Her body started to shake, wracked with sobs she couldn''t control.

    It felt like every breath she took was heavy with pain and despair.

    Lester patted her nket gently. "Sylvia, don''t worry. I''ll get to the bottom of this, I

    promise."

    Sylvia was grateful, but this was Kingstoria-here, the Garcia family basically ran

    the ce.

    Sure, the Sanford family had plenty of power back in Sea Town, but their influence

    stopped at the city limits.

    And with Tristan making his position so clear, there was no way he hadn''t covered

    all his bases.

    She forced herself upright, sitting at the edge of the bed, and nced at Edwin

    and Lester.

    "Edwin, Mr. Sanford... could I have a moment alone with my mom?"

    The two men exchanged a look, then nodded and quietly left the hospital room.

    Sylvia took Naomi''s hand, tracing the scar on her mother''s index finger.

    She remembered it was from when she was a kid, and someone at school called

    her a bastard. Naomi had rolled up her sleeves and gotten into a fight for her.

    When it was clear she was losing, the other kid bit Naomi''s hand so hard she

    almost lost her finger. Naomi just gritted her teeth and warned the kid, "She

    doesn''t have a dad, but she''s still my daughter. She''s mine!"

    The police finally showed up, and Naomi managed to keep her finger.

    Afterward, it was Naomi who hugged Sylvia andforted her, even though she

    was the one hurt.

    Naomi had no family-her own parents favored her brothers and dumped her on

    her elderly grandma. When her grandma died, Naomi scraped together enough

    grit to get into a third-rate college in Kingstoria.

    She was young, naive, got taken advantage of, and that''s how Sylvia came into

    the world.

    But Naomi never once said she regretted it.

    She''d always say, "Sylvia, you''re my family. You''re all I need."

    Sure, Naomi had her ws-she could be a little vain, a little greedy, and

    sometimes she was just in scared of trouble. But to Sylvia, Naomi was the best

    and only family she had.

    How could she possibly turn her back on her?

    She kissed Naomi''s hand, tears streaming down her face. "Mom, I won''t let

    anything happen to you."

    ***

    Office.

    Chris dabbed some ointment on Rupert''s ear.

    "You don''t really think Sylvia and Mrs. Naomi would steal those three million, do

    you?" he asked.

    Rupert didn''t respond.

    Chris hesitated, words almost spilling out. "You can''t keep pushing—"

    "I''m sorry, it''s my fault," Reese

    interrupted, guilt in her eyes. "I got

    caught up talking to my aunt, forgot

    to take my meds, almost passed out

    in the lobby. That''s why I called Mr.

    Rupert in a panic. I was actually on

    my way to find Sylvia and Naomi. If

    I''d been there, none of this would''ve

    happened."

    At the mention of medicine, Chris frowned, his frustration obvious, but he just

    sighed and fell silent.

    Just then, Lester and Edwin walked in.

    Edwin didn''t look happy. "Let the mother and daughter have some time alone," he

    said quietly.

    Lester cut straight to the point. "The

    Garcia family''s security is airtight.

    There''s no way there aren''t any

    records. And those dozens of

    custom bracelets-how could they

    just disappear and be sold off so

    easily?"

    "System broke," Rupert replied coolly.

    "You really believe that?"

    "Mr. Sanford, this is a Garcia family matter," Rupert shot back, his eyes icy.

    Lester was at a loss for words.

    He had no right to meddle in the Garcia family''s business.

    But then he drew himself up. "I can

    stay out of the Garcia family''s

    affairs, but I have every right to get

    involved when ites to Sylvia.

    She''s a Lloyd."

    Suddenly, the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

    Chris quickly stood up, trying to break the mood. "Ahem, I have patients to check

    on, so I''ll leave you gentlemen to it."

    Lester turned to go. "I''ll take Sylvia home to rest."

    Edwin raised a hand to stop him. "No need. Sylvia texted just now-she''s heading

    home on her own. She needs some time to cool off. Don''t bother her."

    As he finished, he shot a meaningful look at Rupert.

    Reese looked around, confused. "What are you all talking about?"