?Chapter 2908:


    Eric’s eyes narrowed as he asked, “How did she pull that off?”


    What crossed his mind at once was, Could it have been a scheme set up by Linda and Letty together?


    What was truly frightening was that the scheme had actually seeded. By relying on that n, Linda had managed to step into high society, climb the socialdder, and rise into a woman of influence.


    The more Eric thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. A cold glint appeared in his eyes.


    “No, that can’t be true! No!” Chelsey was shaken by the chill radiating from Eric and quickly shook her head.


    “That’s not true! I was still so young back then… but I promise you, they weren’t working together!”


    Because all those years after, Letty never stopped searching for her daughter.


    It was only a few years ago—after Linda became a celebrity, and they checked again and again—that Letty finally confirmed Linda really was her daughter.


    “I’m telling the truth.”


    Worried Eric might not believe her, Chelsey turned to Hadley with pleading eyes.


    Hadley kept her doubts to herself and shifted the question.


    “So do you know… how Linda pulled it off back then, and managed to save both Eric and Ernest?”


    Chelsey was left speechless.


    She couldn’te up with an answer.


    Her face went pale. She shook her head and said, “I was still a kid then… Honestly, I never understood exactly what happened. But Letty and Andrea held a grudge against her for so many years—there’s no way they were secretly working together.”


    After hearing this, Hadley couldn’t help but ask, “If you were so young, you and Linda shouldn’t have felt much for each other… but you still stick up for her?”


    “Yes.”


    Chelsey hesitated for a moment before giving a small nod.


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    “Why?”


    Because…


    Chelsey’s eyes reddened, hershes glistening with tears.


    “I came from a family like that, and the only way I was able to keep going to school was because someone kept helping me out. It was right before I graduated when I finally realized… she was the one who’d helped me.”


    With a bitter, self-mockingugh, Chelsey added, “Hadley, I know she’s done plenty of terrible things. But she once showed me kindness. She paid for my schooling. Without her, I’d probably be no different from Andrea or Letty now…”


    Silent tears streamed down her cheeks.


    “Though I never lived under the same roof as her, in some ways, I still find myself thinking the way she does.” Her tearful eyes carried a quiet hope as she continued, “We don’t get to decide the family we’re born into. But that doesn’t mean we should have to carry the shame of being traffickers’ children either…”


    “Yes.”


    Hadley gave a small nod, finally understanding.


    “So you’d rather shoulder everything and not turn your back on her?”


    Chelsey swallowed hard, then nodded faintly.


    “Yes. But Hadley… you’re being far too kind to me.”


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