Evan clenched his fists so rightly that they made a cracking sound. He looked at me with despair. "No, she won''t. Because Linden op will go to Elijah, and I don''t have any shares. To her, I''m just a burden." My heart ached, but I did my best to reassure him. After all, Evan warsilia kid, and belme king, he calmed down under roaring


    He said firmly, "Ari, I''ll go back to school and study hand. I''ll make sure everyone who looks down on me eats their words in the end."


    Inodded. "Good"


    Evan stared at me for a long time before lowering his head and choking back tears. "You''re my real sister. One day, Tilrepay you


    I wanted to give ham a reassuring smile, but for some trasoni, my nose tingled, and I felt a lump in my throat.


    The little boy who used to follow me around, calling me "ac", had finally grown up. He could now distinguish right from wrong and was starting to mature


    However, what I didn''t know was that, in another private room, Mrs. Linden had entered gracefully. Twowell-dresseddies exchanged a nce and smiled before speaking.


    "Mrs. Linden, we''ve noticed your daughter-inw is quite the force-sharp-tongued and clever."


    "Indeed, Mrs Linden. She seems like the type that''s hard to manage. You''ll have your hands tell when you get older.


    They pretended not to know about the drama in the Landen family, using their words to price at Max. Linden,


    Mrs. Linden sat down, letting out a coldugh. "That Ariana is truly two-faced You all know how she proveled to marry my son, don''t you? She even served me tea multiple times, acting The two women chuckled quietly. They''d heard plenty of stories about the infamous eldest daughter-inw of the Linden family.


    1 had been aughingstock among the Halton old money for years, though I didn''t seem to realize i


    My entric behavior during my five yurs of marriage had be a regr topic of gossip among the idle richProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Mas Linden kww they were there to enjoy the spectacle, but she didn''t mind. After all the subject of their ridicule was me, a foolish, love-obsessed woman she herself had no respect fo...


    With a smug short, Mrs. Linden said, "Now, she''s making a big fuss about divorcing my son as it she''s capable of anything. Give it some time, and shelle crawling back, begging for forgiveness.


    One of the women couldn''t resistmenting. "But isn''t this time different? Even the mistress has gone public online. Can your daughter-inw just let that slide?"


    other woman chimed in. "Exactly Mrs. Linden, I have to say, Elijah really is something, Handsome and capable-no wonder so many women are desperate to marry him."


    Mrs. Linden''s face lit up with pride. "Bijah is remarkable. Otherwise, why would that silly Ariana have broken ties with her family and throw money at us just to get married?


    She added in an exaggerated bue, "As for Jocelyn, I know her. She''s quite a well-known figure, don''t she? Men having mistresses is perfectly normal. If she''s carrying a baby boy, I might consider letting her in. If it''s a girl, well, she''ll be raised elsewhere "We''re not the kind of family that takes an just anyone "


    The two women exchanged a nce at Mrs. Linden''s outrageousments. Her arrogance was absolutely unrivaled


    They both agreed, fueling her pride even further. She was so absorbed in her gloating that she forgot about Evan''s earlier rebellion.


    Finally, Mrs. Linden dered, "Mark my words. Ariana is too foolish tost. Sooner orter, we''ll throw bec out not jost out, but with her reputation in shambles."


    Later that evening, Logan atved at my ce. When he Evan, he hesitated for a moment before recalling that he was the "s one" I''d taken in


    The two of them stood awkwardly in the living room, sizing each other up


    I broke the tension "Mr. Wood is staying here to look after me


    Evan shot me an annoyed look. "Al, at the age of 25 or 26, do you really need someone to look after you? Stop treating me like a kid. Are you two dating?" I grew more flustered. "Well L''


    Disappointment and helplessness flickered in Evan''s eyes


    muttered, "I know my brother wronged you, but seeing you with another man still makes me uneasy."


    Logan casually removed his suit jacket, went to freshen up, and came back in casual loungewear.


    Evan pointed at him in disbelief. "Al, look at him! How can he wear something like that pre? Get him out of here!"