or softened with deep concern as he took in Chloe's pale, weakened state.

bedside table. He let out a heavy sigh and

"I need to ask you one last time. Are you absolutely s

ope. Her fingers traced the rigid paper seal. Sh

of the envelope. He pointed to the z

Manhattan," Kristoffer warned her, tapping the paper. "You are leavi

ted, her voice devoid of any warmth. "If I take a single cent, he will use

r overrode his aggressive legal instinct to fight for her assets. He

gnature line. Her heart pounded against her ribs, but a mas

. She had spotted the high-profile attorney entering Chloe's room and, recognizing his firm's crest on his briefcase, immediately dialed her daughter to stir up a storm. N

echoed off the sterile walls. "You manipulative gold-digger! You think u

ld as she stared at her sister-in-law's unwarranted intrusion. H

sitting by the bed. She looked him

"Some cheap, ambulance-chasing attorney y

it jacket. His presence instantly shifted, filling the room

bed, creating a solid physical barrier. He look

ly, his tone dangerously calm. "Senior partner at Kel

ated her, but her Carlisle arrogance quickly recovered. She

went to school," Cecile

leek voice recorder pen from his breast pocke

e. "Under New York State law, your baseless accusations in the prese

her word against my client, I promise you, I will file a multi-millio

zed instantly that this lawyer was not bluffing. He possessed the l

t facade, but her throat closed up. She clut

was quickly replaced by a cold spike of fear. She knew Axel's ruthless tactics. The Carlisle family wo

s firm, cutting through the silence. "G

vicious curse under her breath, turned on h

k to the bed, offering Chloe a reassuring smile. B

up the unsi

ld him, her breathing slightly elevate

ed by her sudden urgency.

turning white as she gripped the bedsheets. "I don't

mised to keep his phone on and walked out