Es’s smirk remained in place as she slowly traced the edge of the file, her gaze fixed on the docunts before her. "Even though Diana is good in business," she began, her voice smooth and unhurried, "it’s also the truth that not all the shareholders are happy with her."
She paused for a mont, letting the weight of her words sink into the air. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, the subtle sound echoing through the room.
"And yet," she continued, her eyes narrowing slightly, "no one has objected. Do you know why?"
Es’s lips curved into a faint smile as she leaned back, crossing her arms. "It’s because she has Florence as her backing. Without him, Diana’s reign wouldn’t have lasted this long."
Her tone was calm, almost casual, but there was an undeniable edge to it. "The mont she loses Florence’s support... well, things won’t be as simple for her. Not all those shareholders will stay quiet once they see she’s no longer protected."
Es’s gaze shifted back to the file in front of her, her expression unreadable as she let her words hang in the air.
Helga interrupted, her voice cutting through the air, sharp and insistent. "But you know that old man of the Florence family. He wouldn’t stay silent. He’s always supported Diana and favored her over anyone else. How is it possible for him to just throw her aside?"
Es paused for a mont, amusent flickering in her eyes. A small, almost dangerous laugh escaped her lips before she stood up from her chair, walking slowly to the window. The sunlight filtered in, casting long shadows on her figure as she gazed outside.
"Diana," Es began, her tone shifting, soft yet laced with sothing darker. "She believes she holds the favor of that old man, thinks she’s irreplaceable in his eyes. But you know sothing?"
Es turned around to face Helga, a cold smile creeping onto her lips. "That man doesn’t give a damn about loyalty, care, or affection. For him, none of it matters."
Helga’s brow furrowed, confusion clouding her expression. But Es didn’t stop. She stepped forward, her voice steady, almost too calm. "What he wants is simple. Power. And for power, he will go to any length, no matter who stands in his way."
Es stopped just short of Helga, locking eyes with her. "So people think, in his love for his son, that old man agreed to marry him to Diana to secure her future. But," Es smirked bitterly, "it’s funny, isn’t it?"
Helga watched, eyes wide, as Es’s voice dropped to a near whisper. "This is the sa man who killed his own eldest child without blinking."
The room seed to still, Es’s words hanging heavy in the air, their weight undeniable. Helga’s breath hitched slightly as she absorbed the full depth of Es’s revelation.
Helga lowered her head slightly, the weight of the truth pressing on her. Many people did not know about the existence of the Florence family’s eldest son. For most, his na was buried in whispers, a shadow beneath the more prominent legacy. But for Helga and Es, it was a na that lingered in the air, impossible to forget.
The eldest child of Florence Stanley was not the child of the main husband. He was born to a concubine, an unspoken sha to the family, one who carried the weight of being disregarded. That was why no one paid attention, why no one cared enough to rember his na. But to Helga, it was different. He had ant sothing—still did. Despite the world turning its back, Helga couldn’t.
There had always been sothing about the way Es’s voice would drop when she ntioned him, her eyes turning distant, as though reliving a mory too painful to speak of fully. He was the child cast aside, forgotten in the grandeur of the family na, yet etched deeply into their hearts.
But now...
.....
In the dimly lit study, the Aaron brothers sat in quiet anticipation. The thick wooden table between them felt like a barrier, each of them lost in their own thoughts. A sharp knock on the door interrupted the silence. Their eyes shifted, but no one spoke.
The door opened, and a woman stepped in, her face hidden behind a plain black mask. She moved swiftly but without hesitation, like soone who had done this a hundred tis before. Ray, the eldest, gave her a simple nod, acknowledging her without a word. She walked over to the table and placed a file in front of them, the sound of paper hitting wood cutting through the tension in the room.
The brothers exchanged glances as the woman turned to leave.
As the file lay on the table, untouched, the tension in the room grew thick. None of the Aaron brothers had expected this, whatever it was. Finally, after a long mont of hesitation, Jay spoke, his voice shaky and filled with disbelief.
"So... this, this Cain was the son—the son of the Florence family?" His words stuttered out, and he looked up from the file, shock written across his face as if he couldn’t quite process what he had just read.
The room fell silent as the brothers gathered around him, eyes darting between the open file and each other. Inside, it contained everything about Cain and Es’s past—details they had never known, never even imagined. Cain, soone who had been hidden in the shadows of Florence’s prestigious na, was suddenly laid bare before them.
A photo slipped from the file, and the brothers found themselves staring at it, utterly taken aback. In the picture, Cain looked nothing like the powerful, mysterious figures they were used to. He appeared... sunny. A child, weak in body but filled with an undeniable light, his eyes shining brightly and full of life. It was a stark contrast to the image they had of him.
As they turned the page, another photo appeared, and it was even more shocking. Es and Cain, together. Es had her arms wrapped around him from behind, her face pressed close to his. Both of them were smiling, warmth radiating from their expressions, sothing they had never associated with her.
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