy my silence, but I refused.

“I know this necklace is cursed. One day, crying in the park, an old man approached, asking why I was so distressed. I told him about the abuse. He comforted me, giving me this necklace, saying it would help me punish them, but at a cost—my chances of marriage. But I'm already… soiled. Marriage isn't something I even consider. I don't deserve it.”

Skylar listened intently, but her expression darkened upon hearing about the old man in the park. The missing person had reappeared. This park encounter was no coincidence; it was deliberate. Someone was using Ursula against the Ruell family. Without Skylar's intervention, Ursula would have carried this curse, suffering ill health, a shortened lifespan, and a bleak future.

Ursula took a deep breath. “But after meeting you, Ms. Sullivan, I've calmed down. My mother wanted my brother and me to live well. I can't destroy myself for revenge, especially since they've already been punished.” One was near death; another had lost his family and was suicidal. It was enough. They would live in fear. But she hadn't done anything wrong. Why should she suffer alongside them? The necklace constantly reminded her of their actions, trapping her in fear.

Last night, Ursula had a dream where her mother urged her to trust Skylar and not let this pain consume her life.