?


    Without giving Trinity a chance to argue further, I issued the order for them to leave.


    Although Ross seemed reluctant, he stood up with Trinity. Trinity looked at me with some reluctance, her lips moving slightly. Ross nced at her and shook his head. They left together.


    I stood still, watching their departing figures.


    To be honest, my feelings wereplex. I should have been happy to finally meet rtives from my mother''s side, but their visit seemed toe with ulterior motives, which left me feeling unsettled.


    After Jim escorted Trinity out and returned to the living room, he respectfully said, "Mrs. Chloe, the guests have left. You should rest early."


    I faintly nodded in response.


    Back in my room, I quickly freshened up andy down on the bed. I was tired after today''s events.


    Ross''s face and words kept reying in my mind. I regretted being too hasty and not asking him about the brooch. Why ahd the Av family suddenly appeared after so many years of neglect?


    But then again, it didn''t matter. I didn''t have the brooch, and I couldn''t do anything about it.


    Unexpectedly, I saw Hana in my office the next day. She seemed to havee to see me on purpose.


    I looked at her calmly, gesturing for her to sit.


    She sat in front of my desk with a bright smile. That radiant smile left me feeling a bit dazed. No wonder I had found Hana beautiful when I first saw her. Her smile seemed so familiar.


    My sixth sense had been spot on. That intuitive feeling was always right.


    "Chloe."


    I smiled, scrutinizing her. I couldn''t deny that we looked alike, especially when we smiled.


    Hana continued to smile at me. "I''m sorry. I wasn''t sure about it before, so I didn''t dare im we were rted. But when I saw you for the first time, I knew you had to be my cousin."


    "Hmm," I responded. "Tell me, why is that brooch so important?"


    I cut to the chase, since everything else now held little interest for me. Regardless of the circumstances, the ultimate oue remained unchanged- I was Lucille''s daughter.


    Hana probably hadn''t expected me to be so direct.


    She paused for a moment, seemingly unsure how to begin.


    "Is it rted to the life or death of the Av family?" I prodded, my eyes fixed on hers.


    "Yes." Hana nodded solemnly.


    I had brought up the topic, so I expected her to spill the beans.


    "That brooch is the emblem of the Av family. The Av family were the founding heroes of the country which is how they became the royal family of Yare. Since the time of our ancestors, the Av family has held power in Yare."


    Hana began to recount the history of the Av family. I remainedposed, but I was interested.


    "However, Yare is not politically


    Vel


    stable. The Av family has a formidable rival who covets our power. Although they were suppressed by the Av family they''re like a lurking hyena, always


    ready to strike.


    "This generation is even worse. Since my brother took over, the opposing faction has be more brazen. They colluded with external forces and plotted a coup."


    Hana observed me closely.


    I was surprised. What did this have to do with the brooch?


    Hana didn''t notice what I was thinking and continued, "In recent years, they''ve been steadily expanding their economic strength, forming alliances with external forces to suppress the Av family.


    "Since my father took over, they''ve tantly controlled many of his economic ministers, aiming to undermine the Av family''s finances. My father has been struggling to hold on.


    "The Av family has a secretN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    treasury very few people know about. It contains the umted wealth of generations of the Av family and some treasures


    contributed by foreign alliesera


    s?nove


    years."


    the


    Hana paused for a moment before continuing, "Some of those treasures are..."