บททั้งหมดของ HE LEFT ME FOR MY STEPSISTER, I MOVED ON TO THE NEXT: บทที่ 501 - บทที่ 510

Chapter 501Ava became even more careful whenever she took Athena outside. She avoided unnecessary visitors and kept the baby's identity away from conversations. If anyone asked about their adopted daughter, she simply smiled and changed the subject.Liam was equally cautious.He made sure the information they had discovered remained private. He contacted the appropriate authorities discreetly, explaining that they had reason to believe a missing child might have survived without immediately exposing Athena's identity to everyone involved in the investigation.Even that conversation left him shaken.After ending the call one evening, Liam sat silently at the dining table.Ava noticed immediately."What happened?"Liam looked up."They're taking the information seriously."Ava sat opposite him."That's good.""It is," he agreed. "But I told them we couldn't have anyone coming here unnecessarily."Ava nodded."Good.""They asked why.""What did you tell them?"Liam hesitated, "That the

Chapter 503I turned toward him, "Do you really believe that?"He didn't answer immediately.Instead, he took my hands and held them between his, "I do."My lips trembled, "Even after everything?""Even after everything."I stared at him."The police found nothing." I began."I know.""They found her shawl." I continued."I know.""They've searched everywhere.""I know."My voice cracked, "Then why do you still believe she's alive?"Nathan squeezed my fingers, "Because I know you."I frowned, "What does that have to do with Athena?""Everything."His eyes became more intense."You have always had an instinct about people you love. And ever since Athena disappeared, you've refused to believe she's gone. I've watched you suffer every day, Elena. I've watched you wake up from nightmares calling her name. I've watched you stare at that empty crib. And every time someone tells you to accept that she's dead, something inside you refuses."A tear slipped down my cheek."Because she's my daug

Chapter 505He squeezed my waist gently before greeting one of the hospital executives who approached us, "Mr. Rivers," the man said warmly, shaking Nathan's hand. "This evening is extraordinary. Everyone has been talking about the expansion."Nathan smiled politely, "We couldn't have done it without the people who believed in the hospital."The man turned toward me, "And Dr. Rivers, congratulations. Your work has inspired so many people."I returned his smile, "Thank you. That means a lot."He eventually moved away, leaving Nathan and me alone for a moment.I looked across the room and then I saw her.Beatrice.She had arrived. My entire body stiffened. She stood near one of the tables, dressed elegantly, a confident smile resting on her face. She looked completely comfortable, as though she had come to enjoy an evening she had already won.Andrew stood beside her. His expression was different. He looked more reserved, his eyes moving around the room as though he were studying every

Chapter 507Then the next photograph appeared.A picture of my father. My heart tightened. The room became quieter. I looked at the screen.Noah Rivers…. My father….. My mentor….. The man whose truth had changed my entire life.The photograph remained for several seconds. Then the screen went black.A few guests looked confused. The music stopped completely.I heard someone whisper, "What happened?"Nathan looked toward me and I nodded in response.This was it. The screen flickered. The hospital photographs disappeared. The presentation changed.A video file began loading.Beatrice's smile slowly faded. Andrew straightened in his chair.The room fell completely silent.The screen brightened.And then—A man appeared behind a desk. A familiar face. A familiar room. A familiar voice.My father's face filled the enormous screen. Noah Rivers…. full of life. Recorded before his death.The entire room seemed to stop breathing. Beatrice went completely still. Andrew's face drained of color

Chapter 509He slowly sat back down.Beatrice noticed, "What are you doing?" she hissed.Andrew stared at the screen, "We are finished.."Beatrice's eyes hardened, "She doesn't have enough."Andrew looked at her, "You saw the records.""They can be explained.""The footage?""Edited." She scoffed."The transactions?""Misunderstood.""And Mia?"Beatrice suddenly became silent.Andrew stared at her."You knew she escaped."Beatrice's eyes flashed."Be quiet."His expression changed. For the first time, he seemed to understand that whatever arrangement they had maintained was collapsing around them.Onstage, I watched everything unfold with tears still running down my cheeks.I wasn't crying because I felt victorious. I was crying because every piece of evidence brought me closer to understanding how much of my life had been manipulated.My father had died. My mother had suffered. I had lost Athena. And all along, the people responsible had been closer than I could have imagined.The sc