Chapter 340
Chapter 340:
“We stirred things up on purpose, and someone got beaten because of it. Isn’t that — wrong?” She blinked, her eyes damp, unease written plainly across her face.
Asher released a long breath. He eased back slightly before answering. “I think you’re misunderstanding. We didn’t provoke trouble for no reason. At worst, we set bait to expose someone’s misconduct. If his intentions had been clean, he never would have fallen into it p>
He held her gaze. “It’s the same with your father’s accident. He was on his way back to celebrate your birthday, but you never wished harm on him. What happened was never your doing. I don’t believe his death rests on you p>
Kristine’s lashes fluttered, tears hovering at the brink.
ѕ𝗵𝖺𝗋𝖾 yо𝘶𝘳 𝗳а𝘷𝘰r𝗂𝘁𝘦s 𝗳𝗋𝘰m
Was this the real reason he had brought her here? To lift the burden she had carried for so long?
“You asked him to return because you loved him,” Asher continued, his voice soft and steady. “You wanted the person who mattered most to be beside you on your birthday. So stop punishing yourself. Healing won’t be easy — but I’ll stay right here until the hurt loosens its grip p>
Kristine looked at him, and the tears finally slipped free. “Thank you p>
Monica arrived home and sank into the couch, all color drained from her face.
Steven noticed at once. He poured a glass of water and handed it to her. “What happened p>
Monica closed her eyes without answering.
Steven turned toward Jemma, whose face was twisted with resentment. She kicked the sofa and snapped, “Mom, if I’d known Asher would treat Kristine like this, I wouldn’t have stepped aside back then. Was that your plan all along? To push Kristine into the Edwards family so she could live comfortably? Is that why you stopped me from pursuing Asher p>
Jemma’s words jolted Monica upright. She stared at her daughter. “What did you just say p>
Monica had never raised her voice at Jemma before.
Jemma’s knees trembled, fear creeping in — yet she refused to back down. “Am I wrong? Kristine is responsible for her father’s death, and you’ve been hiding it all along. If I hadn’t overheard it by accident, I would still know nothing p>
Rage flooded Monica as she raised her hand.
Steven rushed forward, pulling her back and turning sharply to Jemma. “Go upstairs. Are you trying to put your mother in the hospital p>
Jemma glanced at Monica’s chest heaving violently and understood — her mother was truly furious. Afraid she might actually be struck, Jemma pressed her lips together and fled upstairs, slamming her door behind her.
The sound reignited Monica’s fury. “I need to deal with her today. She’s becoming impossible p>
“She’s still your child,” Steven said gently. “If you hurt her, you’ll regret it. What matters right now is that we lost the case. How are we going to handle that p>
Monica shivered, her anger slowly ebbing.
One month earlier, she had unexpectedly received an antique — a porcelain figurine. At first, she assumed it had come from an acquaintance. Then she discovered a recording device hidden inside, dark green, no larger than a pen.