Chapter 23- Was it you... that night?
"What are you doing?" Janet glared at his retreating figure, irritated by how roughly he had pulled her outside. The cool summer breeze brushed past them, and a few fireflies flickered around, scattering tiny clusters of light in the dark.
"Janet, are you really Harold and Anila’s biological daughter?" Charles said with a single glance—it was clear to him she wasn’t welcomed in that family. And he was certain Elvira harbored deep hostility toward her.
"What does that mean?" Janet’s clear eyes met his, her dark pupils piercing in the night’s shadow.
"Nothing much. Just a message from Philip," Charles said, knowing exactly what she was asking. After all, wasn’t Harold marrying her off to the Elwin family just for the benefits?
To them, she was nothing more than a bargaining chip.
Janet shivered slightly. As Charles helped her into the car, she finally spoke softly, "I’m just Harold’s illegitimate daughter. That family... has nothing to do with me anymore."
Even after being raised there for ten years, it was time to settle the score. Seeing their greedy faces twisted with the favors Charles had given them, Janet felt no debt owed.
Her serene face was unusually composed, but hearing her words, Charles felt a strange pang of sympathy—illegitimate daughter...
Driving back to Snowpeak Villa, Charles rested one hand on the steering wheel, not rushing to get out. He turned to look at Janet’s fair, porcelain-like face. Her trembling eyelashes cast delicate shadows over her lids, and her slender figure was perfectly shaped. He took a steady breath and reached out—