Mandy—the daughter my stepmother brought with her after my mother passed away.
She had never once called me sister growing up.
This was the first time I had ever seen her act so obediently.
Sensing my thoughts, Sean quickly spoke, his tone laced with urgency, afraid I might misunderstand.
"Marie, don’t overthink this. After Alden’s passing, Mandy has been feeling restless and needed some fresh air."
"I happened to run into her, so I invited her to the company for a cup of coffee."
"I was just about to send her back."
If this had happened in the past, I would have lost my temper and started a fight with Sean.
But now, I swallowed my pain, forcing a smile.
"It doesn’t matter. We’re all family. You should take care of her. Don’t worry—I won’t be upset."
At my words, Sean visibly relaxed, letting out a quiet breath of relief.
I turned to leave, but before I could step away, a group of employees coming downstairs for a meeting caught sight of me.
They whispered among themselves, their words slicing through me like a blade.
"Isn’t that Mr. Hoffman’s wife? Did you see the video? She was raped by more than a dozen men for an entire day and night. No wonder the baby didn’t make it."