Chapter 606

“Didn’t you tell me you didn’t even like him? That there was nothing going on? He must’ve threatened you or something."

“You took his money because he made you keep some secret, right? You’re not a mistress. You didn’t ruin his family. Just say it. Please!”

He remembered Irene calling his mom a mistress. Back then, he didn’t even know how to defend her. He swallowed it. But now even a random woman was saying the same thing about Liora.

Liora opened her mouth. She couldn’t hold it in anymore. “I-”

Before she could finish, Werner cut in with a shout. “You can’t say it. If you do, everything’s over.”

Liora pressed her lips shut again. Whatever she was about to say got stuck in her throat. Jonathan had had enough. His voice turned low and cold. “Werner, you know the truth always comes out eventually.”

Werner opened his mouth again but still said nothing. His eyes darted to Cathy. She was staring at him in shock, as was Sanford.

He realized he’d messed up. That one stupid sentence had given everything away. He hadn’t said it directly, but it was clear he and Liora were hiding something.

Panic washed over him like a wave. His body felt weak. He slumped against the wall like someone had pulled the plug.

Sanford turned back to Liora. He held her hand tightly. He wanted her to say it. Whatever it was, he was ready. He’d protect her no matter what.

“I’m sorry, Sanford. I am really sorry,” Liora whispered. Her voice cracked. She raised a shaky hand and gently touched his face.

“If you really mean that, Mom, then just tell me the truth,” Sanford said, barely holding it together. “I don’t want people accusing you of being something you’re not. I know you. I know you’re not this kind of woman.”

She looked at him and saw the tears in his eyes. It hit her hard. Keeping the truth from him all these years had done nothing but hurt him, the person she tried hardest to protect.

She’d let him live under a cloud of judgment and rumors. If she didn’t tell him now, she might never get another chance.

Worse, if she died with the secret, Sanford might spend the rest of his life thinking she really was a mistress. That thought broke her.

“I need to say this first,” she began. “All these years, I never reached out to Werner. I never contacted anyone from the Lynn family. He gave me money, yes. A lot of it. But I sent every penny to Sanford. Because-”

She paused and closed her eyes. The room went completely silent. Everyone stared at her, waiting. Then finally, she said the words she had buried deep for years. “He’s Sanford’s father. That money was for Sanford. I did nothing wrong.”

“What…?” Sanford froze. It felt like the ground gave out beneath him. He stumbled back a few steps, eyes wide, staring at Liora like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

Cathy was also stunned. Her face went white. She didn’t say a word. She just stood there, frozen in place like a statue.

Werner braced himself on the wall and tried to leave the room. But Cathy wasn’t letting him get away. She grabbed him before he could take another step. Her hands shook.

She pointed at Liora and asked in a trembling voice, “Is what she said true?”

When Werner didn’t say a word, Cathy screamed, “I’m talking to you!” She started hitting him, crying and shouting. “She said he’s your son. What the hell does that mean?”

“No!” Werner shouted. He yanked her hand off and turned to walk away.

“Stop right there!” Jonathan’s voice rang out, sharp and cold. He looked furious. “No one’s going anywhere. We’re going to find out exactly who Sanford’s father is.”