“Skr recognized it as your cufflink and took it from me. Then she suddenly vanished, and I couldn’t get it back his matter how hard I tried Elianes bit her lip. “I’ve been trying to get it back ever since she came back, but she just refuses to give it back to me.”

“She’s so crazy about you. She’d never let your things out of her sight. That’s why I had to take

the risk and sneak in while she was away” Elianna said.

Yosef asked, “Did you get the cufflink back?”

Elianna nodded and took out the cufflink. “But if Skr finds out I have it, she’ll definitelye looking for it.”

“It’s yours to keep. I’ll talk to Skr and make sure she understands.” Yosef offered Elianna a fewforting words before stepping out.

Yosef was skeptical about what Elianna had said.

He thought, ‘With Skr’s medical expertise, how could she possibly be careless enough toe into contact with something dangerous?

‘This was most likely Elianna’s doing. But she saved my life and she is Adam’s mother. I can’t just leave her alone!

Yosef tracked down the thatched hut, where Skr happened to be in the yard, discussing camerapensation with the director, Den Schmidt.

“Skr, I want to have a word with you,” said Yosef.

Den, ever the tactful one, quickly chimed in, “Well, I’ve got things to attend to, so I’ll get going. Let’s just call thepensation settled.”

He bolted as fast as he could and disappeared in a sh.

Seeing Yosef instantly reminded Skr of Elianna, and her expression turned cold. She snapped, “What do you want?”

“Are you going to let me stand here and talk?” asked Yosef.

Skr shot a nce at the thatched hut. “It’s cramped and there’s no ce to`sit. Plus, someone’s resting inside.b” /b

A figure shed across Yosef’s mind. With a half–smile, he said, “You really do care about him, don’t you?b” /b

mind.raight sign

Skr crossed her arms. “Just say it straight. Cut the sarcasm.”

Yosef cut straight to the chase. “I want you to sign a letter of forgiveness for Elianna.”

Skr’s eyes turned ice–cold. “No way.”

Yosef stared at her coldly and pressed, “You’re sisters, aren’t you? You’ve lived the high life in her ce for all these years. Don’t you feel even a shred of guilt toward Elianna?”

Just hearing Yosef mention it made Skr feel sick to the stomach.

Her expression darkened further. “We were switched at birth. I never asked to end up in the Stone family. I was kept away from my real parents for years. Do you really think I wanted any of this?

“I may have lived her life, but I’ve long since paid that debt in full. Now she’s the one who owes me.”

Yosef offered, “I can make it up to you. Name your price, industry connectionsb, /bmoney, or whatever you desire. bJust /bsay bthe /bbword/b.b” /b

Skr thought, ‘Money or connections? I have plenty of those. Right now, all I want is bto /bmake Elianna pay the bprice /bbshe /bbtruly /bdeserves.

Her eyes half–closed. “I don’t need any of that or your money.

Yosef said, “I know she messed up, and I’ll make sure shees to apologize to you. bFor /bthe sake of what we once hadb, /bbcan’t /bbyou /bbjust /bblet /bbit /bbgo/bb?/bb” /b

Victor had somehow gotten up and stepped out. “We won’t let this go

Clutching his injured side, Victor leaned against the doorframe and sneered, “Mr. Campbell, save Skr from your lousy tricks”

Skr moved to his side and steadied him. “What are you doing out here?”

“How could I just stand by and watch someone bully you?” Victor gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t be afraid I’ve got your back.”

He whispered thest sentence softly into Skr’s ear.

Skr smiled softly and nodded.

Their intimate disy burned Yosef’s

His face froze, and his pitch–ck eyes locked onto Victor and Skr with a chilling intensity.