At three in the morning, the Winston estate blazed with light.
The private physician, bleary-eyed, was dragged from bed by Liam Winston. He hurried into the guest room with his medical kit and examined Chloe Evans thoroughly.
After pressing the stethoscope to her chest, he exhaled in relief.
"Mr. Winston, Miss Evans only suffered temporary unconsciousness from water inhalation. Her vitals are stable."
The tension in Liam's shoulders eased. He rubbed his throbbing temples and dismissed the doctor with a wave.
Today had been a farce. He needed a moment to collect himself.
After tucking the blankets around Chloe, he stepped into the garden. Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting his exhausted silhouette across the tiles.
Mrs. Winston stood at the end of the corridor, a wineglass in hand. Her practiced smile didn't reach her icy eyes.
"This Miss Evans is quite the troublemaker. She's turned the household upside down the moment she arrived."
She swirled the crimson liquid lazily.
"Sophia Sullivan never humiliated the Winstons like this."
Liam's jaw tightened. "Mother!"
"Don't raise your voice at me." Her expression hardened instantly. "You couldn't even secure the Radiant Beauty Group deal. What use are you?"
The glass slammed onto the coffee table with a sharp clink.
"Weren't you supposed to be some perfumery prodigy? Can't even produce a formula, yet you have the audacity to drown yourself?"
Liam's face darkened. The humiliation from Radiant Beauty still burned, and her words twisted the knife deeper.
"I'll find another way into the overseas market—"
A stinging slap cut him off.
The shock of pain left him frozen. He touched his cheek, staring at his mother in disbelief.
Mrs. Winston's gaze was razor-sharp. "That bastard's whelp is about to overshadow you! Your father secretly transferred five million to them, and I can't even protest!"
Her nails dug into his collar, nearly piercing his skin.
"You must reclaim Radiant Beauty. Prove to everyone who the true Winston heir is!"
Liam slowly lifted his head. His thumb brushed his split lip, coming away smeared with blood.
"If Father matters so much, why don't you cut ties with Uncle Zhao?"
A bitter laugh escaped him. "Or is divorce too costly for you too?"
Another slap landed. Mrs. Winston trembled with rage.
"After everything I sacrificed for you, this is how you repay me?"
Seeing the storm in his eyes, she abruptly softened. Tears spilled down her cheeks in calculated sobs.
"Do you know how hard these years have been? Your grandfather despises me. Your father flaunts his affairs... Who do you think I endured it all for?"
She collapsed against his chest, weeping dramatically.
"That mistress dared confront me. Why didn't I retaliate? Because I feared it would weaken your position!"
Liam stiffened. Memories of her silent suffering made his resolve waver.
Sensing his hesitation, she gently straightened his crooked tie.
"Sophia was always a good girl." Her voice turned honeyed. "I can tell she still cares for you."
Her manicured fingers traced the welt on his cheek.
"Talk to her. Buy that Radiant Beauty slot—no matter the price."
Liam thought of Sophia's retreating figure earlier that day, her rejection clear. But his mother's red-rimmed eyes made him sigh in resignation.
"I'll try."