Caroline helped Selena steady herself. "Mr. Hackett," Caroline said. "Can I head inside?""Ms. Evans …" Aiden stared at her. He couldn't find the words to continue, but Caroline knew what he meant. The Hackett family wasn't willing to accept Cheryl as part of their family because her return resulted in the loss of their interests and benefits. Caroline was also part of why they were so adamant about driving Cheryl away. If Caroline and Cheryl weren't friends, perhaps the Hacketts wouldn't have mistreated her. Therefore, things would only escalate if Caroline went into the family chapel with Aiden and Selena. "I know that it's your family business, but I'm sure you're well aware of something …" Caroline said. Aiden and Selena's gazes fell on her as she calmly said, "Maybe what I'm going to say can make them change their mind and let Cheryl stay with you." Selena's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope upon hearing those words. She glanced at Aiden, full of hope.Aiden's re

The elder sneered at Caroline's words. "Aiden?" He snickered. "He cast us away just for his daughter and even stopped working with the Morrisons because of this. Now, he's taking her side after she'd committed a crime."He added, "Are you saying that he did all this for the good of our family? If things continue as is, our family will be doomed." "Oh, really?" Caroline took a step in his direction. "Well then, do you know why he stopped working with the Morrisons in the first place?""Wasn't it because Cheryl blackmailed him into doing so?" The elder spat. "Has your family stooped so low as to pull this kind of trick now?"Unfazed, Caroline let out a bark of laughter and said, "Cheryl, why don't you tell them just who's the person who's backing me up?" Cheryl glanced at Caroline with a look of uncertainty. "Caroline …""Just say it. It's not a secret anymore, anyway," Caroline reassured her. Cheryl nodded and raised her eyes to meet everyone around her. "Back then, the Hacket

"And you are?" The elder stood up when he saw Kirk. The aura that Kirk exuded was one of a kind. Even the elder, who'd been through a lot in life, was overwhelmed by Kirk's presence. "Kirk Morrison." Kirk entered the room, his eyes already locked on Caroline. Seeing that she was just fine, he averted his gaze to look at the Hackett family's elder. "You're Kirk Morrison?" Someone was unimpressed. "You're Kirk Morrison my arse—" That person barely finished his sentence when Kirk's glare made him shut up for good. "He's Kirk Morrison all right." Aiden cleared their doubts. "He's Kirk Morrison just because you claimed that he was?" someone mumbled in protest. "Have you forgotten that I've met Kirk before?" Aiden said, his voice loud and clear as he looked at Kirk. "The head of the Sorkin family has seen him before too. You can ask Damien Sorkin if you don't believe me!" Only then were those people in the room reminded of that time when Aiden met Kirk in person. All of the

If it was discovered that she was the one who'd created the false evidence, Theodora and Moira would be driven out of the family for sure. Theodora's husband had passed away a long time ago, so she had no one to depend on in the Hackett family. If the Hacketts found out that she played a part in framing Cheryl, no one would have her back. The longer Theodora stared at Cheryl, the more panicked she became. "Great! We've cleared the misunderstanding!" the elder exclaimed as he approached Kirk. "You don't visit us often. Since you're here …" He then paused to check the time and said, "Why don't you have dinner with us? It's already half past ten." Kirk, too, checked the time. Then, his expression changed slightly, and he told Charles, "Stay here to clean up the mess." "Sir—" Charles started to protest, but Kirk was already nowhere to be seen. "What's the matter?" the elder asked, puzzled as to why Kirk had to rush off. Charles didn't feel like answering the question. Inste

"I don't know," Caroline told Sean. "Ask her when you're home." Sean didn't know what to say anymore. Caroline had no intention of helping him, it seemed. After he left, Nightshade said, "I don't intend to stay here and be the third wheel. Don't worry, though, I'm a man of my word." Kirk and Caroline stared at him in silence, dubious. The suspicion in their eyes said it all. It made Nightshade panic, and he said, "I told you, I won't break my promise. What's that look on your faces? I swear you two look the same with that expression." Caroline and Kirk froze. Nightshade clicked his tongue and added, "My, my! Your faces look identical even when your expressions change. Forget it! Staying here won't do me any good. I'll suffocate from all your lovey-doveyness if I stayed here any longer." "We—" Caroline wanted to retort, but her protest was briefly cut short by Nightshade's inquiry. "Right. My pay for being your bodyguard should be quite handsome, right?" The question wa