<h4>Chapter 206 - Cousin</h4>


    Kaden knew the truth, yet didn''t tell her. Lina knew as much. It was written in his eyes and sworn to secrecy by his heart. She didn''t understand why he refused to tell her. Did he want her to discover the truth on her own? To witness the horror with her own eyes?


    Lina thought about their conversation in the car ride to Yang Enterprise. Kaden knew everything, but revealed nothing. A man like him was not to be trusted.


    "You fool," Lina reprimanded herself.


    Lina trusted him with the most precious thing she possessed—her heart. She trusted him to keep it safe. Keep it loved. For, once it shattered, there was no fixing.. Her heart would never be the same again. What she ced in Kaden''s hand was not an organ, but her trust. She hoped he wouldn''t betray it again.


    "Madam, we have arrived," the chauffeur told her.


    Lina thanked him and exited the vehicle. As she peered up at the enormous second headquarters of Yang Enterprise, she couldn''t stop the sense of dread.


    One day, Lina was going to walk through these doors as Chairwoman. Everyone would be watching her. Everyone would be waiting for her opinion.


    "What a day it''d be," Lina admitted, but didn''t know how to feel about it.


    Everyday, Lina woulde to the ce she hated. She''d arrive at a job forced into her hands because she was desperate to find a way out. Now, she was out. She had her freedom. Her own power. No one was controlling her anymore. No one was trying to take advantage of her.


    What now?


    "Miss Yang?"


    Lina shifted her gaze to the indifferent voice. Standing by the sliding doors of Yang Enterprise was another young woman. The woman was dressed in cks and a button-up that revealed nothing about her femininity.


    "I don''t believe we''ve met," Lina addressed.


    "My name is Este, it''s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I was hired by your grandfather," Este exined. "To be your assistant and secretary."


    "So are you on his team or mine?" Lina mused.


    "Of course, on my employers'' team," Este wisely said.


    "Hm, smart girl." Lina observed Este.


    With Este''s maniption, Lina expected the woman to be a finewyer. Instead, she was just some secretary. Este''s response was direct, but also indirect. Este made it seem like she was on Lina''s side when in reality, she gave no implication. The truth was whatever Lina wanted to hear.


    Unfortunately, Lina was taught the art of maniption by Lawrence a long time ago. She knew how to spot these vague answers.


    "It''d be best not to lie," Lina warned Este with a cold smile.


    Este stiffened. Then, she revealed an innocent smile, tilted her head, and pretended nothing was amiss.


    Lina was beginning to like this woman even more. Albeit, she was bad atposing herself. Este needed to be trained to react better. A slip of a mistake was still a weakness.


    "It''s funny my grandfather hired you," Lina slowly said, deciding to test the waters. "Especially when I''ve made up my mind to drop the Race of Heirs."


    At this, Este''s eyes grew wide. Unable to speak, she bowed her head.


    Lina nned on testing Este. This was the most confidential information one could hear. If Este was to report this to Lawrence, she''d instantly know if Este was a rat. Lawrence would immediately call Lina at the mentioning of this news, even if it exposed Este as his informer.


    Lawrence wouldn''t care that Este was fired. He''d just send someone else in to rece her.


    Lina said nothing more. She breezed past Este and walked straight towards the entrance. There, she didn''t need identification. Her face and posture alone spoke of her power. Of her name. People quickly let her through.


    "Chairman Medeor arrived five minutes earlier than you, Miss Yang. He''s awaiting your presence in Presentation Room 1."


    Lina raised a slow brow. Presentation Room 1, located on the highest floor of Yang Enterprise. Only the most important people were guided there. The lower the number, the more insignificant someone''s presence was. So this was how her Uncle viewed Antis.


    "Thank you," Lina curtly told Este.


    Este was stunned silent. She mutely nodded her head and held back her astonishment. She had heard great things about Lina Yang, but thought they were just the praises of a doting grandfather. Now, as she stood beside Lina, Este realized they were truths.


    Lina was proud but humble. Arrogant but graceful. Dressed in simple clothesprising of a tucked-in v-neck and dress pants; Lina didn''t appear like the most important person in the room. It was because she didn''t need to be. She already was.


    "What is your background, Este?" Lina asked as the elevator ascended.


    "I was the valedictorian of my graduating ss with a major in Business Administration—"


    "Tell me about your home life," Lina said.


    Este blinked. She never thought she would be asked that question. All her life, she prided her identity on her academic achievements.


    "I-I don''t have a home life…" Este realized.


    "No extracurricrs? No family time?"


    "I spent my free time in the library studying. My family… they''re your average parents, wishing for me to have the highest grades and thus, the greatest jobs," Este murmured.


    Lina found it incredibly cruel of her grandfather. He must''ve known of Este''s story. He must''ve seen the resemnce between them. She held back a scowl. Was this his sick, twisted joke? To remind her that if she didn''t behave, Este''s current life could be Lina''s?


    "Seems we''re quite simr," Lina murmured.


    Este didn''t respond. She simply nced away. How could she everpare to this beautiful and powerful heiress? She was just a simple member of society, watching the rich from the outside, whilst wishing for the same wealth.


    Eventually, the two arrived at Presentation Room 1. There, she heard a familiar voice that sent chills down her spine. She stopped dead in her tracks. His voice was so simr to her Second Uncle that she nearly went pale. But the voice was much younger, less conniving, and much kinder.


    "... Well, Lina IS my most ambitious cousin. Though, it''s quite a shame you won''t join me, Chairman Medeor."


    "Stealing my prey so soon?" Lina said the second she walked into the room.


    Instantly, both men''s gazes snapped to her. One was filled with admiration and the other with arrogance.


    "Unfortunately not, Cousin," he mused. "This one is already in your trap."


    Linaughed under her breath. She hid her hands behind her back to stop the trembling.


    "It''s been a while since I''vest seen you, Cousin," he softly said, his eyes crinkling with amusement like the hidden troublemaker he was. "Though, I wish our reunion would''ve been in much different circumstances."


    His voice was smooth and low, like a man equipped with seduction. His gaze was always sensual and his lips twisted into a charming smile. Many had fallen for his charms. Many couldn''t leave him once they did.


    Este was no different. Her eyes widened at how handsome he was. She couldn''t even breathe.


    "You speak such sweet words, it almost blinds me to your poisonous tongue, Cedrick," Lina mused.


    Cedrick nced at her andughed. It was a tranquil one. Then, his gazended on the beautiful woman next to her. When their eyes met, he expected her to blush and look away. She didn''t. She stared back nkly. It nearly threw him off-guard. He tried again, shing her a quick smile. She blinked. Nothing.


    What the hell?


    "Anyway, what brings you here Cedrick?" Lina asked him.


    Cedrick finally nced away from Este. He focused his attention upon his cousin.


    "I have a meeting with First Uncle, but I had toe the second I heard Chairman Medeor was also at thepany," Cedrick mused.


    Lina slowly blinked. No one was supposed to know Antis was here. If Cedrick caught wind of this, that meant everyone did. Damn that loose-lip William. She knew he did this on purpose—to test if she could handle Cedrick.


    Cedrick was her Second Uncle''s eldest son. The first in line to inherit the position as Chairman Yang.


    "Well, I won''t keep our First Uncle waiting any longer," Cedrick said.


    "Right," Lina mused.


    Lina watched as Cedrick brushed past them. She didn''t miss the way hisrge hand brushed against Este''s. Lina held back a disappointed sigh. Another woman fallen into his yboy trap.


    To Lina''s surprise, Este''s lips curled in slight disgust. Este hid her hand behind her, but Lina saw the small action. Este had wiped her hand on her pants like Cedrick was dirty.


    Lina''s lips twitched.


    Upon catching her, Este innocently blinked, then revealed a charismatic smile that reached her eyes. It was almost as if she said ''oops.''


    Lina held back augh. "You just don''t know what kind of things those hands have touched."


    Este''s eyes twinkled with agreement. Truly.