"The reason you're all making such a fuss is because you can't take advantage of me. And since you claim we're family, it's only fair you face the consequences too." Lemira was no longer susceptible to guilt-tripping.

After dropping that bomb, she stormed out of the office, shoving past a bodyguard who tried to stop her with more strength than she was known for.

These past years, she'd learned one brutal truth: being kind to the Langstons was akin to being cruel to herself.

Caspian stood alone in the office, fuming and kicked his desk in frustration. "Lemira, you're forcing my hand. Don't blame me for not leaving you a way out!" Outside in the hall.

Lemira, along with her team, was deep in a practice match, oblivious to when Caspian had left.

After wrapping up the session, she checked her phone and saw a message from Orion: "I'm at the school gate. Come out when you're done." Suddenly, Lemira felt a flutter of nerves.

She grabbed her bag and headed to the school gate, just in time to see Orion's car parked by the curb.

Subconsciously, she touched her hair by her ear before approaching the car.

"Here."

Orion handed her a bouquet of flowers, catching Lemira off guard. She hugged them close, "Thank you."

"Why the surprise?"

Glancing at the flowers in her lap, Lemira said, "It feels surreal. You don't strike me as the flower-giving type."

"No one is incapable of giving flowers unless they pretend not to know how."

As Orion drove, he asked, "Caspian's fans giving you trouble?"

"Yeah, they tried every trick in the book to guilt-trip me. But I won't cave."

At least, not for now.

If Caspian also fails to handle Evelina, Lemira might have to return to the Langston fold, gradually uncovering the true face behind the facade, eager to see if this so-called family would truly sacrifice for each other or end up at each other's throats over self-interest. "They claim to be thicker than water, right? I'd love to see if they truly stick together or start tearing each other apart when push comes to shove," Lemira said.

Orion, noticing Lemira's unaffected mood, felt slightly relieved.

Suddenly, Lemira mentioned, "Oh, Matthew made the headlines today. Did you hear?"

Orion's grip on the steering wheel tightened, "Really?"

"Yeah, he was clarifying that his brother's engagement to Ms. Sinclair was just a rumor, and that his brother already has someone he likes."

Orion cleared his throat, "And what do you make of that?"

"It's hard to say. Though Matthew clarified, it would've been more appropriate if the person directly involved did. But with these elite families, who knows? Maybe there's just a temporary rift between the Everhart and Sinclair families, and they might just announce something officially soon."

"Impossible."

Orion immediately dismissed the idea.

Lemira turned to him, "You seem so sure, almost as if you're the Everhart heir."

Orion kept his eyes on the road, words almost escaping him, "Lemira."

Suddenly, a car swerved dangerously close, forcing Orion to slam on the brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision.

Startled, Lemira rolled down the window and yelled, "Do you even know how to drive? Was your license bought?" Seeing Lemira so animated, Orion decided against revealing anything.

When they reached a more secluded spot, Lemira noticed several helicopters parked on the lawn.

"We're taking a helicopter?" she asked, turning to Orion.

"Whose idea was this, Thaddeus Draven?"

Orion's expression faltered, "You guessed right."noveldrama

She knew it; it wasn't like him to plan such things.

Approaching the helicopters, Lemira asked, "Is this rented or bought?"

"Bought."

Orion often used helicopters for work to save time, probably a convenience provided by Thaddeus. Lemira nodded, not pressing further.

But just

Voey were about to board

a woman's anxious

d from behind, "Orie, it's

me."

who

Turning, Orion's face darkened at the sight of Sophia approaching.