The Williams family was one of the most prominent old-money dynasties in Solmaris, their influence and resources truly formidable.
The current head of the family, Skyler Williams-Ste''s biological father-had three sons and a daughter.
The two younger sons were twins.
ording to Skyler''s public statement, Mrs. Williams had died in childbirth when their youngest daughter, Aurora, was born.
Since his wife''s passing, Skyler had never remarried. He was never seen with another woman at his side.
People often spoke of Skyler''s unwavering devotion to histe wife.
Even Neville believed as much.
He''d witnessed firsthand how women threw themselves at Skyler, only to be coldly rebuffed every time.
Neville had met all four of the Williams children on multiple asions.
Skyler had raised them well-poised, articte, and impressive in both appearance and manners.
Thinking of this, Neville nced at Ste, his gaze sharpening slightly.
Ste didn''t really resemble the rest of the Williams family.
Skyler''s other three children, on the other hand, bore a striking resemnce to him anyone could tell at a nce they were his flesh and blood.
No one ever questioned Aurora''s ce in the family.
As for Ste, people simply assumed she must take after her mother.
Neville asked, "So, Star, are you nning not to go back to the Williams estate?"
Ste replied coolly, "There''s no real bond between us. They never truly weed me, and honestly, I have no interest in forcing my way back in." Before her mother died, she''d worried that Ste would be left alone and unprotected. That''s why she''d revealed Ste''s true parentage, hoping she could return to the Williams family and find shelter under her father and brothers'' care.
But after Ste went back, she found herself met with suspicion and guardedness at every turn.
Those so-called brothers of hers treated Aurora like she was the center of their universe, as if Ste might steal everything from their precious little sister.
After leaving the Williams household, Ste reimed her own life-no longer a shadow for anyone.
Still, her academic credentials were a headache.
Back in school, she''d used the identity of Raven.
Now, untangling her records and establishing her real identity would be no simple task.
Neville seemed to sense her frustration. "If you want to fix your records, it''s not impossible. As long as the Williams family is willing to cooperate and provide the necessary documentation, you can get it all sorted out."
But...
If Ste hadn''t brought it up, Neville wouldn''t have even known there was a "Raven." There had never been even a whisper about an adopted daughter or an illegitimate child.
Clearly, the Williams family went to great lengths to keep Ste''s existence under wraps.
In hindsight, it made sense.
The Williamses had a reputation to maintain, and Skyler had spent years cultivating his image as a devoted widower. If word got out that he had a secret daughter, it would be impossible to exin—and people might start digging into the past.
With The Williams Group riding high, any scandal was simply out of the question. Aurora''s standing could be threatened as well.
The stigma of being an illegitimate child could follow Ste all her life, bing a permanent stain.
It was no wonder Aurora—or rather, those protecting her-would want to keep Ste away.
Abby chimed in, turning to Ste. "Star, the O''Brien family keeps using your academic records to stir up trouble. Rachel''s been lording it over everyone ever since. Now that you''re in the spotlight, they''ll definitely use this to attack you." "Star, you really need to figure out the degree situation sooner rather thanter." Ste rubbed her tired brow. She truly had no desire to deal with the Williams family again. If not for her mother''s dying wish that she try to get along with her so-called father and brothers, she never would have stayed there as long as she did.
The next morning, at the local kindergarten.
Marvin was in the music room, practicing his violin.