Chapter 96

She wasn’t about to thank him for refusing to help Samuel.
And he didn’t need to act as if he cared about her, either.
Just then, a car pulled up. Without a word, Aurora walked away.
Daniel stood where he was, bitterness weighing down his heart.
“Dan.” Eleanor appeared, helping Fiona along.
Both women’s eyes shimmered with tears.
Fiona could barely stand, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Daniel hurried to steady her.
Clinging to his sleeve, Fiona pleaded for him to help Samuel.
Samuel was their only son-the future of the Quinn family rested on his shoulders.
He couldn’t afford to go down like this.
“Dan, you don’t have to feel responsible,” Eleanor said softly. “If you and Aurora have decided to start over, we’ll figure something else out. Otherwise, Aurora will be upset if she finds out.”
She did her best to sound understanding.
But Daniel’s heart remained unmoved. “If that’s how it is, then there’s nothing I can do. You need someone truly influential
His phone rang—a call for an urgent meeting. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ.net
Daniel answered as he strode away, leaving them behind.
Fiona grasped Eleanor’s hand, her voice lost. “What did Dan mean just now? Someone influential-who? Is he talking about a person?”
Someone influential?
Who could it be?
Suddenly, realization dawned on Eleanor. “He means Grandma Grace.”
Someone who could truly change Aurora’s mind… only Grandma Grace had that kind of sway.
“Of course,” Fiona breathed, as if a fog had lifted. “We need to get Grandma Grace.”
If Grandma Grace spoke up, Aurora would listen. She always did.
Fiona hurried off to arrange for someone to bring Grandma Grace over right away. Left alone on a bench in the police station, Eleanor felt a deep ache in her chest.
Samuel had been reckless-transferring money straight from his own account. Was he hoping the police wouldn’t find out?
And Aurora… Once again, she’d managed to turn the tables.
She’d put the family aside and demanded Samuel pay for what he’d done.
And what if Aurora got lucky and traced everything back to her? What would happen then?
And then there was Daniel.
He used to stand by her, no matter what, always ready to protect and believe in
her.
But this time, his heart was with Aurora.
He’d even said Samuel deserved to face the consequences.
He was taking Aurora’s side.
The more Eleanor thought about it, the more her chest tightened, the pain almost unbearable.
She couldn’t accept it.
Meanwhile, Aurora had reached out to Mr. Winters, asking when he’d be back in the country.
She wanted to take Samuel to court, no more second chances.
Mr. Winters replied quickly—his family was ill, and he wasn’t sure when he could return.
So Aurora began searching for another attorney.
This time, she had no intention of letting Samuel off the hook.
At three in the afternoon, word came from the police station: every piece of evidence Aurora provided was authentic.
Samuel had ordered Morgan to install covert cameras and sold the footage to a rival firm. The money and gambling debts in his account were part of their payoff.
On top of that, the two hundred thousand Samuel gave Morgan’s wife- supposedly lottery winnings-was traced directly back to Samuel’s own account.
It was extra hush money, pure and simple.
That transfer was irrefutable proof.
No matter what Samuel said, he couldn’t talk his way out.
After repeated requests, Eleanor was finally allowed to see Samuel.
Tears streaming down her face, she bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Samuel. This is all my fault.”
Samuel barely managed a few words of comfort, distracted and overwhelmed. He didn’t know whether to reveal the real mastermind behind it all, or to take the fall himself.
“Samuel,” Eleanor whispered, “Mom’s gone to get Grandma. She should be here any minute.”
Those words lit a spark of hope in Samuel’s eyes.
If Grandma Grace was coming, maybe he still had a chance.