"That's the sponsored student Ms. Pegg helped, right? I heard Mr. Melville mention her."

"Huh? She really doesn't know her place. Showing up just to stir drama at Ms. Pegg's company?"

"Exactly. Gross. She's a grown woman still begging for money—no shame, no gratitude."

The stares turned sharp. Every whisper dripped with contempt.

And there he was—my own son—standing in front of Clara like she needed protecting. Like I was the threat.

He let them all believe I was some greedy parasite. Didn't flinch.

As I watched him, something in me iced over.

He'd handed my name to someone else, called me the charity case, and crowned Lillian as his "real" mom.

Even if she tricked him—if he cared about me at all—how could he not see who I was?

What he wanted was a mom who nodded along with everything he said. Since I didn't, he dumped me into the trash heap of his memory.

Ungrateful scum. But this time? I'm done going soft. Not even for you.

In my past life, I trusted them—no questions asked. They shoved me out of the office with some weak excuse about my health and told me to go rest. Stay away from Vectorial Corp. Heal.

I thought they were looking out for me. Thought they cared.

But really? My blind trust handed them the keys to destroy everything.

I shot Liam a look sharp enough to cut, then turned to Lillian.

Backed by his support, she looked smug enough to burst.

She faced the staff and flipped on her fake-sweet voice.

"Don't be like that, everyone. Clara's still recovering and hasn't been working. I'm just helping where I can."

Right on cue, the flattery started rolling in—loudest from those so-called "underprivileged students."

"People like Lillian deserve the world! That sponsored student doesn't know how lucky she is!"

"Seriously. She's a full-grown adult with working legs and still shows up begging? Pathetic."