Chapter 330

Eleanor’s choked sobs rang out, desperate and raw. “It wasn’t me. I swear, it wasn’t me. Monica went there on her own-I tried to stop her.”
Mrs. Quinn spoke up, voice sharp with indignation. “Your daughter makes a mistake, and now you want Eleanor to take the fall? That’s outrageous! Eleanor is Dan’s real sister, you know. Don’t you think you’re going too far?”
David paused, clearly taken aback. “Real sister?”
Very few people knew that Eleanor was Brian’s biological daughter, and therefore
Daniel’s sister. Until now, most assumed she was just a foster child.
Daniel entered the room. Eleanor, eyes brimming with tears, looked at him pleadingly. “Dan
Mrs. Quinn turned to him at once, her voice urgent. “Dan, please—say something to Mr. Cooper. He insists Eleanor should take the blame for what his daughter did!”
David frowned at Daniel, his face clouding. “Eleanor is actually your sister?”
Daniel nodded, expression calm but cold. “Yes.”
David fell silent, at a rare loss for words.
He had never liked Eleanor. If Hans hadn’t suddenly become obsessed with marrying her, David would have arranged for his son to wed someone from a more ‘suitable’ family. Now, after Monica’s latest mess, David had been furious when he heard Eleanor had supposedly encouraged Monica’s actions.
But this new revelation changed things. Eleanor was no longer just a foster sister -she was Daniel’s real sibling. That made the situation infinitely more complicated. If Daniel had been so protective of her before, what would he be like now?
For a long moment, David said nothing. Then, icy and controlled, he finally spoke: “I expect an explanation for this. Someone needs to be held accountable.”
Nora entered, her voice steady and cool. “Whatever explanation you want, the law is clear. What more are you expecting from us, Mr. Cooper?”
David’s expression darkened. He disliked Nora even more than he did Eleanor. After all, if Nora hadn’t appeared, Monica would have become Mrs. Chambers by
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“So you’re saying Monica should just go to jail?”
“She kidnapped my son,” Nora replied flatly.
The room fell into tense silence.
As Payne’s legal guardian, Nora had the final say. If she refused any kind of settlement, David was left with two options: either Monica went to prison, or he somehow proved that Eleanor had instigated her.
Unable to reason with Nora, David turned to Daniel. “Our families have been friends for generations. You and Hans grew up together. Monica is practically your little sister. You can’t seriously just stand by and let her go to jail, can you?”
Daniel and Payne shared no blood relation. Daniel had no obligation to defend him.
But Daniel was colder than David expected. His voice was low and icy. “Mr. Cooper, this is the second time.”
The first time Monica had crossed the line, David had whisked her away overseas to avoid consequences.
Daniel continued, tone razor-sharp, “If you can’t discipline your daughter, Mr. Cooper, I have no problem doing it for you.”
David’s face flushed with humiliation and anger. “Daniel, you know Monica was manipulated by Eleanor. Now you’re just going to stand by and let my daughter go to jail to protect your sister?”
Daniel’s gaze flicked briefly to Eleanor, his eyes glinting with something hard and unreadable. Eleanor shrank behind Mrs. Quinn, trembling.
He turned back to David, voice cutting. “So what you’re saying, Mr. Cooper, is that your daughter is innocent?”
“She participated in a kidnapping and traumatized a child. Do you really think your word alone can erase that?”
David was left speechless, unable to argue with Daniel’s relentless logic.
At a loss, he turned back to Nora. “Your son wasn’t actually hurt in the end. Let
me make it up to you-whatever it takes. I can compensate you until you’re satisfied.”
He hesitated, then added, “I hear your studio is just getting started. I could offer an investment-personally, if that would help.”