But it had genuinely never urred to him that Aline would stoop so low as to withhold Citrine''s allowance.

"Ash, I swear, I didn''t do it. You have to believe me someone''s framing me," Aline pleaded, her face drained of color. She rushed forward to grab Sawyer''s hand, and in an instant, tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"You''re saying Citrine set you up?" Sawyer shot her a cold look, unmoved by her disy.

He yanked his hand free. "Aline, do you really think I woulde here without checking those bank statements first? You expect me to believe they''re fake?"

His gaze was sharp enough to cut through steel.

Before Aline could respond, he pressed on, "Then tell me why has Citrine had to fend for herself for meals all these years?"

Aline''s heart sank.

She never imagined that brat would dare air their dirtyundry online. Back then, the girl always swallowed her grievances and neverined. Why bring it up now, in front of everyone?

Inwardly, Aline cursed her a thousand times over.

"Speak," Sawyer demanded, his tone even colder as Aline hesitated in silence.

"Because... because..."

But no matter how she tried, not a single word woulde out.

Sawyer turned to face Norton and the other two. "What about you three? Did you know about this?"

He was rarely home, but Norton, Clifford, and Jete were there almost every day. There was no way they could be oblivious.

As the eldest, Norton stepped forward.

"Dad, whenever you weren''t around, Citrine would always pick on Jete. At first, Aline just scolded her and sent her outside for a while without dinner. But Citrine''s got a temper-after that, unless you were home, she refused to eat with the family."

"It''s just that Citrine is too stubborn. You can''t me Aline for that." Even though they''d misunderstood Citrine about Jete, Norton still felt the dinner situation was a separate issue.

Sawyer''s heart grew heavy at his son''s words.

He asked coldly, "And when she acted out, none of you thought to stop her?"

Norton stiffened at that.

He really hadn''t done anything-just stood by with a stern face, scolding Citrine as usual.

An oppressive silence fell over the house.

Just then, Gerda, the usually quiet housekeeper, finally stepped forward.

She''d been with the Iverson family for more than twenty years, almost part of the furniture.

"Sir, I can''t stay silent any longer," she said, her brow deeply furrowed, determination in her voice.

"Everyone in this family has always favored Jete. Of course their stories will take her side."

"Let this old woman have her say."

"I''ve worked here for over two decades. When you first adopted Miss Citrine, I was the one who looked after her. She was always gentle with us staff, always thoughtful—like a little angel. Then you adopted the two young masters, and they adored her too. The three of them were inseparable. Back then, apart from you, those boys were her whole world-she''d wait by the door all day just to see theme home from school. She truly cherished this family. For someone so kindhearted, it''s heartbreaking how things turned out for her." Gerda''s voice was gentle but full of regret.

She went on, "After you brought Mrs. Iverson and Miss Jete into the family, your attention shifted entirely to Jete. Little by little, the boys drifted closer to her as well, until Citrine was left all alone. I''d often see her ying by herself, and the smile on her face grew fainter with each passing day. Still, no matter how lonely she was, she always treated everyone with kindness-she never hurt a soul."

"Sir, that''s all I wanted to say. I may not know every detail of what goes on in this house, but I''ve watched Miss Citrine grow up. I know better than anyone how sweet and good-natured she is. What Norton said about Citrine bullying Jete or having a nasty temper—that''s just not true. Not for a second."