Chapter 553 Too Little, Too Late


    Turns out, when a man is pushed <i>to </i>the edge, his pride can shatter too.


    But Ste knew better–this copse, this softness? It was just an act.


    Because the moment he realized begging didn’t work, he’d show his true face again.


    She narrowed her eyes, voice dripping with mockery. “Begging me?”


    –


    “How rare. I never thought I’d see the day someone from the Reed family actually begged.”


    What were the Reeds like in Rivermount?


    Arrogant. Dismissive. Looking down their noses at everyone.


    But now Jonathan was reduced to the word <i>please</i>, crawling with humiliation.


    Ste let the coldughter linger. It was intentional.


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    Once upon a time, they had trampled her beneath their feet–so now she would grind that same weight into their backs. Let them taste it. Let them choke on it.


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    Jonathan exhaled shakily. “We know the whole truth now. I’ve already kicked Lilian out of the Reed family -for you. To avenge you.”


    Ste let out a cold, dryugh. “For me? That’s rich.”


    Now they made it sound like everything was for her.


    As if she didn’t know exactly who they were.


    “You always knew the truth, didn’t you?”


    Before he could respond, she cut in, voice colder than ice


    And just like that, the line went silent–only Jonathan’s strained breathing remained.


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    Yes. Ste believed they had known all along.


    The


    If they really thought Lilian had done nothing, why did they rush to send her away back then?


    The truth was, deep down, they had always known.


    The


    Jonathan had nothing to say.


    Wrig


    Ste went on, voice slicing through the silence. “Don’t tter yourselves. You’re not avenging me–you’re cleaning up your own mess<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Pretending it was for her.


    Chapter 553 Too Little, Too Late


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    Please. Did they think she was someone who could be moved by empty gestures<b>? </b>


    She never had been–and especially not when it came to people who meant <i>nothing </i>to her.


    Jonathan’s voice trembled. “Ste, you-


    She cut him off again: “What? Afraid I’ll bring up the part where her aunt gave your father a pair of twins?”


    “Juicy, isn’t it?” sheughed, bitter and amused.


    Outside the prison, Jonathan stood like a ghost–slumped, empty.


    He’d just seen Susan.


    Her sentencing had been swift: attempted murder. A long sentence. No legal trick or favor had worked.


    And now, Ste’s gleefulughter echoed through the line, twisting the knife in deeper.


    Jonathan’s hands clenched into fists. “That woman destroyed your family too!”


    “Oh? My family?” Ste’s voice went sharp. “You don’t remember what you said the first time we met, do you?”


    Jonathan’s face froze.


    What had he said?


    That day, Lilian had cried her eyes out, iming she was afraid Ste would be upset about her “taking her ce.” Said she wanted to leave.


    So Jonathan, filled with guilt and sympathy, had gone straight to Ste and told her:


    “Even if you’re the Reed family’s real daughter, Lilian grew up here. She’ll always be one of us.”


    “<b>If </b>you behave yourself, you’ll get everything that’s due to a Reed daughter. But if you stir trouble and try to fight her, just remember–she’s closer to all of us than you are.”


    He hadn’t said it outright, but the meaning was clear enough: pushes to shove, <i>you </i>are the outsider.


    Ste: “Remember now?”


    Jonathan didn’t reply. He was too stunned, too ashamed.


    But more than anything, he was angry.


    Angry that she dared to talk to him this way.


    He gritted his teeth, eyes shut tight. “I’m sorry. I’m <i>really </i>sorry. I hurt you–I know that. But please, don’t make Mom pay the price.”


    Apology after apology poured down the line like heavy blows.


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    Chapter 553 Too Little, Too Late


    But Ste onlyughed colder. “Too bad. Your apologies mean nothing to me.”


    “And I’m not the one punishing her–thew is.”


    She added calmly, “I can’t help you.”


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    “Ste-!”


    Jonathan’s breath hitched–he was unraveling.


    She knew exactly why he was calling. This wasn’t just about guilt.


    He wanted her to help get his mother out.


    He’d gone to Patrick.


    But who would’ve thought–even his own father had cut him offpletely.


    Patrick had shifted all his attention to others now, left him in the cold.


    And now Ste’s icy tone was breaking him: “Ste, that’s your mother. Her ce in this world has been stolen by another woman. How can you stand by and watch-?”


    Ste’s light chuckle cut through the line.


    “The one who gave her ce away… was Lilian.”


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