Beyond the Divorce



Without giving Trinity a chance to argue further, I issued the order for them to leave.

Although Ross seemed reluctant, he stood up with Trinity. Trinity looked at me with some reluctance, her lips moving slightly. Ross glanced at her and shook his head. They left together.

I stood still, watching their departing figures.

To be honest, my feelings were complex. I should have been happy to finally meet relatives from my mother's side, but their visit seemed to come with ulterior motives, which left me feeling unsettled.

After Jim escorted Trinity out and returned to the living room, he respectfully said, "Mrs. Chloe, the guests have left. You should rest early."

I faintly nodded in response.

Back in my room, I quickly freshened up and lay down on the bed. I was tired after today's events.

Ross's face and words kept replaying in my mind. I regretted being too hasty and not asking him about the brooch. Why ahd the Avila family suddenly appeared after so many years of neglect?

But then again, it didn't matter. I didn't have the brooch, and I couldn't do anything about it.

Unexpectedly, I saw Hana in my office the next day. She seemed to have come to see me on purpose.

I looked at her calmly, gesturing for her to sit.

She sat in front of my desk with a bright smile. That radiant smile left me feeling a bit dazed. No wonder I had found Hana beautiful when I first saw her. Her smile seemed so familiar.

My sixth sense had been spot on. That intuitive feeling was always right.

"Chloe."

I smiled, scrutinizing her. I couldn't deny that we looked alike, especially when we smiled.

Hana continued to smile at me. "I'm sorry. I wasn't sure about it before, so I didn't dare claim we were related. But when I saw you for the first time, I knew you had to be my cousin."

"Hmm," I responded. "Tell me, why is that brooch so important?"

I cut to the chase, since everything else now held little interest for me. Regardless of the circumstances, the ultimate outcome remained unchanged- I was Lucille's daughter.

Hana probably hadn't expected me to be so direct.

She paused for a moment, seemingly unsure how to begin.

"Is it related to the life or death of the Avila family?" I prodded, my eyes fixed on hers.

"Yes." Hana nodded solemnly.

I had brought up the topic, so I expected her to spill the beans.

"That brooch is the emblem of the Avila family. The Avila family were the founding heroes of the country which is how they became the royal family of Yare. Since the time of our ancestors, the Avila family has held power in Yare."

Hana began to recount the history of the Avila family. I remained composed, but I was interested.

"However, Yare is not politically

Vel

stable. The Avila family has a formidable rival who covets our power. Although they were suppressed by the Avila family they're like a lurking hyena, always

ready to strike.

"This generation is even worse. Since my brother took over, the opposing faction has become more brazen. They colluded with external forces and plotted a coup."

Hana observed me closely.

I was surprised. What did this have to do with the brooch?

Hana didn't notice what I was thinking and continued, "In recent years, they've been steadily expanding their economic strength, forming alliances with external forces to suppress the Avila family.

"Since my father took over, they've blatantly controlled many of his economic ministers, aiming to undermine the Avila family's finances. My father has been struggling to hold on.

"The Avila family has a secret

treasury very few people know about. It contains the accumulated wealth of generations of the Avila family and some treasures

contributed by foreign alliesera

sŵnove

years."

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Hana paused for a moment before continuing, "Some of those treasures are..."