As I made my way upstairs, I could hear Kate, her voice laced with injustice, pleading, "Claude, it really wasn't me. It was Claire who pulled me, and that's how she ended up burning her hand."

I slowed down, curious to hear Claude's response.

"Kate, Claire's burn is pretty severe; it blistered up. She's studying medicine; she wouldn't hurt herself on purpose. When she comes down, you should really apologize to her."

Looking at the burn on my hand, I wondered how effective this little act of self-sacrifice would be.

At least in this life, I had managed to get Claude to insist Kate apologize to me.

But as I descended the stairs with a pile of laundry in my arms, I caught Kate saying, "Claude, the Goodwin family said if we unite our families through marriage, they would give half of their shares to me. This would be a huge boost for you in the business world. The Goodwin's support could help you achieve your goals sooner."

Always the goals.

Could Claude's ambition be to become Crestview Metropolis' most formidable business titan?

So, his vendetta against Richard, the business prodigy he had thrown into jail and whose assets he tried to seize, was not just about revenge for exposing my orphanage past. He saw Richard as nothing but a stepping stone. Biting my lip, my grip on the laundry tightened.

Claude's ambitions were costing too many people dearly. I deliberately made my footsteps heavier, halting their conversation.

laundry with a smile, I feigned

"Ouch..."

Claude, concerned, took

my

mean to, I'm

"Can an apology really erase the pain I've

dumbfounded look amusing. "I'm just kidding, Kate. Don't take it to

lowered his voice, "Claire, stop fooling

I couldn't

remember leaving in a hurry that day and forgetting to take

en

one has been in your room lately. The staff had a

one who went into my room. Did you

"I didn't

Hart family When Mrs. Hart gave it to me, she said it would serve as a token of engagement between us, stating only the person with the

bracelet means I can marry Claude?!" Kate

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