bChapter /bb22 /b

Ste bwas /bshaking all over. It started small but got worse,

|

Max saw something was up Worried, fin asked, “Ste, what’s wrong? Ste”

She looked like she’d seen a ghost, shaking badly.

bMax /bknew he should btake /bSte to a doctor. But reporters were everywhere. If they found out she had mental issues, it’d be way worse.

Max decided right then. He put Ste in the car, Watching her calm down, he sighed with relief.

Andrew got in the car, smiling. He thought about how much good press his show would give thepany.

“Let’s go.” Andrew said, feeling great. He turned to Ste. “Ste, what do you want? Just say it, and as your dad, I’ll make it happen

Ste started shaking again.

Andrew didn’t know what was going on. He looked at Ste anxiously. “Ste, what’s wrong?

Max sat in the passenger seat. He saw Ste shaking again. He suddenly said, “Could she have some mental illness or epilepsy?”

bAndrew /bpanicked even more. “How could my daughter have that kind of problem?‘ He thought it’d be embarrassing if people found out. He wanted to take Ste to the hospital for another check. But reporters were all over the entrance.

Everyone was talking about the Hayes family and praising their good rtionship

Max warned him, “bDad/bb, /bwe can’t go back. If we do, the press will be ball /bover us. Then Ste’s illness…

Andrew got it. “Right! bWe /bcan’t go back. Drive.”

Ste tried to speak but couldn’t. She shook uncontrobly. She was furious, wanting tosh out, but couldn’t bdo /banything

A phone rang. Andrew didn’t notice at first. After a bit, Max heard it. He turned around and bsaid/b, “bDad/b, isn’t your phone ringing?”

Andrew realized his phone was ringing. He took it out and answered, “Hello?”

The call ended abruptly. Max saw Andrew’s angry face in the rearview mirror.

After hanging up, Andrew pped Ste on the head. She’d been shaking, but bit /bstopped her.

Max was about to me Andrew. But seeing Ste was okay now, he was surprised. “So bit /bworked.”

Andrew pointed at Ste and shouted, “Ste, you bad luck charm! Why did I give you that name? You’re not here to honor our family; you’re here to ruin it. Tell me, why did you mess with Troy againb?/b”

Max was shocked “Dad, what’s going on?”

“Go ask her what she did to Troy.” Andrew red at Ste like she was his bfoe/b, not his daughter

Max quickly turned to Ste, “What did byou /bdo this time? You were gone all day. What were you up to?”

Ste gave them ac

cold look. They were supposed to be her family. She was hurt, but they never trusted her. They always med her.

“Saying something!” Max was getting annoyed.

Ste turned her head. “I didn’t do anything.”

Andrew lost his temper right away.“If you didn’t do anything, why did the Carvers call to threaten mat why do they want you to say

everyone to spo07”

Ste stared at Andrew, shocked.

Max yelled at Ste, “What do you bwant/b? Isn’t our family in enough trouble? Ste, you said you weren’t back for mange, if not that, then why

Seeing that they didn’t believe herb, /bSte didn’t want

Max turned to Andrew. “Dad, what else did they say?”

Whatever she said would just make them mad. They only saw things their way

Andrew answered, “They also said if Ste doesn’t do it, when the stock market opens tomorrow, they’ll get otherpanies to push us until we go

broke.b” /b

Max’s face turned grim. “We can’t agree to that. We need another idea.”

Having Ste apologize in private was okay, but a public video was a no–no, it definitely would harm the Hayes family’s name.

When they got home, everyone looked down. Ste, with no expression, went straight upstairs.

Eleanor bwas /btoo worried to sleep. When she saw Stee back, she walked over to her.

Andrew looked at Ste. “Ste,” Just saying her name showed he was threatening her.

Eleanor followed Ste back to the room and shut the door.

Max was still worried. “Dad, she won’t b, right?”

Andrew sneered, “She wouldn’t dare.”

In the room, Eleanor asked Ste what had happened. Ste didn’t say a word but hugged Eleanor tightly.

Eleanor knew Ste well. The quieter Ste got, the more bit /bmeant she was hurting inside. Eleanor wondered, ‘They just went out for a bit, and it seemed the two cared about Ste, but why didn’t it look like they had funb?/b‘

“Don’t want to tell me?” Eleanor looked at Ste, who had taken off her wig. bSte’s /bhair hadn’t grown back yet. The doctor bsaid /bit would take a while because her injuries were bad. Eleanor really felt sorry for Ste

“Grandma, just let me

e hug you like this.” Ste closed her eyes, holding back tears, scared Eleanor couldn’t handle it.

bFiona /bhad hinted to Ste about Eleanor’s health before. Ste knew it wasn’t a lie. Eleanor was really sick and bcould /bpass away anytime. Ste didn’t have much love left in this world and didn’t want Eleanor to go.

Eleanor knew Ste would not say bmore/b, so she stayed put

It was gettingte. Ste knew Eleanor shouldn’t stay up, so she said, “Grandma, go get some sleep.”

“Wanna sleep next to me?”

Ste looked shocked, and then smiled, “Can 17”

Eleanor touched Ste’s rough cheek, which was once smooth. She made up her mind to take care of Ste. “Sure.”

Thinking of something. Ste lowered her head. “But I move around a lot bat /bnight and might wake you up.”

bChapter /bb23 /b