Chapter 1
Vaguely, from Building A, located next to the row of trees nearest the gate bearing the inscription “Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK”, a delicate female voice could be heard singing a song of unknown origin.
Upon entering the courtyard, a strong smell of urine mixed with the scent of feces, along with various other unpleasant odors including disinfectant, hit the nose and mouth.
“Stop 509 from singing right now! Give her some Valium!”
On the hospital bed lay a woman with her limbs spread apart, tied up with belts and clasps. The beautifully melodious singing, with perfectly controlled intonations, came from this woman named Martha Lambert.
Just with Martha Lambert’s songbird-like voice, one might easily mistake her for some professional singer.
One of the nurses glanced at the white medication on the floor as she entered. She kicked aside the white bottle that was blocking the way, tied yellow tape around Martha Lambert’s left arm, and then jabbed the thick syringe in with a curse.
“I heard that all the songs she learned were taught to her by her sister. Her mother died not long ago. As a result, she went crazy and killed her sister!”
“Isn’t that right? When her wealthy father sent her here, I thought it was just a way for her to avoid trouble. I never expected that she’d actually be a madwoman.”
The cold liquid flowed into Martha Lambert’s body. It wasn’t until the nurse who administered the injection untied the straps holding her limbs in place that Martha Lambert showed any reaction at all. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and then the singing that came from her mouth ceased entirely.
“Stop chatting and help deliver it quickly. Don’t make people wait any longer. We really can’t afford to upset them.”
Martha Lambert seems soulless, like a doll.
The other two nurses, upon hearing this, fell silent and quickly stepped forward. One of them grabbed Martha Lambert by one leg.
The rooms on both sides of the hallway were filled with a sense of oppression and despair, as though Satan was buried beneath them.
From time to time, various high-pitched screams could be heard, resembling both cries and laughter.
Some of those who had just been brought in were crying and shouting, “I’m not crazy!”
Three nurses pushed open an iron door at the end of the hallway. Inside, there was a man wearing appropriate clothing and gold-rimmed glasses.
Three caregivers lifted Martha Lambert onto an iron chair across from the man. The rings on the handles on either side of the chair automatically locked once Martha’s hands were inserted through them, securing her hands in place.
“Mr. Lambert, I’ve brought him here.” After ensuring that Martha Lambert posed no threat, the nurse who administered the injection bent slightly and signaled to Hogan Lambert.
“It’s been a long time. How have you been?” Hogan Lambert nodded, then spoke up after the three caregivers left.
“Thanks to you, I’m just as well now as you can see, my dear father.” Martha Lambert’s lips curved into an exaggerated smile upon hearing Hogan Lambert’s words, as if she had heard a joke worth laughing at for three years.
“This is a mistake you made yourself. How can you blame your father for it?” Behind his gold-rimmed glasses were John Lambert’s shrewd eyes.
Seeing her biological father’s face again after two years made Martha Lambert feel sick.
“Yes.” Martha Lambert leaned back, feeling the coldness of the metal chair back. She could almost smell the scent of flesh burning on the electric chair. Her eyes curved into a smile. “Because I couldn’t bear the shock of my mother’s death, my second personality came to the surface. I killed my sister. It’s truly unforgivable.”
John Lambert felt terrified as Martha Lambert stared at him with a smile on her face. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He didn’t even dare to look at his own daughter.
“But I’ve lived for eighteen years without ever having this disease flare up. Why did it suddenly occur just when you came around with your mistress and illegitimate daughter?”
“Martha Lambert, calm down.” John Lambert pushed his glasses up on his nose, his gaze drifting uncertainly due to guilt.
“Was the woman who rolled down from the upstairs floor the mistress? The illegitimate daughter? Or something else?”
“Still you?” Martha Lambert wasn’t afraid. She spoke each word carefully, finishing the sentence that had been interrupted.
“You didn’t come today just to reminisce about the past, did you? What could you possibly need from me now?” Martha Lambert raised an eyebrow. The foul smell emanating from her body and her pale complexion couldn’t conceal the seductive and arrogant nature lurking within her.
“Masha, Dad’s incompetent, there’s really nothing he can do. Please try to understand his good intentions as a father…”
“You’re incompetent. You drained your mother and your sister of everything. Now it’s my turn, isn’t it? Just say it straight, without any beating around the bush.” Martha Lambert didn’t want to listen to John Lambert’s pointless attempts to justify his actions.
“As long as you marry Alice for me, I’ll agree to any of your conditions.” John Lambert’s gentle and polite expression turned somewhat unpleasant upon hearing Martha Lambert’s words. Yet, he still spoke a few single-syllable words before giving up further argumentation and stating the purpose of his visit today.
She wasn’t surprised at all by the actions of the man whom her mother had described as “heartless”.
Martha Lambert glanced around at the dark, damp room with no windows at all.
Those hysterical screams, the patients who played with feces, and the drugs that kept her immersed in hallucinations made Martha Lambert, who had initially been prepared to spend her entire life there, desperate to escape.
“I want to leave this place!” Martha Lambert nodded without hesitation and put forward her conditions.
John Lambert never expected that Martha Lambert, whom he hated deeply, would agree so readily.
“Who to marry?” Martha Lambert was very curious about who this important person was, someone who made John Lambert too afraid to offend. It seemed like this person was the reason why Alice Lambert, who wanted to marry into a higher social class, refused to do so.
“Owen Harold”
John Lambert’s mention of that name only increased her confusion.
Although Martha Lambert spent two years in a mental hospital, she was still a wealthy young woman before she was admitted there. Naturally, she knew a thing or two about business.
Owen Harold was a legendary figure who struck fear into the hearts of people in City A. At a young age, he took over his father’s position as CEO. Shortly after joining the company, he secured several contracts that even Nick Harold found difficult to handle. Handsome and wealthy, he was undoubtedly the dream husband of countless wealthy women.
How could Alice Lambert bring such a wonderful thing to her?
“Just a dead person.”
“Do you want me to go down with you?” She stared at John Lambert, her gaze growing colder by the second.
“And the person whose birth dates matched hers happened to be Alice Lambert. You know, the Harold family is someone we definitely can’t afford to offend, so…”
So, they found someone who was one month younger than Alice Lambert to act as the bride-in-law instead.
He couldn’t bear to let his precious daughter, Alice Lambert, waste her youth by marrying a dead man. At the same time, he didn’t want to give up the support of the Harold family.
Isn’t Camilla Lambert his own flesh and blood then?
“John Lambert, haven’t you ever relied on yourself at all?”
“Anyway, Martha, you need to understand that this is your chance to regain your freedom.” Although John Lambert’s face was pale, he didn’t argue anymore.
These words, spoken by John Lambert, carry a hint of irony. After all, wasn’t the word “freedom” something he tore out of Martha Lambert’s dictionary?
“Good!” Martha Lambert nodded in agreement without any hesitation. Just as John Lambert had said, it was indeed a great opportunity.
It’s an opportunity to uncover the truth behind the deaths of one’s mother and sister, and to clear one’s own name.
Watching John Lambert’s excited demeanor, Martha Lambert sat calmly on the electric chair. When she heard the iron rings holding her arms open with a click, her eyes filled with hostility.
She would never forget that, at the age of eighteen, she was arguing in the living room about Nelson Gilbert and Alice Lambert, whom he had brought home. Suddenly, a heavy, muffled sound came from the staircase.
When Martha Lambert turned her head, what she saw was Catherine Lambert, lying in a pool of blood, with wide, terrified eyes.
Finally, she waited for the right moment to escape from that dark and horrible mental hospital.
She’ll definitely make John Lambert pay for what he’s done!
“Martha, let’s go. Don’t keep the Harold family waiting.”
John Lambert had completed the discharge procedures and couldn’t wait to take Martha Lambert with him to the Harold family.
Martha Lambert’s lips curved into a beautiful smile as she stood up and walked toward John Lambert, who was standing by the iron gate.
Martha Lambert took in the fresh air greedily, basking in the sunlight, with flames of vengeance burning in her eyes.
Before she entered, she had already heard of the Harold family’s reputation. Nick Harold started from scratch and diversified his business interests across various fields, with real estate being his strongest area. At the age of 38, he became the richest man in City A.
Today’s Nick Harold can simply utter a few words, and the entire business world trembles in response.
I wonder if every man likes new people and things in the same way. When Nick Harold entered the entertainment industry, he met a model and married her openly as his second wife.
Owen Harold was the only grandson in the line of the “little lovers.” He was very much loved by Nick Harold. However, Owen lost his father at a young age, and it was his mother who raised him alone.
Half-believing, half-doubting, I stepped through the doors of the Harold family. The moment the door opened, it became clear that Nick Harold truly doted on Owen Harold.
Nick Harold stood behind the door, dressed in black, with his back straight and a spirited demeanor, ready to greet Martha Lambert’s arrival.
She glanced at the line of people behind Nick Harold, then fixed her gaze on a beautiful woman with red-rimmed eyes standing to his left.
This must be Marian Reid, Owen Harold’s mother, Martha Lambert thought, recalling what John Lambert had just said.
“Mr. Harold, this is my daughter, Martha Lambert.” Nick Harold’s imposing face made John Lambert fidget with his hands nervously. Lying without blushing, he pushed Martha Lambert forward.
Compared to the patients who played around with their own excrement in the psychiatric hospital, Nick Harold didn’t scare her at all.
Upon meeting Nick Harold’s gaze, Martha Lambert nodded and smiled, thereby greeting him.
Nick Harold waved his hand, and several people in uniforms approached Martha Lambert and took her away.
Marian Reid nodded at John Lambert, and the two of them disappeared from the hall together.
As Martha Lambert followed the servants toward the guest rooms, she sensed that someone was staring at her. When she turned around, she met the gaze of the person staring at her.
When the man saw that Martha Lambert had noticed him, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he silently said, “I didn’t expect it to be you.”
The servants led her into the guest room. Martha Lambert was still thinking about the meaning of his words.
Who on earth is he...
