Chapter 1225

Emily and Hattie were chatting when they noticed Josefina walking over. Their conversation immediately stopped, and Hattie stood up to greet her.

“Josie, you're back! Did you eat? Are you tired? Want me to call the massage therapist to help you relax?"

"Mom, I'm really fine. Everything's good."

Josefina sat down, wondering if this was the right time to bring up the twins with Hattie and Emily.

Just as she was about to say something, Emily's phone rang.

Josefina's words died on her lips, and she ended up talking to Hattie about something else.

A moment later, Emily ended her call. "That was a friend of mine—she just got to Westwood and wants to have dinner tomorrow."

As she spoke, Emily stood up. "I should head home and get things ready. I want to treat her to a nice meal."

Emily turned to Josefina, a gentle smile on her face. "Josie, Grandma's heading home now. You have to take care of yourself, okay? Don't push too hard."

"I know, Grandma. You take care, too."

Whatever Josefina had wanted to say, she swallowed it down.

Maybe it'd be better to wait for another time.

...

A few days later, Cassandra reached out and asked to meet Josefina. Gone was the arrogance from before—she was quiet, cooperative, even a little fragile.

It was obvious she knew she'd lost, and lost badly.

Now, she had no choice but to come to Josefina for help.

But would Josefina actually help her?

When Josefina heard about the request, she agreed to meet. They sat down in a coffee shop, and Josefina noticed right away that Cassandra looked thinner, worn out-like the weight of everything had finally caught up to her.

"Fiona, please. I need your help."

"You want my help? You're really asking me for a favor?" Josefina smiled faintly, almost amused. "Why do you think I should help you?"

Cassandra's face tightened. She met Josefina's eyes, desperate. “I know you don't have to help me. But aren't you curious? Don't you know want to

who reached out to me, who got me into the University of Melbourne, and what they really wanted?" .net

There was no pride in Cassandra's voice anymore-just a shaky kind of hope, like

this was her last chance.

If Josefina turned her away, that was it.

Josefina leaned back, totally calm.

She didn't even flinch at Cassandra's words, or press for more details.

Her silence made Cassandra even more anxious.

Did Josefina believe her? Or not?

Cassandra's voice dropped. "You really don't want to know?"

Josefina just shrugged. "I can find out if I want to. Or I can just ignore it. Cassandra, you're trying to make a deal with me over this—you must have a lot of faith in yourself."

“Josefina, if there's anything you want—just ask. If I can do it, I will."

A sly glint crossed Josefina's eyes.

"Here's how this goes: I ask the questions, you answer."

Under Josefina's quiet authority, Cassandra nodded without thinking. She realized it

a second later, but didn't protest-she just sat there, waiting.

"Start from the beginning. Tell me everything about the person who contacted you-how it happened, what they said, all of it. Don't leave anything out. And don't even think abourlying to me," Josefina said, her tome cool and steady. "I'm not going to trust you just because you say a few words-I'll check for myself."

Cassandra sat up straighter and started talking.

As she explained, Josefina finally pieced it all together: Cassandra had come to the University of Melbourne with one goal to bring Josefina down, to sabotage her.

But Cassandra had lost control. The whole thing got way out of hand.

Now, if she didn't find a way out, it might ruin her.

Cassandra confessed everything, afraid to leave out even the smallest detail.

"They told me if I could get you

kicked out of the medical society, they'd guarantee funding for my family's company. I didn't know what else to do I just followed their orders." Hervorce shook amix of regret and frustration in every word.