Katrina leaned toward Davin and whispered, “I was supposed to be the heiress. Now that Maxine is gone, shouldn’t I take over? Why did it go to an outsider?”

Her voice was soft, but Elliana caught every word.

Davin shot a nervous glance at Elliana, terrified that Katrina’s question might offend her.

But Elliana simply smiled and said, “Before Maxine died, she begged me to take the position, and I agreed. But if you want it, I can hand it over to you.”

“No, no!” Katrina flailed her hands. “You misunderstood! I was only curious. I’m not fighting you for anything—I’m not cut out for the position!”

She paused and then asked shyly, “Does this mean I don’t have to be the heiress anymore? That I don’t have to go through all that awful training?”

Elliana saw straight through Katrina. Maxine’s harsh expectations had crushed Katrina; Katrina only wanted freedom.

“If you don’t want it, you never have to,” Elliana said gently.

Katrina let out a long breath of relief. “Thank you!”

Davin relaxed. Elliana was far kinder than he had expected.

Elliana said, “Katrina, it’s time to go home. I promised your parents I would return you to them. Davin is here to take you back.”

Katrina had missed her parents deeply. She had only stayed here to avoid Maxine. Now that Maxine was gone and nothing in the Griffiths family frightened her anymore, she was eager to return.

“Thank you!” she said again, her face bright with joy.

Damian returned just then. “Charles and Cutler have arrived and want to talk to you.”

The Henderson brothers were here. Elliana looked at Katrina with a warm smile. “Seems you’ll see some old friends before you leave.”

Completely unaware that Jules had reclaimed his true name and was now recognized as Cutler Henderson, Katrina was left puzzled when Elliana spoke of “old friends.”

? ? ?ν

The moment Charles and Cutler entered the study, Katrina’s gaze lingered on them, struggling to match these distinguished visitors to anyone Elliana had referred to.

Kidnapped by Maxine at the tender age of two and thrust into the Griffiths family household, Cutler had grown up as Katrina’s betrothed. Childhood memories were all Katrina possessed; her mind’s eye conjured a young boy, not the striking man now before her.

Everything about Cutler had changed since he was reunited with his real family. His posture and his very presence seemed transformed. Life under Maxine’s harsh regime had shaped him into a cold, dangerous enforcer, numb to compassion. Yet, under Charles’s guidance, he’d emerged as a calm, self-assured gentleman.

Charles, with his gold-rimmed glasses, radiated classic gentlemanly grace. At his side stood Cutler, his years of martial arts evident in his sturdy frame and striking features. The brothers made quite a pair as they entered the room together.

“Elliana,” Charles greeted her with a courteous nod. “We heard you were back from overseas, so Cutler and I came over to see you. Our family recently got some excellent roasted coffee beans, and we thought you’d enjoy them.”

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