Chapter 148 

Williams walked in like he owned the place, taking in everyone with one sweeping glance Irene in her cream pantsuit, Ethan Ndgeting beside her, Anna white knuckling her folder, and committee members who suddenly looked at each other. 

“Don’t mind me dropping by unannounced, Williams said, lips quirking slightly. I like to keep tabs on our flagship programs. 

Anna recovered first, hand outstretched. “Anna, Sterling representatie. 

What a surprise.* 

Jackson scrambled to offer a chair. ‘Please join us. We were just discussing Ethan Claire’s… situation.” 

“Fill me in?” Williams prompted, setting down his briefcase with a set thud. 

“Of course,” Jackson’s voice went up half an octave, “There’s been allegation about forged recommendation letters. We’ve looked into it- 

“Looked into it?” Anna cut in, eyes flashing. “The evidence speaks for itself. The committee’s review was thorough. 

Williams turned to her, one eyebrow raised. “Yet here we are with Ms Sterling and her brother, which suggests not everyone agrees with your conclusion.” 

“My brother’s been accused on nothing but hot air,” Irene said, leaning forward. “These kids can’t even get their stories straight.” 

Williams held up a hand. “I’d like to talk to each student. Separately 

Anna stiffened. “They’ve already been through this drill multiple times. They have classes to attend.” 

“I think their education can survive a few missed algebra problems, Williams replied dryly. “Especially when someone’s future hangs in the balance.” 

As the first student was led away, Ethan caught Irene’s eye. She gave him a quick nod that said everything words couldn’t. 

Williams didn’t waste time with small talk. One by one, the students stories fell apart under his questions. 

“So you spotted Ethan in the library Tuesday after school?” he asked Jason, who kept shifting in his seat. 

“Yeah… or maybe Wednesday? Around three–ish.” 

The next kid claimed it happened during lunch. Another placed it in the computer lab. None could say what was on Ethan’s screen, and they couldn’t agree on who else was there. 

Williams closed his notebook with a snap. “These stories have more holes than Swiss cheese.” 

“Kids mix up details,” Anna insisted, her confident tone slipping. 

“Let me be crystal clear,” Williams said, leaning forward. “Lying in an official investigation has consequences. Serious ones.” 

The room went pin–drop quiet until a girl with thick glasses cracked. “I didn’t actually see anything,” she mumbled, studying her shoes. “Jason just told me what to say.” 

“Me too,” another kid jumped in, relief washing over his face. 

As their carefully constructed story collapsed, Jason sank lower in his chair. 

1/3 

Chapter 148 

“Who put you up to this?” Irene asked, cutting through the bull. 

Jason’s eyes darted to Anna foi a split second–a tell so quick you’d miss it if you weren’t looking for it. But frene caught it. So did Williams. 

Nobody, Jason muttered, convincing no one. 

“Jason, Williams‘ voice hardened. “This isn’t a game.” 

The kid broke, words spilling out like he’d sprung a leak. “Ms. Claire promised me an internship af Sterling if I could prove Ethan was cheating. Said it would look killer on my college apps.” 

Jackson’s jaw literally dropped. 

“She came to me,” Jason continued, dam fully broken now. Told me than definitely forged those letters, and helping her prove it would pay off big time.” 

All eyes swung to Anna, who looked like she’d seen a ghost. 

“That’s garbage,” she snapped, voice wobbling. “He’s covering for his friend.” 

“Am I?” Jason pulled out his phone, sliding it across to Williams. 

The texts from Anna weren’t explicitly incriminating–she was too smart for that–but the implication was crystal clear: Help me nail Ethan, and doors will open. 

Like dominoes falling, the other students started talking over each other, admitting Anna had coached them all. 

Irene stepped forward, voice cold enough to freeze fire. “So you abused your position to target my brother just to get to me?” 

Williams didn’t mess around. He reinstated Ethan’s scholarship on the spot and launched an investigation into Anna’s conduct. 

“This isn’t just about kids breaking rules,” he said grimly. “This is an adult exploiting her position.” 

As the meeting wrapped, Irene delivered her knockout punch. “Using your power to frame an innocent kid doesn’t just trash Sterling values–it spits in the face of everything education stands for.” Her eyes locked with Anna’s. “You came after my family. Did you really think I’d let that slide?” 

Nobody said a word. The only sound was Anna’s shaky breathing. 

In the hallway, Anna cornered them, her perfect composure shattered. 

“You think you’ve won?” she hissed through clenched teeth. “This is just round one.” 

Irene actually laughed. “You’re two for two on public humiliations now. Hospital security footage, and now this.” She stepped closer. “Push your luck a third time, and you’ll lose more than just a committee seat.” 

“Without that twenty percent, you’re nobody!” Anna’s voice cracked. 

“I’ve managed just fine on my own,” Irene replied coolly. “But strip away the Sterling name, and what exactly are you left with?” 

The question hit Anna like a slap. She stepped back, speechless with rage, as Irene and Ethan walked away. 

Through it all, Ethan had stayed quiet, watching everything unfold. He’d seen Anna for what she truly was–someone who’d sacrifice his future without blinking just to hurt his sister. And he’d watched Irene fight for him when nobody else would. 

2/3 

Chapter 148 

Any question about where he belonged vanished on the spot. 

Driving home, Irene drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, mil racing. Williams showing up exactly when they needed him was incredible timing. Almost to perfect to be random coincidence she filed away the thought for later. 

The silence stretched between them until Ethan broke it. 

“Thanks,” he said quietly, still looking out the window. 

“For what?” 

“For today. For believing me. He continued looking out the window. It’s like when we were kids, you know? Those bullies in third grade, remember? You came running across the playground.” 

Irene smiled at the memory. “You had a bloody nose.” 

“You didn’t even ask what happened. Just jumped right in.” His voice grew thick. “It’s always been you protecting me.” 

“That’s what real family does, Ethan.” She reached over to squeeze his shoulder. “They show up.” 

They drove in companionable silence for several minutes before Ethan spoke again. 

“I want to stay with you. Permanently, I mean.” 

Irene glanced at him, surprised. 

“I know it’s asking a lot,” he continued quickly. “But I can help with the triplets, and I don’t take up much space, and- 

“Ethan,” she interrupted gently. “Of course you can stay. For as long as you want.” 

Relief flooded his face. “Really?” 

“Really.” She smiled. “To be honest, the kids would probably kick me out before you if I tried to say no.” 

As they headed toward Emerald Garden, something settled between them–a certainty that hadn’t been there before. They were family through and through, not because of blood or legal papers, but because they’d always chosen each other when it mattered 

most. 

Chapter Comments 

LIKE