Chapter 294


    Leonora gazed at ra with a twinge of guilt in her eyes. "If you must me someone, it''s me. I


    identally let slip about your fertility issues. But I made it clear to him that the Hayes family don''t


    mind that. As long as Ian is happy, that''s all that matters. Honestly, I didn''t say anything else."


    Hearing this, Rose mmed her hand on the coffee table, visibly upset. "Reed was already


    struggling, Leonora. Talking about this stuff to him was like rubbing salt in his wounds. You started


    this mess, and if you don''t make it right with ra, you won''t be forgiven—not by me, anyway! Teo,


    she''s your wife. You decide what to do about it."


    Teo''s expression was stern, a clear indication that he was well aware of Leonora''s motives. His


    gaze fell on ra, his voice growing husky. "ra, Reed left us in such a way because of Leonora,


    and that was wrong of her. I''ll have her apologize at Reed''s graveside, and I''ll make sure to offer


    some kind ofpensation to Reed''s descendants. You won''t bear the brunt of this. Is this an


    eptable resolution for you? If you have any other demands, please feel free to voice them."


    Teo, who usually carried himself with imperious aloofness, had never humbled himself like this for


    anyone. But facing ra, he had no choice because he knew if this situation wasn''t handled


    correctly, it would directly affect the rtionship between the two newlyweds. If their marriage fell


    apart, Ian would lose the happiness he had just begun to grasp.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    No matter how much ra resented Leonora, she couldn''t disrespect Rose and Teo—they had


    always been kind to her. However, with Leonora driving a wedge between her and Ian, their


    rtionship was doomed to face constant turbulence.


    Feeling helpless, ra clenched her fingers, her voice catching in her throat.


    "Grandma Rose, Uncle Teo, regardless of how this issue is settled, my grandpa will nevere


    back. We all know the real reason behind Leonora''s actions. First, it was my dad getting kidnapped,


    and now it’s Grandpa Reed. The people close to me keep getting hurt because of me. I don''t want


    to be selfish. I want to use what little strength I have to protect them. So, thank you for epting


    me, but it seems Ian and I are not meant to be. Here, please take back these things. Let''s consider


    the engagement off."


    ra ced the diamond ring and the bracelet on her wrist, along with the credit card Teo had


    given her, onto the coffee table. She then bowed respectfully to them and turned to leave.


    Before she could take more than a few steps, Ian seized her wrist. His eyes were red-rimmed as he


    looked at her. "ra, I don''t agree. You promised to trust me."


    Facing Ian''s intense yet forlorn gaze, ra''s tears, long held back, finally escaped her control. She


    bit her lip, her voice quivering. "Ian, I''ve tried for the sake of our rtionship, but I can''t exchange


    my loved ones'' lives for my love for you. We have to end this."


    Without a word, Ian wrapped her in his arms, his voiceced with a plea. "ra, I''ll take care of the


    family issues. Please don’t break up with me—isn''t my plea worth anything to you?"


    His low, heartfelt entreaty made ra''s throat burn with pain. How could she bear to leave him? Yet


    he was still Leonora''s son, and she didn''t want to put him in the middle of this conflict.


    If what Brodie said was true, and Leonora was indeed behind Casey''s kidnapping, it showed the


    lengths she would go to. Leonora''s goal was to keep Ian and ra apart. If ra persisted, who


    knew what else might happen?