"Since Mrs. Amanda's here, I've got to go over and say hello," Mrs. Waverly announced, not even waiting for Asher to finish his sentence. She stood up and walked off with Sophia, leaving just the two of them in the room.

Asher immediately turned to Lemira, his voice tinged with disbelief. "I never realized you were so close with Thaddeus. And Mrs. Amanda even had Sophia speak on your behalf."

He was just now coming to terms with the fact that he might have underestimated his sister all along.

Lemira remained composed. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

She wasn't in the mood to explain.

"Lemira, I'm not done talking. Hold on!" Asher called out, a bit anxious, but then softened his tone, considering Lemira's connections. "Lemira, we're still family, aren't we? This time, no one will hold the Langston family responsible. Do you really have to keep making things difficult for Eve?"

Lemira's gaze turned icy. "The conditions for not holding Evelina accountable were made very clear."

Unless Asher admitted in front of Evander that he had deliberately avoided responsibility by not answering the phone after the fire that led to the amputation, she wasn't backing down.

"Lemira, do you have to drag my reputation through the mud? I'm Asher, for crying out loud. Am I supposed to apologize and admit wrongdoing to my brother?"

Asher had always had a strong sense of pride, especially in front of his siblings. Read full story at ⓝovelFind.net

If he conceded, what would become of his authority as Asher?

With a bang, Orion burst into the room. His face was stern as he pushed Asher aside. "Back then, you dodged responsibility and let Lemira take the blame for years. After everything she's endured for you, you dare talk about reputation?"

Orion's words cut deep.

Asher muttered, "You're an outsider. You have no right to meddle in Langston family affairs."

"He's not an outsider. To me, you are," Lemira retorted, fiercely protective of Orion.

Asher was fuming. "Lemira, don't think that knowing a few people changes who you are. If you weren't Ms. Langston, would Thaddeus or Mrs. Amanda even care about you?"

Lemira was getting ahead of herself, he thought.

Orion's voice was icy. "But even if you tried to stick close, they wouldn't care about you."

Asher's face turned a shade of green with anger.

Lemira took Orion's hand. "Sure, Evander's mess is cleaned up, but I'll still pursue the matter with my foundation."

She wasn't about to let Evelina off the hook that easily.

Asher was visibly shaken. "Lemira, do you really want to disgrace me?"

Orion picked up a glass from the table and hurled it across the room. "When you made Lemira, a child, decide on an amputation, did you think about disgrace? You've already discarded, your dignity, so why worry about it now?"

Lemira looked him in the eye. "I've covered for you for years. It's time you faced

the consequences."

She had to let this out, finally.

Asher had always favored Evelina.

But now, forcing him to do what bet dreaded for Evelina's sake Woode

still stand by her?

After all, you only feel the pain when the knife falls on your own foot.

Finished with her piece, Lemira left the room, holding Orion's hand.

The two of them took the elevator upstairs. Lemira tilted her head towards him. "Why did you come? Were you worried?"

"Yeah, worried you'd get bullied," Orion replied. After a call with Thaddeus, he had rushed down to find her, only to discover that Mrs. Waverly had already left.

"No one bullied me. Mrs. Waverly just exchanged a few words. It's nothing serious."

As the elevator doors opened, Lemira saw the three women standing outside: Mrs. Amanda, Mrs. Waverly, and Sophia.