Miranda watched her son–usually so proud and unyielding–wilt with heartbreak over a woman, and her feelings were a tangled mess. She simply couldn’t bear to see her child pay such a terrible price for love ever again.

Meanwhile, Genevieve stormed into the house, scowling. Noticing her daughter’s expression, Ilse looked up, puzzled. “Weren’t you going to see that Rayburn girl?”

“I did,” Genevieve huffed, flopping onto the couch and folding her arms. “That woman’spletely nuts!”

Ilse adjusted her shawl and walked over. “What do iyou /imean?”

Genevieve got up and moved to her mother’s side. “You don’t even iknow/i, Mom. Miss Rayburn is not just clueless, she’s absolutely brainless. And the way she dresses–it’s just appalling. There’s nothingdylike about her at all!b” /b

“She’s the Rayburns‘ daughter who’s been missing for years. It’s not like she grew up in their family. Isn’t it normal she’s a little ignorant?” Ilse replied.

As long as she’s a Rayburn, once the family acknowledges her, they’ll cover for her, ino /imatter how little she knows.

Genevieve shot her mother a look. “But she’s delusional! She actually thinks she can take credit for saving my brother’s life! Grandma and Auntie both know it was Charlotte, but somehow she has the nerve to im it was her. How shameless can you get?”

Ilse was momentarily stunned.

She’d expected Miss Rayburn’s ignorance to be a matter of inexperience, but delusions?

Could the Rayburns‘ long–lost daughter really be this much of a disaster?

But honestly, Ilse didn’t much care anymore.

i1/2 /i

Chapter b348 /b

“Genevieve, she’s their real daughter. No matter what, she’ll end up your sister–inw.”

“But do we really want an idiot like that marrying my brother?”

Ilse’s face darkened. “Evander is Evander, and you are iyou/i. You’re not even full siblings. If he wants to marry an idiot, what does that have to do with you? Besides, it’s better for us if the Rayburn girl isn’t itoo /isharp! That way, we just sweet–talk her a little, and she’ll be putty in our hands. And don’t forget–we’ll need her to put in a good word for iyou /iwith Mr. Rayburn.”

Before Genevieve could respond, Ilse pressed on, her tone serious. “Genevieve, I’m thinking of your future. Your father and your uncle are both your grandmother’s sons, but you know how she ys favorites. If we don’t fight for ourselves, do you really think, once your uncle’s wife takes over after Grandma’s gone, the Howard family will still listen to

us?”

Genevieve fell silent, unsure whether her mother was truly looking out for her–or just for herself.

***

At a quiet restaurant, Charlotte and Wesley were having dinner when her phone buzzed. She nced at the screen–a number from Riverspire City. She picked up. The voice on the other end asked, “Where in the city are you?”

She froze. “…Who is this?”

“You mean you don’t recognize my voice?”

For a few seconds, she was too stunned to answer. She nced at Wesley, then lowered her voice. “Professor Carstairs?”

“That’s right. If you’re well enough to answer the phone, you must still be alive.”

Charlotte couldn’t help butugh dryly. “So, you found out?”

b213 /b

13:03

“I’ming to see whether you’re paralyzed or not. If you are, I’ll have to carry you back to Riverspire myself.”

She chuckled. “Professor Carstairs, what did you have for breakfast today, a bucket of nails?”

Judd gazed out the car window, switching the phone to his other hand. “As long as you’re okay.”

Charlotte paused, a soft smile curving her lips. “Thank you.”

“Send me your location.”

“Alright.”

After she hung up, Wesley looked up. “Carstairs… from Riverspire City, right?”

She nodded.

He teased, “Didn’t know my little sister was so popr.”

“Oh, stop it. He’s just a colleague,” Charlotte said, ducking her head to sip

her soup.

Wesley just smiled and let it go.

Not long after, Judd arrived at the restaurant.

It was Wesley’s first time meeting Judd. Rising slowly, he extended his hand. “Mr. Carstairs, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Charlotte’s brother.”