Covered in a cold sweat, Sophia returned to the dining hall with a heavy heart. She couldn’t believe


    that Liana, whom she had groomed, had turned against her and threatened her.


    She was not afraid of Liana spilling the beans because there was no hard evidence that could


    incriminate her.


    Still, she noticed that Javier was not as crazy about her as before. Therefore, she was vignt of any


    potential trouble that might affect her standing in the Beckett Family.


    “Javier, Lia is in the wrong, but she was a child who grew up in front of your eyes. You know what a


    nice and thoughtful kid she was.


    “Now that my sister is in prison, and my brother-inw is in aa, their family is in huge financial


    trouble. That poor thing is too scared to face the debtors at home. I feel sorry for this poor girl that I’ve


    raised.”


    Sophia sped her dainty hand on the back of Javier’s stiffened hand. Tearing up, she argued, “Javier,


    you have always been forgiving and generous.


    “Why don’t we help Lia out of this rut? Think of it as charity. That way, we could im we have done


    everything we can for her.”


    Javier’s brows rxed a little. He seemed convinced by her words.


    They heard the sound of an item hitting the floor out of the blue. The couple appeared shocked while


    Betty almost choked on her food.


    Jasper, who had been silent, took out a recording pen from his inner jacket pocket and flung it at his


    father and stepmom. “Why don’t you listen to this before you decide on helping Liana?”


    Sophia’s heart hammered in her chest as she wondered what Jasper was up to.


    Javier picked up the pen with a puzzled look and pressed the y button. A recorded conversation


    between Curtis and Liana started ying.


    “Don’t do anything to Alyssa Taylor yet. Wait for my call. Things are looking up right now. I’ve gotten


    Jasper’s attention on me all over again.


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    “He’s been by my side these past few days. Mr. Javier has promised the marriage will go on, too. The


    wedding should be any day now.”


    “Since you two are gonna marry, then that five million you promised-”


    “You lost your mind before she made any move and messed things up! Alyssa Taylor defeated you and


    Rosaline with the flick of a finger. How can I help her when there’s solid evidence of her crime?”


    Sophia seethed in resentment when all her efforts of raising Liana as her pawn went down the drain.


    She needed to cut her loss and sever her ties to the Gardners to avoid getting afflicted.


    “You can’t just sit back and do nothing! The debtors are knocking on my door every day. My dad’s in a


    coma. I could barely pay his hospital bills!” Liana shuddered at the thought of those ruthless debtors.


    She continued, “Can you at least pay off the debts for me? Just see it as a personal loan. I’ll pay you


    back when my family’s in a better situation.”


    “And what can you offer to pay your debts with?” Sophia was no longer patient with Liana because


    there was nothing she could gain from thetter.


    She smirked and said, “Your brother’s in jail, and your dad is in aa. There’s no one at the helm of


    your family.


    “The Gardners are an empty shell. Even if I sell you off, I can’t pay your debts with that money. If I were


    you, I’d buy a ticket to Mosgravia and stay there for good. You are done for in this country.


    “Don’t you have a few lovers in Mosgravia? Why not ask them for help?”


    Sophia was clearly unwilling to be involved with her niece. She impatiently swatted Liana’s hand away


    to free herself from the burden.


    To Sophia’s dismay, Liana wed into her arm tightly with a devilish look in her misty eyes. “Aunt


    Sophia, we were once partners. I listened to you from a young age and ran errands for you. Have you


    forgotten about that?”


    Sophia was seized by panic. “What are you going to do?”


    “My reputation is in tatters, and Jasper hates me now. I have nothing to lose.” Liana’s battered face


    grew sinister. An anxious and fretful gleam shed across her eyes.


    “If you refuse to help, I will tell Mr. Javier everything you asked me to do over the years.


    “I’ll tell him how you groomed me to get closer to Jasper and how you made me spread the rumors to


    ostracize him and worsen his mother’s depression, driving her to kill herself… I will tell Mr. Javier and


    Jasper every single detail.


    “Look, we are family. Do not force my hand.”