bChapter /bb71 /b

Eleanor had long since stopped caring about things outside her own home, so she didn’t know about Jordan. And now, Jordan was here–how could the Hayeses talk openly about Jordan right in front of him?

Ste’s nerves tightened. Even though Eleanor had given her quick approval, the stakes her own future–made Ste feel unsure

Then Ste felt Jordan’s hand close around hers. ncing up, Ste caught the barest hint of reassurance in the slight curve of his lips.

Moments ago, his cial intensity towards her family had seemed imprable. That fleeting softening, however, eased a knot of tension in her chest.

“Of course,” Eleanor affirmed, her voice gentle but resolute. “I couldn’t be more pleased with them.”

“Mom!” Andrew’s voice cut sharply through the broom/b. He started to object, but a wary nce at Jordan choked the wordsb. /bInstead, he turned amanding stare bon /bSte. “Come with me. Now.” With that, Andrew stood up.

As Ste rose from the sofa, Jordan’s grip tightened, anchoring her in ce. “Ste is my wife,” Jordan stated, his voice deceptively calm. “There’s nothing concerning her that I shouldn’t hear.”

Andrew threw caution to the wind. “Fine,” he spat. “Since you’ve forced your way into this family, let’s be brutally clear. Jordan, you are utterly unsuitable for my daughter. I demand you file for divorce. Immediately.”

I

“Never.” Ste countered, her voice ringing with conviction. “Jordan and I bare /bin love. I knew you’d try to stop us, so we just got married first. Now nothing will break bus /bapart.”

Max leaned forward. “Ste, do you even know what kind of man he is? He-”

Ste cut him off sharply. “Save it, Max. Kevin already tried that line.” She turned to Jordan, her expression softening into genuine warmth. “I knew Jordan long before the Erwin Group existed, I know the man he is

“He never judged me, beven /bafter everything. And when we reconnected, he still chose to marry me. Choosing to be his wife is my deepest desire.

“Oh, and when Henry nearly got me killed, it was Jordan who saved me,” she added pointedly. “You kept pestering me about our connection? Well, we were together even then.

“This time,” Ste continued, her voice hardening, “Jordan knew you nned to force me onto Troy. If you hadn’t pushed us too far, we wouldn’t have taken such a drastic measure. So if you need someone to me, look in the mirror.”

Eleanor whipped around to face Andrew and Fiona, her voice trembling with fury. “Is this true? You intended to force Ste into marriage with Troy?”

Andrew was about to exin when Eleanor mmed her palm onto the coffee table with a crack. “Answer me! Is it true?”

Andrew’s shoulders slumped. “Yes,” he admitted, the word dragged out reluctantly.

“Fools!” Eleanor cried, her bvoice /braw. “You know Troy’s vile nature! How could you sacrifice your daughter to that scoundrel?” Fury propelled her forward, hand raised.

Andrew scrambled back, hands raised defensively. “Mom, please! What choice did I have? It’s all because of her own actions secretly meeting Troy and giving away her reputation to him. I had no choice.b” /b

The p rang out, sharp and stinging. “How dare you.” Eleanor roared, her eyes zing. “Ste is not that kind person. Unter another nder against her.”

Ste’s expression frosted over. “Since you insist on lies,” she said, her voice cial, “let’s illuminate the truth. How did I end up with Troy bthat /bday? Ask Max. It was entirely his handiwork.”

Max shot to his feet, panic ring. “You’re insane.” he shouted, jabbing a finger at her. “That’s aplete fabrication.1 did nothing

“Liar!” Ste fired back, her voice cutting. “You knocked me unconscious–a blow to the neck–right before my eyes. I woke in Troy’s bed. And now, you’re telling me that was not your doing?”

Eleanor swayed, clutching the sofa back for support. The revtion hit like a physical blow. “Max,” Her voice was thick with anguish and disbelief. “Ste’s your sister, How could you push her into the fire again and again?”

Max sneered, deflecting me. “Grandma, have you forgotten what you said at that buffet? You made our family fall into this situation.”

He pressed on, venomous, “The Carver family offered an investment lifeline in exchange for Ste. What’s the big deal if Ste makes a little sacrifice for our family?”

“What did you mean?” Jordan’s snarl was lethal. “Offering my wife as payment is an insult I won’t tolerate. Be grateful she emerged unscathed.”

His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “Had she been harmed, I would have ended you where you stand.” An arctic wave of menace radiated from him, freezing the blood of everyone present.

Jordan’s hands moved to his belt buckle. Anna and Fiona flinched, instinctively looking away.

Truth be told, the moment Jordan stepped into the house, Anna was stunned by how handsome he was. She had only ever seen him in the media. Though she regrly attended high–society gs, their paths had never crossed.

Anna had long harbored feelings for Jordan, but she knew a man like him was beyond her reach. That was why she settled for Lionel instead. But now, Jordan was right here in her home, Anna’s heart throbbed with a fierce, reawakened longing.

“What the hell are you doing?” Andrew roaredb, /bscandalized. He couldn’t stomach such an indecent disy.

Jordan slid the belt free in one swift motion and pressed the heavy leather into S Ste’s hand. “Hit him,” hemanded, his voice low and relentlessb. /b“Make him pay.”

Ste stared at the belt, momentarily stunned.

His gaze held hers, steady and fierce. It was ba /bsilent vow. ‘I am here. Do this.”

Ste nodded and took the belt from him.

Andrew and Fiona stared, aghast. Then Andfew found his voice, bellowing, “Have you lost your mind, Jordan? You marry Ste, and your first act is to make her assault her brother?”

Jordan didn’t flinch. An aura of absolute authority settled over him. “Precisely,” he stated, each bword /ba hammer blow. “Sue me if you dare. I’ll countersue for conspiracy in the attempted rape of my wife.”

His gaze swept over them, contemptuous. “A man who doesn’t avenge such an attack on his wife is no man at all.

Max lunged for the belt, desperate to disarm her. But Ste moved with unexpected bspeed/b, fueled by years bof /bbpent/b–up bfury/b. The

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leather strap whistled through the air,nding with a sharp crack against his arm. He yelped, staggering back

“Dad! Mom! Stop her!” Max howled.

Andrew and Fiona were at aplete lossb, /bshouting frantically, “Ste, stop this! Stop it right now!”

Anna threw herself in front of Max, dropping to her knees before Ste. “Ste, please,” she begged, tears welling

“He’s our brother. Our flesh and blood! Remember when we were children? When Mom and Dad were away, he looked after us. How can you raise your hand against him?”

Ste paused, the belt held high, her voice dripping with bitter scorn. “Looked after us? He only looked after you, Anna. He cooked meals for you. But when I came home, starving, only cold scraps remained.”

Her voice rose, mimicking Max’s past cruelty, “Hungry? Make it yourself. Got working limbs, haven’t you? Stop acting like ba /bdamn princess.” Ask Max himself–wasn’t that exactly what he said?”

Anna sobbed, “But he’s family. How bcan /byou do this?”

Years of injustice, culminating in his ultimate betrayal, surged through her. After selling her to Troy, the sibling bond had already been shattered by his hand. The belt came down again.

Andrew pointed a shaking, usatory finger, his face purple with rage. “You didn’t bring home a husband. You brought home a viper! Now he turns you against Max–are your mom and I next?”

Ste met his gaze head–on, her eyes zing. “Maybe,” she retorted, her voice cold steel. “Did you ever truly see me as your daughter? As family? Did you ever see me as a person at all?

“To you,” Ste continued, her voice ice–cold, “I was always the most expendable. If Kevin hadn’t intervened, iTroy /iwould have raped me. A fate you all conspired to deliver. You plotted cruelty beyond imagining.

“So tell me, Dad,” her voice droppedb, /bdeadly calm, “what sin is there in imy /ihusband giving me the means to answer it? What sin at all?”