LOGINLucy froze.
She hadn’t.But who knew what tricks they might have used?“I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t try it on secretly! Maybe when I was helping Miss Hart with her rings, I wasn’t paying attention and you slipped it on! Take it off and return it immediately!” Lucy insisted aggressively.“We bought this ourselves,” Ellen said firmly.“That’s impossible!” Lucy snapped. “You thinOn the day of Jada’s surgery, the weather was beautiful. Sunlight poured onto the streets early in the morning. Lying in her hospital bed, Jada wore a gentle smile. Thomas held her hand for a long time without speaking. She looked at her son, then at Ella. Turning to Thomas, she said lightly, “From now on, I’m sticking with you. You’ll have to take me on walks, shopping trips, to the seaside.” “Wherever you go, I’ll go,” Thomas replied. She smiled. When he stepped outside, Henry was making his final preparations. “Uncle,” Henry greeted with a nod. Thomas patted his shoulder. “I’m entrusting everything to you.” “I’ll do my best.” Off to the side, Christine muttered, “This is ridiculous. Everything has to revolve around Ella! Even something as big as surgery—they had to invite her brother. Were there no other doctors?” “Christine!” Mrs. Pratt snapped. Mr. Pratt added sternly, “If you say another word, go home.”
After seeing his mother, Tiesto began arranging hospital resources and seeking the best specialists.He hadn’t spoken to her yet—he intended to prepare everything first.Meanwhile, Ella went to her eldest brother’s hospital to see Henry.In his office, he accepted the stack of printed medical records she handed him.“I found all of her records and printed them,” she said. “Henry, do you have any doctor you’d recommend?”He read carefully before speaking.“Her case is complicated. Just as previous doctors said—the tumor’s position is tricky. It’s pressing on the optic nerve. A slight mistake could cause serious complications.”“And if she doesn’t have surgery?”“If she doesn’t,” he said gravely, “she likely won’t survive more than a year. The tumor is not only enlarging but shifting. It can’t be ignored.”
At the Pratt residence.Because of what Keke had done, Christine was severely reprimanded by Mrs. Pratt.“Mom, it really wasn’t me—”“Even if it wasn’t you, Keke only went because you brought her along. In the future, stay away from friends with crooked intentions!” Mrs. Pratt said sternly.Christine twisted her fingers in frustration.Ms. Darla tried to smooth things over. “Madam, the young miss has already been scolded by Master and the young master. She knows she was wrong.”Mrs. Pratt looked at her daughter with heartache and said earnestly, “Christine, you’re not a child anymore. You should know what can be done and what cannot. Go rest.”Ms. Darla hurried to tidy Christine’s room and asked what she wanted to eat.…After finishing work in the morning, Ella went downstairs at noon to a convenience store to buy lunch.As soon as she entered, Mrs.
In the office.Javi noticed the gloom in Mr. Sterling’s expression but didn’t know what had happened.After a long pause, Tiesto said evenly, “That’s enough. It’s time for Jayden Hart to go bankrupt.”Javi nodded. “Understood.”He had already heard about the banquet.The version circulating praised Ella’s intelligence and sharpness.But Javi knew that Mr. Sterling felt only heartache—and regret.Regret that he hadn’t been there to help her back then.Mr. Sterling had always been indifferent toward the Hart family.But since Nora had done such things, the consequences waiting for her would not be pleasant.…After providing Keke with a few photos, Piper had been waiting for news.She had heard Keke planned to use them to cause trouble for Ella—but she didn’t know how. Keke hadn’t replied to her messages.While driving, Piper recei
Back inside the banquet hall, the tension finally eased.Only Christine’s expression remained dark.She had intended to humiliate Ella at an important event, to plant seeds of doubt in the Sterling family.Instead, Ella had earned unanimous admiration.Keke’s face was deathly pale. She stammered, “I—I… When I found the photos, I didn’t know the truth… I didn’t mean to…”“Not meaning to,” Caleb said icily, “is your excuse for using misleading photos to defame someone?”“I really didn’t mean to… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Keke didn’t even dare look at Tiesto.She knew how terrifying he could be when angered.“Mr. Sterling, Miss Hart, I truly didn’t mean to…”She grabbed Christine’s hand in panic. “Christine, help me! You said Ella had a bad reputation—that&rsqu
Seeing that Tiesto was allowing Ella to handle things herself, Caleb and Orlando suppressed their own urge to step in.At that moment, every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on Ella.There was doubt. Curiosity. Speculation.Everyone wanted to know what kind of woman this newly married Mrs. Sterling truly was.Ella stepped forward.She moved with effortless grace—tall, slender, poised. Every gesture drew attention.Soon, she stopped in front of the first man.He was thin, in his early thirties. As she approached, he flashed a grin, revealing smoke-stained yellow teeth. “Long time no see, Miss Hart.”“Mr. Pako,” Ella said evenly, “when my adoptive mother invited you to the Hart family banquet and asked me to drink with you, do you remember where we drank—and how?”She enunciated every word clearly.Christine’s eyes lit up.So Ella really had accompanied men to drink?
Ella had been about to ask why he hadn’t said anything sooner.Then she remembered—it was technically his place. She didn’t really have grounds to object if he wanted to stay.“So… how long are you planning to live here?” she asked. “I don’t mean anything by it. Just asking.”“Depends,” Tiesto said
Lora felt a deep wave of disappointment.She turned to Tiesto. “Tiesto, Piper is immature. Please don’t take it to heart.”“It’s fine,” he replied calmly. “Please keep the gifts. They’re from me and my family—just a small token.”“Oh, we can’t possibly accept something like this—”“Mom,” he said ge
Lora opened the box and gasped at the contents.“This is far too expensive. We can’t accept this…” she said quickly.Nathan replied casually, “It’s nothing special. Please, just take it. This gold necklace is for you. The gold bracelet is for Ella. The cigarettes, liquor, and supplements are for Mr
Ella delayed telling Tiesto about the parental visit until Friday.When she finally called her mother, Lora sounded delighted. “Of course we’re free this weekend! It’s rare you both get time off. We should all have dinner together.”“Tiesto wants to come visit you and Dad. Is that convenient?”“Con







