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Jordanmaintainedhiposureashespoke,“Whenyouwereadopted,ourparentsandItookcareofall theformalities.Thepolicyallowedustoadoptyouonlyuntilyouwereeighteen.It’squiteacoincidencethatyou’vereturnedjustasyou’rereachingadulthood.Maybeit’sdestiny.
“However,there’snoneedforconcern.Assiblings,I’llensureyoureceivefivepercentofButGroup’ssharesasdividends,whichwillsecureyourfinancialfuture.Ifyouchoosetowork,I’llfindasuitablepositionforyouwithinthpany.”
Atthis,Stephanie’sexpressiongrewevenpaler,herhandsclenchingnervouslyassheshookwiththeweightofthenews.
Couldhercharmedlifebeunraveling?
Impossible!Shecouldnoteptit!
ShewasaButandtherightfulheiresstoButGroup.Herspiritwouldnotbeeasilydimmed.
“Idon’twanttogoanywhere!IamaButbybirth,aButtilltheend.Idon’twanttoleave!”Stephanieimploredthroughtears.
Xavierchimedin,defendingher,Jordan,she’soursister.We’vegrownuptogether.Howcanwejustcastherasidenow?Whatifherbiologicalfamilyisn’tkindtoher?”
Jonathanaddedanxiously,“Exactly.Theadoptionmightbeup,butwecanrenewit.I’msureMomandDadwouldn’twanthertogo.”
JordanlookedatStephaniesilently,contemting
IfStephanieweretrulyhonest<b>and</b>well–behaved,hecouldeasilyenvisionapeacefulfuturetreatingherashisrealsister.However,thatwasnotthe<b>case</b>.
Settingpastgrievancesaside,JordanreflectedonStephanie’sshortofficialtenure<b>as</b>a<b>recognised</b>familymember.Howoftenhad<b>she</b>causeddisturbances,bothovertly<b>and</b>covertly?Whatifherluckranoutinthefuture?
Couldshecontinuallyavoidconsequences?
TheSmiths‘visitthiseveninghadilluminatedastarkreality:Stephanie’suninhibitedjoy–astarkcontrasttoherusualdemeanourwiththeButs–suggestedalingeringemotionaldistance.Atthatmoment,Jordanfeltatwingeofremorse.
Thisdecision,then<b>,</b>wasdual–purpose<b>:</b>not<b>only</b>forStephanie’s sakebutalso<b>as</b><b>a</b><b>means</b>forJordantorectify<b>his</b><b>past</b>mistakes.
“<b>Let’s</b>awaitthetestresultsbeforefurtherdiscussion,”Jordanannouncedfirmly.“Iwillexinthesituation<b>.</b>toMomandDadmyself.That’sallfornow,please,gorest.Withthat,helefttheroom,hisexpression:unreadable,ignoringthestunnedsilenceofhissiblings.
Stephanie<b>,</b>drainedandvisiblyshaken,copsedintothenearestchair,tearsstaininghercheeks.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.
Seeinghissister’sdistress,Xavierapproachedsoothingly,“Don’tworry,Stephanie.Jordanwasjustupset.He’salwaysbeengoodtoyou;hewon’treallysend youaway.I’lltalktohiter.”
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Jonathachimedin,hopingto<b>ease</b>herworry,“Yeah,Ithinkhewasjusttryingtoshockusintounderstanding.He’snotcruel.”
Ashespoke,evenhebegantofetwingeofdoubt.Theseriouslookontheirolderbrother’sfaceearlierseemedalltooreal,
Stephaniecouldnotholdbackherfearsanylongerandburstintotears.“WhatshouldIdo?Idon’twanttoleave!Ican’tbeartobeseparatedfromallofyou…Idon’twanttobeabandoned
Herusualhaughtinesswasnowheretobe<b>seen</b><b>.</b>Undertheweightofherpredicament,andstilljustaminor,cryingwasheronlyrefuge.
HertearstriggeredawaveofanxietyinXavierand<b>Jonathan</b>.“Please,Stephanie,don’tcry,Xavierpleaded,tryingtosootheher.“We’rerightherewithyou,andaslongaswe’retogether,noonecanhurtyou.”
“ButwillJordanevenlistentoyou?”Stephaniesobbed,hervoicemuffledbyhertears.
Jonathanpaused.“Well…”
Heknewhisinfluencewaslimited;howcouldheexpecttheireldestbrothertoheedhisadvice?Stephanie’sweepingintensified.
Xavier,theeldestamongthem,saidcalmly,“Wemightnotbeabletochangehismindourselves,butthereissomeonewhocould.<b>”</b>
Jonathan,unabletostandthesuspense,<b>demanded</b>ananswer.“Who?Don’tleaveushangingatatimelikethis;tellus!”
Ashertearssubsided,hopeflickeredinStephanie’seyes.
“Grandpahasrecentlyrecoveredfromhissurgeryandisreadytoreturnhome,Xavierexinedwith
reassurance.
Jonathanppedhishandsinrealisation.“Exactly!Whydidn’tIthinkofthatsooner?WemightnothavethepowertochangeJordan’sdecision,butGrandpa certainlycan.Stephanie,callhimnow!”
Wipinghertears,Stephanienoddedandquicklydialledthenumber.
Elsewhere,Leonhadbarelytakenafewstepswhenhisphonebuzzedinhispocket,shingabarrageofangrytextsacrossthescreen.
Answeringthecall,hewasimmediatelygreetedwithatirade.“Youthief,Leon!Didyoustealmyclothes?Thosepieceswereformyuingpetition!They’renotyetrevealedtothepublic!”
Leonheldthephoneslightlyaway,waitingfortheothertofinish,thenreplied calmly,“Yes,Itookthem,butIlefpensationforyou.
Thecallerwaslivid.Thesoundofachaircrashingechoedthroughthespeaker.
“Compensation?Youlefta bankcardbutdidn’tevengivemethepin!Orisitjustauselesspieceofstic?”
lenoringtheoutburst,<b>Leon</b>replied,“Thepinis091652”
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Thelinewentquietasthecallercheckedtheount.Momentter,thevoicereturned,filledwithastonishment.“Gosh!Tens,hundreds,thousands,millions?Didyoureallygivemethatmuchmoneyforafewclothes?Isthisallthemoneyyou’vemade?”
Leon’sbrowfurrowedslightly.“Notall,butnearly.”
“<b>Man</b>,youreallydon’tholdback,doyou?You’veriskedyourlifeforthismoney!Whodeservestospendsuchahugechunkof yourwealthonadress?Isitreallyworthit?<b>”</b>
Worthit?
Leonpaused,histhoughtsdriftingtoMilly.
Herememberedherdelightatseeingthedress<b>and</b>hereyessparklingwithjoy.Wasitworthit?Tohim,evenifitcosthislife,itcertainlywas.
“Leon?Youstillthere?”
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