Fred suddenly realized he couldnât make any promises. Before he could reply, Dunn asked another question. âEven if itâs a sister, can you guarantee sheâll be beautiful?â
Fred sighed heavily, restless in his seat. âDonât you have faith in your mom and me?â
Dunn turned away. âMy mom suffered a lot when she had me. I donât want her to go through that for another child. If I really need a sister, then Aurora is already that to me.â
Fred nodded in understanding. âIâll talk to Adrian about it, and you can develop a sibling-like relationship with Aurora.â
âSounds good to me.â Dunn yawned and returned to his room to rest.
Meanwhile, Eliza had just finished a phone call with Aurora under Amaraâs vigilant gaze. âIs this alright?â
âYes,â Amara responded, gently blowing on her steaming cup. âYou handled it well.â
âAnd the funds for my fatherâs companyâ¦?â
âDonât worry. Once the situation calms down, Iâll send the money to your father. It wonât solve all your problems, but it should provide some relief.â
Eliza expressed her deep gratitude. âThank you!â
âAs long as you follow my instructions after you marry into the Miller family, your family will have no worries.â
âYes.â
When Eliza returned home, she found a crowd waiting at her doorstep. The butler met her under a tree. âEliza, you need to stay away for a bit! Hide yourself!â
âWhatâs going on?â Eliza inquired, alarmed.
Discover endless adventures on g alno vels ; con The butler hesitated, then asked, âDid you consent to do anything illegal for Amara?â
Eliza was stunned. âAmara assured me she had it under control! Doesnât she wield influence over most of Illerith?â
âOh, silly girl! Amara is merely using you! While Miller Group holds sway here, without Adrian, who really listens to that madwoman?â
Onlookers started to turn their heads their way, prompting the butler to hurriedly guide Eliza behind the tree. Even shielded by the shadows, they couldnât feel at ease.
âJoelle has accused you and Amara of conspiring against her. You should escape overseas! Iâve already purchased your ticket.â He handed her a bag, making her fully aware of her precarious situation.
âI canât leave! What will happen to my parents? And the company? Amara is our only hope.â
Disregarding the butlerâs sincere advice, she determinedly went back to the Miller Mansion.
A police car was stationed at the entrance, yet dealing with Amara was no simple task. The officers departed without success, merely affixing a notice to seal the door. After the police had left, Eliza managed to slip inside. Upon seeing Amara, she almost collapsed. âAmara, please help me! I canât even return home now!â
Amara, having just confronted the police, was not in the best of spirits. âHelp you? Whoâs going to help me? Joelle even dared to bring up my name to the police!â
Eliza was too consumed by her own troubles to consider Joelle. Amara had assured her that all would be well when she agreed to assist, but now the police had shown up at her door. âAmara, I implore you, I cannot afford to go to jail. What would become of my parents? My family would be destroyed!â
âLeave me alone, stop pestering me!â Amara responded dismissively as she brushed past.
âPlease, you must help me! You promised that with the Miller familyâs influence in Illerith, Joelle would have to endure this quietly. But whyââ
âAre you accusing me now?â Amara approached and slapped Eliza.
Eliza collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed by the humiliation she had never before experienced. She remained silent, tears streaming down her face unnoticed. âLeave my sight; youâre an eyesore!â
Driven by Amaraâs enraged shout, Eliza painfully got up and moved towards the door.
Her hands balled into fists. If Amara refused to assist her, she would fight this battle alone. âWait.â
Amaraâs voice halted her, and Eliza inhaled deeply before turning around.
âDo you not care about saving your family?â
Eliza looked back blankly, puzzled by Amaraâs intentions.
âIf the police question you, point to Joelle as the instigator. If you even think of dragging my name into this, Iâll ensure your family has no future in Illerith!â
Amaraâs threat extinguished any thoughts of defiance Eliza might have harbored.
âAmara!â Eliza fell to her knees again. âThere must be something you can do! Please, I donât want to end up in jail!â
âDo you think I should go to jail in your place?â Amara forcefully pulled away from her grasp. âYou face two dire options, either could be your downfall. Help me this once, and Iâll finance your fatherâs company to help your familyâs situation.â
Elizaâs complexion paled, and she fell silent. She found herself cornered; one misstep had led to another, and now she was completely at Amaraâs mercy.
At the end of the corridor, Callan observed the exchange quietly. Over time, Amaraâs behavior had become increasingly impulsive, and Callan found himself hoping for Adrianâs return to resolve the chaos.
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