Sherman never really posed a threat to him-he''d never taken the man seriously.


    But now that Mr. Burton had publicly vouched for Ste, even Sherman wouldn''t dare stand in the way. There was nothing he could say.


    ...


    Mr. Burton''s endorsement of Ste left the Watson family in the audience utterly stunned.


    Florrie couldn''t help but gloat a little. "Dad, looks like you''re toote," she whispered, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You see how fond Mr. Burton is of Ste?"


    Nicolle, however, refused to give up so easily. "Mr. Burton only said he''d take Ste on as his student. He never said anything about making her a granddaughter."


    With Mr. Burton showing Ste such favor, Florrie knew it was all the more important to get on her good side.


    After the performance, everyone made their way to the banquet hall. Florrie was the first to dash off, eager to find Ste.


    Aurora noticed her friend''s urgency and called after her, "Florrie, where are you rushing off to?"


    It was only then that Florrie remembered she hadn''t properly greeted Aurora yet. She circled back, a little sheepish. "I''m going to find Ste. You know, she''s my brother''s protégé."


    ncing around cautiously, Florrie lowered her voice. "My father''s thinking about adopting Ste. Before that happens, I want to talk to her and see where she stands."


    Aurora''s eyes narrowed, surprise flickering across her usually controlled features. "Adopt her?"


    Florrie nodded. She and Aurora had always been close, true confidantes, and Florrie was never one to keep secrets. She leaned in. "My dad''s tried toget my brother toe back to the family, but he refuses. He can''t seem to let go of Ste-they grew up together, and their bond is... something else. I heard she''s had a rough timetely-she just went through a divorce. My brother''s probably worried about her. Dad''s afraid he''ll try to marry her, so he figures adopting her is the best way to care for her, and at the same time, it''ll put a stop to any romantic ideas. Two birds with one stone, really."


    Florrie rambled on, oblivious to the way Aurora''s expression had darkened.


    Aurora''s mind was spinning. While her own father and brother were still agonizing over how to present Ste''s identity to the world, the Watsons were already making ns to adopt her without a second thought.


    "But Florrie," Aurora said carefully, "aren''t you worried about what people will say


    if your family suddenly takes in a new daughter?"


    Florrie understood the implication.


    "Dad doesn''t really care about gossip. Besides, my brother''s an illegitimate child-everyone knows it. Dad never tried to hide that. He always said that one lie just leads to a hundred more, and he''s too tired for that game. It''s not like he cheated or kept a mistress-there''s nothing shameful about it."


    Antoney was born while Nicolle and his first love were still together, before they broke up for good. Even though Antoney was born out of wedlock, there was no scandal-if anything, Nicolle now saw him as the family''s greatest hope, and would rather the whole world knew.


    Aurora''s gaze sharpened. "Go ahead, Florrie. I just remembered something I need to discuss with my brother. I''ll catch up with youter."


    This couldn''t wait. Her father and brother had to know-if the Watsons adopted Ste, and her real identity ever got out, it would be a disaster for the Williams family. They''d be theughingstock of society.


    Florrie was a little puzzled by Aurora''s sudden urgency, but didn''t press. "Alright,e find me when you''re done."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Mr. Burton led Ste


    through the crowded reception, introducing her to influential guests from every corner of the room. Ste could see he was going out of his way to lift her up, and the gesture warmed her heart. She felt a deep gratitude-for the first time, Mr. Burton was treating her as family.