Vanessa hated having her past dredged up. She clutched her handbag tighter. "Serena, I said it''s pointless. My friendship with you was real."


    With that, she tried to walk past her. Serena reached out to grab her wrist. "Don''t you dare leave! We''re not finished here."


    But Vanessa sidestepped her and hurried toward the elevator. Serena was left trembling with rage, her chest heaving. A momentter, she spun around and rushed toward Eleanor.


    Eleanor had just risen from her chair when Serena threw her arms around her in a tight, desperate hug. Eleanor froze, stunned.


    "I''m sorry, I''m so sorry, sister-inw," Serena sobbed, her guilt pouring out like a flood. "It was all my fault. I was so wrong. I—" She clung to Eleanor, refusing to let go. "I was so stupid. I helped her bully you. I said so many terrible things about you. I''m so, so sorry."


    Eleanor stood stiffly. Serena wasn''t malicious by nature, just arrogant and easily swayed by Vanessa''s masterful performance. But her remorse now was undeniably genuine.


    "Let''s not talk about the past," Eleanor said, patting her back awkwardly. "I need to get back to theb."


    Serena stepped back, her eyes red and swollen. She knew a few apologies could never undo the harm she had caused, and Eleanor''s willingness to let it go only made her feel more ashamed.


    "My dear sister-inw, I know my actions caused real damage, and saying sorry isn''t enough. But I promise I''ll make it up to you. I''ll prove it with my actions." Serena''s voice was filled with conviction, as if she were making a solemn vow.


    Eleanor felt a headacheing on. She had been determined to cut all ties with the Goodwin family after this research was finished. "That won''t be necessary she said coolly, then walked out of the room.


    Serena stood there, stunned, before being consumed by another wave of self-loathing. She couldn''t believe Vanessa was the sole donor. Now that she saw Vanessa''s true nature, she realized just how much her brother had been extorted over the past ten years. Just moments ago, Vanessa''s greed had been written all over her face.


    Serena''s heart ached for her brother. She finally understood why he had always been so conflicted about Vanessa. He had been ckmailed by her life-saving "kindness."


    She sank onto a chair in the public waiting area, distraught. Just then, she heard the elevator doors open. She looked up and sawn stepping out.


    "Brother!" Serena cried, her eyes welling up as she ran to him. Then she saw the gray in his hair and gasped, covering her mouth. "Brother, your hair."


    "It''s nothing." Seeing his sister''s tear-streaked face,n frowned. "What happened?"


    Serena finally understood the immense pressure her brother had been under. He had worked himself to the bone for their family to the point where his hair had turned gray And she, in her ignorance, had helped Vanessa destroy his marriage.


    "Brother, I''m so sorry," Serena sobbed, burying her face inn''s chest. "I know everything now. I know what kind of person Vanessa is, how she threatened and manipted you. I''m so sorry."


    "She came to see Ellie," Serena exined, then quickly added, "But Ellie helped me expose her true colors. She''s gone now, with her tail between her legs."