?Chapter 552:


    The caller ID shed a name that made her eyes gleam with cold amusement.


    She swiped to answer, her voice smooth yet cutting.


    “Mr. Hond, have you made up your mind?”


    The night before, Dewey had reached out to her.


    His intentions had been crystal clear—he wanted a private settlement.


    He expected her to drop thewsuit against rissa in exchange for the Hond family meeting all her demands.


    Natasha knew the truth all too well.


    Back when the abuse case had surfaced, Corrine had pulled every string to bury it, and the Ford family had done their part to smother it as well.


    She had once believed that when her mother was released from prison, they could leave Pree City behind and start anew, leaving the past in the dust.


    But rissa and Leah had ruined everything.


    How could she not resent them? How could she even consider reconciliation?


    However, even if she took the legal route, all she would gain was a measlypensation payout.


    That was not enough. That was not what she wanted.


    No. She had something better in mind.


    She wanted rissa and Leah to turn on each other—to rip each other apart.


    For years, Jolene’s critics had whispered about the tragic bullying incident from high school, specting that Jolene and Corrine had driven a girl to her death.


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    But few knew the full truth. The real instigator had been Leah.


    And now, with reporters digging into the case again, Natasha saw her chance.


    She let the silence stretch, waiting for a response. When none came, she leaned back, her voice calm but sharp as a de.


    “Mr. Hond, the Burgess family’s stance should be clear to you by now. If Leah truly wanted an alliance with the Hond family, why is she keeping her hands clean of this entire mess?


    If she doesn’t care about your family’s future, why should you continue ying the noble role for them?


    Besides, the girl who lost her life still hasn’t gotten justice. Exposing the truth would right a terrible wrong—without harming the Hond family in the slightest.”


    On the other end of the line, Dewey remained silent for a beat.


    He was no fool. A man seasoned in the art of business and power ys, he would not be easily manipted.


    Then, he let out a dark chuckle.


    “If I do that, the Hond family and the Burgess family will be at each other’s throats.”


    Dewey had secured a connection with the Burgess family in Lyhaton through the orphanagend deal. Now that he had built this bridge, why would he risk burning it without reaping any benefits?


    “Since you have chosen to protect the Burgess family, then Miss rissa Hond will have to be sacrificed,” Natasha said coolly, ending the call without bothering to wait for a response.


    As she turned, a shadow loomed behind her. Corrine stood silent and watchful. Natasha had no idea when she had arrived. Her pulse stuttered.


    “When did you…”


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