Chapter 418 Burnt Bridges


    Chapter 418 Burnt Bridges


    Lilian shook <b>her </b>head in desperation. “<b>No</b><b>, </b>don’t touch me–don’t you dare touch me!”


    Her attendant tried to intervene<b>, </b>but the guard shoved her to the ground without hesitation.


    Lilian thrashed wildly in her wheelchair. “Don’t touch me! Who gave you the right? Let go–let go!”


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    <b>“</b>Ms. Lilian,” the guard sneered, “let me remind you–the Reed family no longer exists. You’re not their precious daughter anymore.”


    He leaned in with a smirk. “Even when the Reeds were at their peak, you weren’t good enough for Mr. Ethan. Now? Forget it. ept your ce. Chasing after him will only embarrass you.”


    The words sliced into her like ss.


    Humiliation–sharp, bitter, and suffocating<b>–</b>coiled tightly around her chest.


    No one had <b><i>ever </i></b>treated her like this before. How had ite to this?


    <b><i>Ste</i></b>.


    This <b>was </b>all because of her.


    If it weren’t for Ste, none of this would have happened. She had destroyed everything.


    She was ruthless–not only toward others but even toward her own birth mother. And now Lilian was paying the price for the Reed family’s downfall.


    Hatred boiled in Lilian’s eyes, but there was nothing she could do.


    She clenched her teeth as she whispered Ste’s name, every syble dripping with venom, as if trying to bite it to pieces.


    -she would never let Ste off the hook.


    If the heavens gave her one more chance–just one-


    <b><i>Never</i></b><b><i>. </i></b>


    Back at Seats Cove.


    Ste had dozed off beside Abraham,pletely drained. The man rolled over and pulled her into his arms, pressing his cheek gently against her neck with uncharacteristic tenderness.


    Who knew how long they slept…


    Her phone, resting on the nightstand, buzzed loudly–she’d forgotten to silence it before bed.


    Still half–asleep, Ste groped for it and answered groggily, “Hello…?<b>” </b>


    She was exhausted.


    Who the hell was calling thiste?


    On the other end, Tessa’s anxious voice rang out: “Ste, Victor has a high fever! He’s burning up!”


    <i>High </i><i>fever</i><b><i>? </i></b>


    Ste was still too drowsy to understand why Tessa <b>was </b>calling her about that.


    “What do


    you


    mean?”


    Victor had <b>a </b>fever–and Tessa was calling her<b>? </b>


    She blinked at the ceiling in confusion, still not registering that Tessa <b>was </b>currently living with Victor.


    1:23 PM


    Chapter 418 Burnt Bridges


    Tessa pleaded, “I gave him fever meds, but they’re not working! What do I do?”


    Silence stretched over the line.


    Ste’s brain was sluggish, not just from sleep but something deeper–like her mind was wrapped in fog.


    Tessa called out again. “Ste? Ste?”


    Ste mumbled, “Give him more fever meds.”


    Tessa blinked. “He already took some… they’re not working.”


    “Then give him more.”


    <i>What</i><i>?! </i>


    <i>Was </i>she <i>serious</i><b>?! </b>


    <i>Overdosing </i><i>on </i><i>fever </i><i>meds </i><i>could </i>kill <i>someone</i><i>! </i><i>Had </i><i>Ste </i><i>lost </i><i>her </i><i>mind</i>?


    What kind <i>of </i><i>advice </i><i>was </i><i>that</i><i>? </i>


    But Ste was clearly half–asleep and barely aware. Before Tessa could object, Ste ended the call.


    She turned over and wrapped her arms around Abraham’s slim waist.


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    He stirred, awakened slightly by the movement. Catching her familiar scent, he instinctively drew her closer and closed his eyes again, content.


    That kind of peace–the kind born of a long, aching crush finally fulfilled–was something only those who’d suffered silently could understand.


    “Hey…” Ste murmured drowsily.


    He pulled her even closer, whispering softly, “Shh. Sleep.”


    Back at the Keene estate.


    Lilian had been dumped outside.


    The weight of humiliation crushed her chest.


    And in that moment, she saw the truth for what it was–there was no future for her and Ethan.


    Her maid helped her back into the wheelchair. “Ms. Lilian, let’s go home.”


    It was the middle of the night.


    Running into Madam Madeline had only made things worse, and the maid was visibly frustrated.


    Especially since the Reed family’s copse had meant no wages for their staff this month.


    That was why she hadn’t even wanted to apany Lilian tonight in the first ce.


    Already pushed to her breaking point, Lilian snapped.


    “Go where? If you want to leave, go ahead. I’m not leaving until I see Ethan.”


    Even after being thrown out, she clung stubbornly to herst shred of pride.


    The maid’s expression darkened. “Fine. Then I’m leaving.”


    She wasn’t about to stand out here freezing for this nonsense.