“After all…
she’s my daughter.”
Kate’s voice was barely a whisper.
She sat beside Luna on the bed, gently stroking her hair as her daughter continued to cry.
For hours, Kate stayed beside her,she brought her water,held her when the tears became too much and whispered comforting words whenever Luna’s body began trembling again.
“It’s okay, Luna.”.
Kate gently wiped her tears.
“You’re safe now.”
Luna closed her eyes.
For some reason, those simple words touched something deep inside her.
She leaned into her mother’s embrace.
The warmth felt strange yet comforting.
Although she couldn’t remember being held like this before,She couldn’t remember her mother comforting her but perhaps that was only because of the memory loss.
Luna tightened her arms around Kate.
“Thank you, Mom.”
Kate froze.
Those two words almost broke something inside her.
She slowly wrapped her arms around Luna and held her tighter.
“You’re my daughter,” she whispered.
Luna pulled away slightly.She looked at her mother.
Kate smiled through the sadness on her face.
“No matter what happens, you’re my daughter.”
Luna nodded.
Although the pain hadn’t disappeared, she tried to compose herself.
She didn’t want to spend the entire day crying.
After a while, Kate stood.
“You should rest.”
Luna nodded.
“I’ll be fine.”
Kate walked toward the wardrobe then she stopped.
Her eyes landed on something hanging inside…The necklace.Her expression changed instantly.
The warmth disappeared from her face.For a moment, she simply stared at it.
Luna noticed.
“Mom?”
Kate immediately turned.
“What?”
“You were looking at the necklace.”
Kate forced a smile.
“Nothing.”
She walked toward the wardrobe and gently closed it.
“It’s just a beautiful necklace.”
Luna studied her suspiciously.
“You know it?”
Kate’s heart skipped.
“No.” Her answer came too quickly then she smiled again.
“It just looks familiar.”
Luna said nothing.
Kate turned toward the door but the moment she stepped outside, the smile disappeared.
Her face became tense.She closed the door behind her and leaned against the wall.
That necklace…she knew it.
She had known it for years.
It had been Luna’s favorite necklace since childhood.Luna had rarely taken it off and now it was back in her possession.
Kate’s hands trembled.
“If she remembers…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence.
Her mind immediately returned to everything they had tried to bury.
The night Luna disappeared,The secrets.The lies.
The things that could destroy all of them if Luna remembered.
Kate took a deep breath.
Perhaps that was why she had been so gentle with Luna.
Perhaps she wasn’t only comforting her daughter.
Perhaps she was trying to keep Luna calm long enough to prevent her memories from returning.
She looked toward the bedroom door.
“Please don’t remember yet.”
Then she walked away.
Whitmore Villa
The atmosphere inside the Whitmore Villa was equally tense.Carter sat silently in the private sitting room.His face remained hard, but his thoughts were restless.The argument with Harrison continued to replay in his mind.
Ashley sat beside him, she can understood his silence and she understood something else.
This was her opportunity.
She slowly reached for his hand.
“Don’t worry.”
Carter looked at her.
“I’ll bring Harrison back.”
Carter frowned.
“You think you can control him?”
Ashley smiled faintly.
“I know Harrison.”
“No one knows that boy better than I do.”
Carter remained unconvinced.
“You don’t understand him.”
“I understand what motivates him.”
Ashley leaned closer.
“Give me some time.”
Carter didn’t respond.
Ashley continued.
“You’ve tried forcing him.
You’ve threatened him.
You’ve pushed him toward marriage.”
She paused.
“But perhaps that’s the problem.”
Carter looked at her.
“Then what do you suggest?”
Ashley smiled.
“Let me handle him differently.”
Carter’s expression remained skeptical.
He knew his son.
Harrison had always been stubborn and nd since Camilla’s death, he had become even more determined to control his own life.
But Carter also knew why Harrison had remained the heir.
It wasn’t simply because he was his son.
Camilla had held a significant share of the Whitmore assets before her death.
Those assets had eventually passed to Harrison.
And before Camilla died, she had also entrusted Harrison with legal authority over matters concerning her inheritance.
That meant Harrison’s position within the family was stronger than Ashley wanted to admit.
Ashley knew it too.
That was exactly why she wanted Harrison under control.
If Harrison could be manipulated into surrendering his influence, Andrew’s position could rise.
And eventually…
Andrew could become the one controlling the family empire but there was another reason Harrison refused to surrender.
His mother had left behind one unfinished dream.
She had wanted Whitmore Group to expand beyond the country’s borders.
International recognition.Global influence.
A company whose name would be remembered.
Harrison had made that dream his personal mission.He wasn’t fighting only for himself,he was fighting for his mother’s legacy and he would never allow anyone to take that away from him.
Ashley knew this and also knew his weakness.
His loyalty to his mother’s memory.
That was where she intended to begin.
“I can bring him back,” Ashley repeated.
Carter stared at her.
“How?”
Ashley smiled.
“Let me handle it.”
Carter remained silent then Ashley added carefully,
“But I need something from you.”
Carter’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“Andrew.”
Carter frowned.
“What about him?”
“He needs a better position in the company.”
Carter stared at her.
“A better position?”
“Yes.”
“He’s not ready.”
“I know.”
Ashley leaned closer.
“But he’s your son too.”
Carter’s expression hardened.
“Being my son doesn’t make him qualified.”
Ashley smiled.
“You don’t have to give him the CEO position.”
She paused.
“Just give him more authority.”
Carter remained silent.
Ashley could see that he was considering it.
“If Harrison sees Andrew rising within the company, he’ll become more willing to cooperate.”
Carter didn’t look convinced but eventually, he sighed.
“Fine.”
Ashley immediately smiled.
“I’ll give Andrew a better position.”
Ashley’s eyes brightened.
“Thank you.”
Carter pointed a warning finger at her.
“But don’t mistake this for permission to destroy the company.”
“I would never do that.”
She smiled innocently.
Carter didn’t notice the satisfaction hidden behind her eyes because Ashley had already made her decision.
If she couldn’t control Harrison through his father…she would find another way.
Shee knew his weaknesses,what he valued and most importantly…
She knew the one thing that could make him vulnerable.His mother’s memory.
Ashley slowly stood.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“No matter what it takes…”
She looked toward the door Harrison had stormed through earlier.
“I’ll bring you back under our control, Harrison.”
But she had underestimated one thing.
Harrison Whitmore had never been easy to control.
and the harder someone tried to control him…
The harder he fought back.