Tristan stood with his hands behind his back, first ncing at Sylvia before fixing his heavy gaze on Naomi.


    "Is this how you teach a child? Her tuition goes up every year, and yet Edwincks nothingpared to her. Is this the thanks we get?"


    "I hoped you''d at least learn the ropes and be a good partner, but you can''t even manage to raise a child properly. What can you do?"


    His words were sharp as a knife, and with each jab, Naomi''s head drooped lower, her cheeks burning crimson, her hands twisting nervously in herp.


    Sylvia could see it all, and it pained her deeply.


    Anger coursed through her veins, making her feel like she was on fire. Though she knew she''d done nothing wrong, the guilt wed at her, making her eyes sting.


    She knew exactly who Tristan really wanted to scold.


    Once upon a time, Sylvia had genuinely treated Tristan like a grandfather.


    When her mom took care of a sick Tristan, Sylvia had often helped out too, only to be secretly warned by him.


    "You''re too young to have such ambitions," Tristan had remarked, thinking her actions were merely an attempt to curry favor with the influential.


    Back then, she was just seventeen or eighteen, naive and hopeful, dreaming of aplete family she could cherish.


    But after thatment, Sylvia made sure to steer clear of any Garcia family gatherings.


    She even avoided mentioning her connection to the Garcias in public.


    Looking back now, she realized that no matter what she did, Tristan would never truly ept her.


    Sylvia took a deep breath, a bitter smile ying on her lips. "Tristan, you''re not the one who raised me, who went through all the hard work, so what gives you the right to criticize my mom?"


    "Next time you''re feeling unwell, maybe don''t call my mom to stay up all night taking care of you! When there''s something good, even the household staff of the Garcias get some credit, but if my mom or I do, we''re used of having ulterior motives. And when things go bad, we get the me. How''s that fair?"


    "Sylvia!" Rupert stepped through the crowd, grabbing her arm with a stern warning. "Enough."


    Sylvia shoved him away, her eyes zing with defiance. "Tell me to


    shut up! Why don''t you say something? Aren''t you good at threatening people? Cat got your tongue now? What gives you the right to silence me?"


    Since she walked in, he had been by Bridget''s side, shielding her.


    Everyone was against her!


    Rupert stared at her, his expression as cold and unyielding as a winter storm.


    "Sylvia, that''s enough. Stop thinking only about yourself."


    At his words, Sylvia nced at Naomi, who was trembling like a leaf, too frightened to even cry out loud.


    That''s when Sylvia realized that no matter how much she said, she couldn''t escape this.


    Swallowing her dry throat, she moved to the foot of Bridget''s bed, meeting Bridget''s tear-filled yet triumphant eyes.


    "I''m sorry."


    "Sylvia, what did you say?" Bridget clutched her head dramatically. "Since my injury, I can''t hear too well."


    Sylvia didn''t want to repeat herself


    but


    her


    s nce at Naomi left t


    à no choice. Her lips trembled


    as she forced out the words.


    "I''m sorry! I''m sorry! I''m sorry!"


    Her voice grew louder with each repetition, filling the room with a chilling


    resonance.


    "Is that loud enough? Do you need it louder?"


    Bridget hesitated, ncing at Rupert, awaiting his nod.


    Rupert gave a curt nod, his expression calm but with an undercurrent of tension.


    Bridget


    longer. "Sylvia, I forgive you. I From


    noide her smirk any


    now on, I''m your elder, so


    I hold


    Would


    a grudge?"


    Sylvia said nothing, taking Naomi''s hand and walking past Rupert to leave the


    room.