Chapter 111
Chapter 9
“Arden, what are you thinking about p>
Mom reached over and held my hand gently. “Did you hear what I just said p>
“I want to host a recognition banquet,” she continued softly. “I want everyone to know that you are my
daughter p>
I paused for a moment, then nodded lightly.
“Okay,” I said. “Dad, Mom-I’m a little tired. I’ll go rest first p>
I turned and went back to my room, sitting there in a daze for a long time.
A knock finally sounded at the door.
Julian stood outside, staring at me without speaking for several seconds.
I forced a small smile. “What is it, Julian p>
“I…” He hesitated. “Arden… I’m sorry p>
I froze.
Julian took a deep breath, his eyes reddening. “When we were kids, I was immature. I thought Mom and Dad favored you too much, and I got angry. I never imagined you’d actually disappear p>
He swallowed hard before continuing. “After I grew up, I kept looking for you. I wanted you to come home p>
“But when you finally did… I got scared again,” he admitted quietly. “I was afraid you’d bring up what happened back then. So I p>
He clenched his jaw. “Arden, can you forgive me p>
My nails dug into my palm as I looked up at him and smiled faintly.
“What are you talking about?” I said calmly. “I don’t remember any of that. You should go get some rest p>
I lowered my head and began to close the door.
Julian panicked, his voice breaking. “Then… have you forgiven me p>
I didn’t answer.
What isn’t remembered doesn’t require forgiveness.
Chapter 9
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Lera
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livrer de um agressor ela pede demissão. Agora ele a…
Over the next few days, Julian seemed to have made up his mind about something. He started trying to make
it up to me in every way he could.
I didn’t stop him, and I didn’t respond much either.
Dad and Mom watched our interactions and seemed relieved. Their smiles came more easily.
Life settled into a quiet, ordinary rhythm.
Until the day of the recognition banquet.
Dad and Mom stood with me at the center of the stage, pride unmistakable as they introduced me to the
guests.
“This is our biological daughter,” Dad announced. “Arden Ashcroft p>
The guests’ eyes fell on me, murmurs of admiration spreading through the room.
“She was raised away from the family, right? You’d never guess-she’s beautiful and so well-mannered p>
“She carries herself far better than the girl before p>
“No wonder. The other one was never really fit for this kind of occasion p>
As the whispers continued, I lifted the microphone, ready to speak.
“Arden Ashcroft-go to the hell p>
A knife flashed toward me.
Before it could reach me, a bodyguard kicked the attacker away and slammed her to the ground.
It was Celeste.
I hadn’t seen her in a while. She looked gaunt now, filthy and disheveled, barely recognizable.
“Celeste, you still dared to show up?” Julian snapped, his gaze dark. “You ran after the tests. I was going to let you live. And now you try to hurt Arden p>
“Hurt her?” Celeste shrieked, her eyes bloodshot. “She’s the one who ruined me p>
She twisted her head to glare at me, fury blazing. “You stole everything from me p>
I looked down at her calmly. “Stole?” I said evenly. “Weren’t those things mine to begin with p>
She choked on my words, her face flushing red, then pale.
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Julian hesitated, his expression conflicted. “Celeste… where’s the baby p>
“The baby?” She laughed bitterly, tears streaming down her face.
“You men are all the same,” she spat. “I went to find the child’s father. I demanded he take responsibility p>
“But he said my private life was too messy. He refused to acknowledge the baby p>
Her voice cracked.
“He kicked it out of me-alive p>
Chapter 9
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