Edgar could barely breathe. His back was pinned against the cold hallway wall, Liam’s fist twisted tightly in his wrinkled shirt, his forearm pressed hard across Edgar’s chest, leaving no room to react. The taste of blood still burned in his mouth, his head spinning from the impact of the punch.The look in Liam’s eyes wasn’t wild rage.It was worse.Cold.Calculated.Deadly.“Have you lost your damn mind, Liam?!” Edgar snarled, trying to straighten himself. “Let me go!”“You spend nights with my sister.” Liam’s voice came out low, controlled enough to be terrifying. “You take her virginity.” His eyes burned. “You disrespect my grandfather’s house. Then you disappear from her life. And now you come back…” He leaned closer, threatening. “…with a daughter, married, trying to turn Laura into your mistress?”The punch landed hard.This time in the stomach.Edgar doubled over instantly, air vanishing from his lungs as his hands instinctively flew to his abdomen.Liam gave him no time to re

Laura took another deep breath.“A lot of the time, after we… after we had sex…” She paused. “…I’d fall asleep. And he’d stay awake just to make sure I got back to my room on time, even with my phone alarm set.” Her eyes filled again. “He took care of me. In every way he could.”Olivia gently squeezed her hand. Ísis uncrossed her legs and leaned slightly forward, completely present.“But I was terribly jealous of Marcela,” Laura admitted, her tone shifting. “They studied together. Talked all the time.” She let out a humorless laugh. “It ate me alive.” She sighed heavily. “There was one time I completely lost it after she sent him a nude picture. We had a horrible fight. Then we talked…” She shrugged weakly. “…and ended up in bed afterward. He used to tell me I was enough. That she meant nothing to him. That I satisfied him completely. But now I realize he was pretending everything was fine.”The silence settled heavily around them.“Now I understand that, over time, he started getting

The car stopped in front of the main entrance of the Holt mansion, and before the driver could even open the door, Frederico was already striding toward them, his expression far too serious.“My girl...” he said as soon as Laura stepped out. “How are you?”“I’m okay, Grandpa,” Laura replied, kissing his cheek. “Please calm down. I don’t want you making yourself sick.”Olga came right behind him, wrapping Laura in a careful embrace as if she were made of glass.“My love, we were so worried about you,” she murmured, gently cupping her granddaughter’s face. “Are you alright now?”Laura took a deep breath, forcing a controlled smile.“I am, Grandma. It was just an anxiety attack,” she said firmly enough to sound convincing before hugging her. “I think I’m nervous about the clinic’s grand opening. There’s just so much happening all at once.”Frederico narrowed his eyes, studying her in silence. He had known that granddaughter all her life. But he chose not to push.“If that’s all it is, it

The silence that followed was not empty.It was far too heavy for words.Olivia brought her hands to her face, crying quietly.“Did she kill herself in the house where I’m living?” she asked, her voice trembling.“No,” Frederico answered firmly. “That mansion only holds good memories for Liam.” He paused. “Not long afterward, Felipe married Érica. And Liam had to live with a stepmother, a sister... and his trauma.”He sighed.“Vânia was essential,” he said. “She helped Liam find his voice again. He went an entire year without speaking a single word. He spent years in therapy.” His voice softened. “It was difficult getting him to accept Laura at first. He used to hit her. He hated Érica. In fact, he still does.” He shook his head. “The person who helped him bond with his sister the most was Edgar. I hired Joaquim, Edgar’s father, as the mansion’s gardener. He was a widower.”Frederico went on to explain about Joaquim, Edgar, and the friendship that united the three children.“Liam deve

Chapter 169Edgar stood still for a second, as though he were trying to steady his breathing. His gaze swept across her face with urgency and hunger—not for her body, but for an answer.“I was talking to you,” he said quietly. “Something I haven’t been able to do for a week.”“Are you out of your mind?” she snapped. “Unlock this door right now. I’m working, Edgar. Go back to your family.”Edgar didn’t move.“A week, Laura,” he insisted. “A whole week of having to hear from other people whether you were alive, whether you were eating, whether you were sleeping...” His voice cracked with a mixture of anger and desperation. “The security Liam assigned won’t even let me get within fifteen feet of you.”Laura drew in a sharp breath, her expression unyielding.“Good.” Her tone was icy. “That means they’re doing their job. Now leave.”“You think this has been easy for me?” He took a step forward, his voice rising. “Every time I show up, there’s a human wall standing in front of me. ‘Orders f