Chapter 22

Zara looked at her, probably trying to probe. Elise asked, "On what grounds are you concerned about me? As my husband's so-called sister?" Zara smiled gently. "Of course. If that doesn't feel right to you, I can care about you as a friend instead." "Friend?" Elise let out a cold laugh. "I don't have any friends who used their aunt and her child to climb their way up, driving my mother to her death in the process." "Elise, if you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all," Samuel warned. Elise paid him no mind. She had no interest in engaging with Zara, but Zara kept leaning in, refusing to give her any space. "Besides, if you truly want to be Samuel's little sister, why not make it official? Most of your family is gone, and you only have a single aunt left. Why not join the Holt family properly and become his registered sister?" "El…" Zara's smile faded, replaced by a look of hurt. "Since you know my family is nearly gone, my name carries a legacy. I can't just change it,