Abandoned In Prison, Now They Regret!

CHAPTER 007

Steven’s words hit like an explosion.

For a heartbeat, no one moved, no one breathed. The party hall, once buzzing with laughter, champagne glasses clinking, and music now fell into an unnatural stillness.

Sever ties with the Milton family?

The murmurs started softly, then grew into a hum like a swarm of angry bees.

“Did he just—?”

“He’s insane.”

“Who walks away from the Miltons?”

“He’s giving up everything!”

The Milton name wasn’t just powerful—it was untouchable. Their empire sprawled across Riverage City like a web, worth hundreds of millions and feared by rivals.

People clawed for a fraction of what Steven had by birthright… and here he was, throwing it all away willingly.

Helen finally snapped out of her shock, her eyes wide, chest heaving as her face twisted with anger. Her voice cut through the crowd like a whip.

“How dare you, Steven? How dare you!”

Sarah Milton stumbled forward, nearly tripping on the hem of her gown.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, her hand trembling as she clutched Steven’s arm, desperate to hold on to him literally and emotionally.

“Why would you do this?” she cried. “Stop talking like this. Please… I’m begging you, don't say such heartless things, I can't bear it.”

Steven’s jaw tightened. He turned his head toward her slowly, eyes cold and unyielding.

“Begging? That’s rich, coming from you Mrs Milton, you and your family showed me heartlessness first. Why should I be any different now?”

His words cut deeper than any slap, and Sarah flinched, her grip loosening on his arm.

Steven reached inside his coat, pulling out a crisp white envelope. He unfolded the paper inside with precision, holding it up so everyone—including the flashing cameras and smartphones, could see.

“This,” he said, voice steady, “is a legal agreement. I’m giving up every inheritance right, every claim to the Milton name. All I want is to be erased from this family.”

Gasps filled the room again, louder than before. Camera flashes lit the space like lightning on a stormy night.

Near the front, Jackson’s lips twitched into the faintest smile, quickly masked with a look of sorrow. He even went so far as to clutch his chest and shake his head, looking every bit the heartbroken brother while inside, he was celebrating.

Finally… finally, Steven is out of the way!

On the far side of the room, Dianna froze. Her stomach twisted painfully. If Steven left the family, he wouldn’t just be leaving Helen and Sarah–he would be leaving her. She had accepted their differences, their complicated engagement, because she believed deep down that Steven would find his place in the family. But this? What is he doing?

Helen’s shock hardened into fury. She stepped forward, shoulders squared, chin high like the matriarch she prided herself on being.

“If you want to leave,” she said coldly, “then return everything this family has given you. Every cent, every gift, every comfort. Return it all, and you can walk away. Otherwise, you’re not going anywhere.”

Steven turned slowly to face her, his eyes flat, unblinking.

“Everything you gave me? You mean the storage room under the stairs? The empty plate at dinner? The pocket money I never received?” He tilted his head slightly, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sure, Helen… I’ll return all of that.”

The words drew a sharp gasp from a few guests. Someone whispered, “He lived under the stairs?”

Helen’s mouth opened, then snapped shut, then opened again, trying to find the right words. Finally, she exploded:

“How dare you slander this family! We may not be perfect, but we are not cruel. How could you stand there and say we didn’t feed you? That we made you live like some… stranger?”

Steven’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes turned colder.

“Let’s take a trip down the memory lane, shall we? Breakfast was at 7:30 a.m. while I was walking twenty kilometers to school. Dinner at 6:00 p.m. while I was still in class or on the bus home. No transport, no allowances. Just me, hungry and invisible.”

The crowd murmured, heads turning toward Helen and Sarah, whispers escalating into judgment.

“Is that true?”

“They didn’t even feed him?”

“Twenty kilometers? That’s insane.”

Helen scoffed loudly, desperate to regain control.

“You chose that life! You left early, came home late—you wanted to be the victim, Steven. This is all for sympathy, and I won’t stand for it.”

Steven stepped closer, his voice low, cold enough to freeze the air around them.

“Sympathy? You think anyone chooses to starve or to sleep in a storage closet? This is not some play Helen, I call that survival!”

Helen faltered, the crowd’s eyes burning into her. For the first time, her confidence wavered.

Sarah’s voice cracked as she turned toward Helen.

“Wait… wasn’t he supposed to transfer to the private school nearby? Helen… wasn’t that your responsibility?”

Helen stiffened.

“I… I thought it was already handled. I didn’t know he was still attending the old school…”

A heavy silence followed. The guilt was plain on both women’s faces now, guilt and something much worse; shame!

Steven let out a short, humorless laugh.

“Ignorance looks good on you both. Keep it up, it’s the only legacy I’m leaving behind.”

The cameras clicked again, each flash feeling like a blow against the Milton reputation.

The guests had gone from shock to fascination, this was no longer just a family dispute; it was a public scandal unfolding in real time and they were glad to be there to witness it first hand.

Helen’s hands trembled slightly as she pointed at him.

“You think you’re making a point, but you’re destroying everything dad built—everything we built.”

Steven’s lips curved into the faintest smirk.

“You mean everything you built on lies, deception, and favoritism? Don’t worry, Helen. You’ll still have Jackson, he has always been your favourite after all.”

Jackson stepped forward, pretending outrage, voice trembling with false pain.

“Steven, stop this madness. Whatever happened in the past, we can fix it. This isn’t you… you’re angry, but anger fades. Don’t throw away your family for pride.”

Steven turned his eyes on him, cold and sharp.

“You still think I’m doing this out of pride? You think this is a tantrum? No, Jackson. This is freedom. Just don't act like you aren't happy about this whole thing, pretending to care is not one of your favourite schemes!”

Jackson swallowed, dropping his eyes to avoid the intensity of Steven’s stare.

Dianna finally stepped forward, voice soft but urgent.

“Steven… don’t do this. Please. Think about us. Think about me.”

Steven’s expression softened for the briefest second before his resolve returned.

“Dianna, this isn’t about us. This is about my survival, about me choosing not to be a prisoner in my own life anymore. If you can’t accept that… then I guess I’ve lost more than just a name tonight.”

The pain in her eyes was clear, but she said nothing more, her hands dropping helplessly to her sides.

Helen’s voice rose again, shrill with desperation.

“You leave this family with nothing, Steven. Do you hear me? Nothing!”

Steven folded the severance document, sliding it back into his coat.

“Nothing is still more than what I had here.”