?Chapter 540:


    “Mrs. Thorpe, always wear your symbol with pride.”


    “Could you share some stories about your brother?” Ellie asked Kaiden.


    “What made you think of him all of a sudden?” Kaiden was a little surprised. These days, few remembered the once-renowned Leo of the Thorpe family.


    “I’m just curious.” Ellie noticed Kaiden’s deep respect and longing for Leo—he might call his mother by her name, yet he always respectfully referred to his brother as “my brother.”


    The first-ss section was quiet, upied only by Ellie, Kaiden, and an older gentleman, allowing for a private conversation.


    Kaiden took a moment to reminisce before sharing, “He was a good man, tragically misced in the Thorpe family.”


    Leo should not have been born into the Thorpe family, a ce where kindness was often overshadowed by ruthlessness. Ellie stared at Kaiden in bewilderment.


    Kaiden softly touched her head, murmuring, “Ellie, do you recall my warning? Being kind isn’t always beneficial. If my brother had been lesspassionate, he’d have survived longer.”


    Ellie felt a heaviness settle in her chest at his words. “How did he… How did he meet his end?” Ellie inquired, barely whispering. “Erick mentioned a fire took his life.”


    Ellie’s words were careful, yet Kaiden could piece together what Erick had shared with her.


    Kaiden wasn’t shocked that Erick had brought it up to Ellie. The Thorpe family believed they held something over him with this story.


    “My brother always believed children shouldn’t suffer for their parents’ sins and showed kindness to Talon. Talon betrayed that kindness, poisoning my brother. Thankfully, the plot was uncovered in time. Yet, Talon imed it was an ident.”


    Jorge, seeing it as an “ident,” chose not to escte the matter. It was a family shame, not for outsiders to know. Thus, Talon’s image remained untarnished.


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    “After leaving the hospital, my brother returned to the Thorpe house to recover. That very night, a sudden wind was followed by a fire. The household staff found only me walking out of the courtyard.” Kaiden was the sole survivor of that tragic event.


    He alone walked away without harm.


    “People judge by what they see,” Kaiden stated evenly, gesturing toward himself. “And theybeled me the culprit.”


    Ellie’s heart skipped a beat, but she shook her head decisively, saying, “It wasn’t you.”


    The idea of Kaiden being used of his own brother’s death was unthinkable to her.


    Witnessing her staunch defense, Kaiden felt a hint of warmth. He shifted slightly, locking eyes with Ellie. “Do you believe so easily? Following my brother’s death, I was named the sole heir to the Thorpe family.”


    The Thorpe family used this as a reason to exin his motive for murder, branding him as ruthless and irrational.


    Ellie moved closer to embrace Kaiden.


    In the dim ne lighting, her eyes brimmed with sympathy. “Arson and murder don’t match your character.”


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