bChapter /bb93 /b

Charlotte’s hand froze on the doorknob. She stood rigid outside the roomb, /bbunable /bbto /bbelieve what she’d just heard Xavier say.

Taken in…

Who was taken in?

Did he mean her?

“So now you’re ming me?”

Her mother, Rachel, who had been holding back her emotions for so long, finally snapped. “Why don’t you talk about how your own mother sold your newborn daughter? The Sterlings always looked down on girls, so you sold my child off like she was nothing!”

Her voice trembled with years of pent–up pain. “You have no idea what it’s like, Xavier. I lost my daughter, and in the depths of that grief I found Lottie. Do you think you understand any of that? All you ever cared about was whether the child was a boy or not. Even I was just a means for your precious Sterlings to carry on their family name!”

Rachel had buried these words deep inside for years.

But after the ident with Hiram, she finally found the courage to face her domineering husband–and the injustice that had defined their marriage.

Xavier said nothing. His silence only grew heavier.

Rachel wiped her tears, and in that moment, she noticed Charlotte standing outside

the door.

She stood up slowly, her voice faltering. “Lottie?”

Charlotte could barely process what she’d just heard, but she forced herself to hold it together.

She pushed open the door and stepped in, her voice raw. “Is… is my brother still unconscious?”

“…Not yet awake,” Rachel replied, blinking as she gathered herself. After a pause, she asked, “Lottie, did you hear what we said just now?”

Charlotte tried to appear unfazed, dropping her gaze, but her eyes stung and filled with tears. She nodded. “I heard everything. All the questions I’ve carried in my

heart for so many years… finally make sense.”

“You favored my brother because he’s your real child. I’m not, am I?b” /b

Rachel’s heart twisted with guilt. Her mind went to the daughter who’d been bsold /bbat /bbirth. She reached for Charlotte’s hand. “I’m so sorry, Lottie. I never meant for bit /bbto /bbe like this…”

She hadn’t wanted to neglect her daughter. But within the Sterling family, she’d always been powerless–unable to protect anyone, even herself.

Howard Enterprises.

Natalie led Director Sinir into the office.

Evander stood by the floor–to–ceiling windows, unmoved by the bustling city below. He wore a dove–grey cashmere turtleneck and sharply tailored ck trousers, his tall frame exuding effortless authority.

Director Sinir approached, clearing his throat. “Mr. Howard, you wanted to see me?”

Evander’s gaze lingered on Sinir’s reflection in the ss. “There was an assault case at the precinct you oversee. Why has no one dealt with it?”

Sinir stiffened.

He’d only learned about the incident after the fact. If the higher–ups caught wind of this, he’d be held responsible. He’d hoped that if everyone just kept quiet, the whole thing would blow over.

“When did your precinct get the right to take justice into its own hands?” Evander’s tone was icy.

Sinir paled. “Mr. Howard, I swear I had no idea at first–I only found outter, after it happened!”

Evander’s lips curled in a humorless smile. “So you found out, and chose to cover it up?”

He walked past Sinir, settling onto the sofa and pouring himself a cup of tea. “Just because the victim is an ordinary person, no one cares? Director Sinir, I don’t think I need to spell out the consequences for negligence, do I?”

Sinir wiped the sweat from his brow. He could sense that the person who’d been hurt must have some powerful backing.

08:46

bChapter /b93

“Mr. Howard, I promiseb–/bbI’ll /bget to the bottom bof /bbthis /bband /bbgive /bbyou /bba /bbproper /bexnation.”

Evander took a slow sip of tea, his eyes unreadable. “You have two daysb./bb” /b

Sinir forced a smile, steeling himself. “Understood.”

Chapter

bChapter /bb94 /b