?Chapter 1569:


    Katie had never imagined things would spiral sopletely out of control.


    No matter how frustrated she had been with Bethel, she would never have intentionally harmed her. It had been a genuine ident—one thoughtless, reflexive movement that had shattered everything.


    If Bethel suffered serious consequences, the Dawson empire could face ruin. Katie would have to be utterly deranged to target her own grandmother on purpose.


    “Brendon, please believe me. I didn’t n this,” Katie cried, her whole body trembling.


    If Bethel didn’t survive, her own life would be over.


    “ident or not, you’d better pray Grandma makes it,” Brendon said, yanking at his tie as frustration boiled within him.


    Katie wept harder, her thoughts spinning until she could barely breathe. She turned to Ynda, her voice a desperate whisper. “Ynda, you believe me, don’t you? I never meant to push her. I swear.”


    “Katie, of course I know you didn’t mean it. Try to stay calm. Bethel is strong. She’ll pull through,” Ynda replied softly, cing aforting hand on Katie’s arm.


    But beneath that gentle facade, her eyes glittered with cold calction. A faint, secret smile touched her lips before she hid it away.


    If Bethel died, those shares would be redistributed. As Brendon’s legal wife, Ynda stood to inherit a significant portion. And if anything ever happened to Brendon, everything would eventually fall into her hands.


    She would y the long game, moving patiently, until the entire Dawson legacy rested firmly in her control.


    The truth of the fall was buried in the chaos, and she had been the one to deliver that critical, subtle shove. And the foolish Katie, consumed by guilt, had convinced herself she was to me. It was perfect—the ideal scapegoat, delivered on a silver tter.


    “Yes… She’ll be fine. She has to be…” Katie murmured, her voice shaking.


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    Ynda stayed close, murmuring empty assurances meant only to soothe and manipte.


    “Ynda, you’ve been so kind to me… Thank you,” Katie said, her swollen eyes full of misced gratitude. Her own brother doubted her, yet Ynda offered trust.


    A voice, cold and sharp as a de, sliced through the heavy air.


    “Where is Bethel? Is she still in surgery? What is her condition?”


    Christina strode in, her expression icy as she swept a hostile gaze over the assembled Dawsons.


    “Christina, Bethel, she—” Ynda began.


    A stinging p cracked across Ynda’s cheek before she could finish. Ynda clutched her face, stunned, tears springing to her eyes as she stared at Christina in shock.


    “You,” Christina said, her tone razor-sharp, “have forfeited any right to speak her name.”


    “How dare you! She’s my sister-inw! This is a family matter. You don’t get to dictate terms here! Who do you think you—”


    Katie leaped up to defend Ynda, only to be met with an equally forceful p.


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