“As soon as she gives birth,” Daniel said smoothly, “we’ll send Chloe away. You can raise the baby and then we’ll be together again- just like before.“}
Andrew jumped in immediately, raising his hand like he was making a vow. “I never had feelings for her. Not once.”
The two of them stood there, desperate to convince me of their sincerity, as if words could undo everything.”
Across the room, Chloe trembled with rage, one hand pressed against her swollen belly.
I was too stunned to react. After everything they had done–after every betrayal they were now using me as an excuse to hurt someone else.M
My knees buckled. My vision blurred.”
Tommy caught me just before I collapsed.}
He steadied me in his arms and called over an aide. “Bring it,” he ordered.”
A moment later, the aide returned, holding a long–lost object that drew a collective gasp from the crowd.}
The Whitmore Family’s succession token.
It had vanished years ago after the former head passed. Many believed it was lost forever.”
But now, in Tommy’s hand, it gleamed with finality.”
He walked to the front of the hall and stood beneath the chandelier’s cold light.”
“While I was gone, this family produced two disgraceful heirs. And no one stopped them.“}
He lifted the token.
“As the rightful head of the Whitmore Family, I’m putting an end to that. Andrew and Daniel are hereby expelled.”
The mornent the words left his mouth, the second branch of the family erupted in protest.”
“Tommy, you can’t do that–they’re your nephews!”
Others muttered in agreement.
But Tommy tossed the token onto the long banquet table with a loud clack.”
“The token is here. Whoever defies it… defies the Whitmore bloodline.”
Silence.
Everyone knew the weight that token carried. Without it, the family’s legitimacy would fall apart. And with Tommy’s return, no one else had the standing to challenge him–especially not those who had let power slip away in his absence.
Still, Daniel and Andrew were the sons of the second house. Their mother, Camilla Whitmore, stood and made her way toward me.\ She looked me over like she was weighing a chess piece and then said in a grave tone, “All of this happened because I didn’t raise my sons properly. But our family took you in. You owe us something. If you remember any of that kindness… speak for them now.“}] She didn’t know what they had done to me.”
She didn’t know about the forced bone marrow donation.”
Or the shattered hand./
She only saw what she wanted to see, a quiet, obedient girl who might still be manipulated.”
I didn’t even flinch.
“I repaid that favor a long time ago,” I said coldly, raising my right hand.”
Gasps again. Some winced at the sight of the heavy wrapping. Andrew and Daniel’s faces paled instantly, their bodies tensing. They remembered exactly what had happened.
Camilla opened her mouth, her face hardening in indignation.”
But Andrew interrupted her.”
“Elise, the injury to your hand–you owed Chloe. You brought it on yourself. Let’s not argue that.”
This–this–was the man who had stood by me for over ten years. And even now, he still chose to believe Chloe.§
Behind me, Tommy let out a sharp, cold laugh.
“Who owes who, exactly?“>
He stepped forward, voice dripping with disdain.”
“Would you prefer to confess on your own–or should I help you?“}
His glare cut through the room like a blade. Chloe shrank back behind Daniel.
“I.. I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said, tears brimming in her eyes. “She pushed me. I had a medical episode because of her. Of
she had to donate. And she injured my hand. She owed me!“}
course
She tried to sound wounded, righteous even, but her voice cracked under the weight of the lies.N
Tommy gave a quiet command to one of the guards.
10:56 AM
་པ་
ས་སཅ་ས
A few seconds later, a screen was wheeled in and a video began to play.”
The room fell dead silent.”
The footage was clear.
Chloe, sneaking into my room, placing something by the window. A strange diffuser or incense–whatever it was, it released a hazy mist.”
Then, in the midst of a chaotic argument, she deliberately fell to the ground, clutching her stomach and screaming.
Later, she began to convulse violently–just as the scent in the room thickened.
Everything–fabricated.”
Everyone–manipulated.“]
The gasps were louder this time.
The Nlusion shattered.”
