Amy hesitated for a brief moment before finally speaking. "My mother said... if you're willing to sever all ties with Aurora, she'll return."

The warmth in Alexander's expression vanished instantly.

His brows knitted together in frustration. "She's a grown woman. How can she still be this unreasonable at her age?"

Victoria had indeed made her stance clear to Amy: "If your father or brothers ask why I refuse to come home, tell them—cut Aurora out, and I'll be Mrs. Blackwood again."

Alexander's dismissive words sent a sharp pang through Amy's chest.

Before she had even stepped back into the Blackwood family, her mother had laid everything bare, leaving no room for illusions.

In this tangled web of resentment, Victoria was the one who had suffered the most.

Yet Alexander dismissed her pain as mere childishness.

Before Amy could respond, her younger brother, Connor Harrington, stormed into the room.

His icy glare bore into her. "You're really something, aren't you, Amy? Going to such lengths just to push Aurora out—even using our own mother." Since Amy's return, Connor had never hidden his contempt for her.

And Amy saw no reason to pretend anymore.

"If you think I'm so manipulative, why don't you go ask Mother yourself?" she countered coldly.

"You think I haven't tried? She refuses to see any of us!" Connor snapped. "This is your doing, isn't it? You're the reason she won't face us!"

"If I had that kind of influence, don’t you think I’d have convinced her to come home by now?" Amy's voice was sharp as frost.

Connor fell silent, unable to refute her.

Alexander stepped in, cutting through the tension. "Enough. If she doesn’t want to return, let her be. She’ll come back when she misses Evelyn."

With that, the argument ended.

But from that day on, Amy and Connor barely exchanged a word.

Later, rumors spread that Aurora’s childhood fiancé, Theodore Whitmore Jr., had returned upon hearing of the family turmoil.

He had a sharp wit and often teased her, but at least he wasn’t as foolish as Nathan.

Aurora was a year older than Amy.

She had wanted to study business and join the family company—she had a natural talent for it.

But Alexander insisted she pursue music instead.

Of course, they all blamed Amy—whispering that she was the one pulling Alexander’s strings behind the scenes.

Overnight, she became the scheming villain, the jealous sister who resented Aurora’s every move.

At first, her father and eldest brother had dismissed the rumors. But with time, even they began to doubt her.

And Theodore, for Aurora’s sake, orchestrated an elaborate deception.

He pretended to break things off with Aurora, only to later apologize, claiming it had all been a misunderstanding.

After that, he became her devoted shadow, catering to her every whim.

He spent an entire year earning her trust—only to set the stage for a betrayal she would never see coming...

"Celeste, wake up..."

Amy's lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes.

A strikingly handsome face came into view, his expression relaxed yet concerned.

"Sebastian..."

"You were having a nightmare."

Sebastian reached out, pressing the back of his hand to her forehead. Her fever had finally broken, and he exhaled in relief.

He poured her a glass of water.

Amy was drenched in sweat, her throat dry and aching.

She took the glass from him. "Thank you."

Glancing out the window, she realized with surprise that morning light already filled the room.

"Mr. Kingsley... have you been here all night?"