Chapter 335

Celeste Dumont pointed at Olivia Sinclair and stepped forward with a smirk. "She's no thief. We only called her that because of some... complicated family matters. She had a falling out with Miss Seraphina Kensington. Things escalated to the point where she instructed her daughter to tamper with Miss Seraphina's medical equipment. That's why her condition hasn't improved."

"Is that so?" The masked man's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Then why do I remember a gala years ago where someone pushed Seraphina into the pool and framed Olivia? The truth eventually came out - Olivia was innocent. Ring any bells?"

Celeste's face paled visibly. "You—you were there that night?" Her voice cracked with disbelief.

The masked man's lips curled into a knowing smile. "There are no secrets from me. If you don't want your dirty laundry aired, don't hang it out in public. We all know who really tried to harm Seraphina then, just as we know now."

Celeste's hands trembled as she desperately tried to redirect blame. "Sir, you must be mistaken! How could that be? It was this scheming woman who wanted to hurt Miss Seraphina! The rest of the Kensington family had nothing to do with it!"

Oliver Hart let out a derisive laugh. "Interesting how defensive you're being. He never mentioned the Kensingtons being involved. Why so quick to protest?"

Celeste's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, panic written across her features.

The masked man knelt beside Olivia, gently gathering her battered form into his arms. As he looked down at her injuries, pain flashed in his eyes behind the mask. Olivia, barely conscious, instinctively relaxed into his hold, overwhelmed by a strange sense of familiarity.

As darkness threatened to claim her, she heard his low, measured words. "I thought Donovan was capable of protecting you. Clearly, I overestimated him."

The pain and confusion clouded Olivia's normally sharp mind. What did he mean by entrusting her to Donovan? Who was this mysterious man?

When Olivia next opened her eyes, Donovan Kensington sat vigil at her bedside.

Time had passed while she was unconscious. Her legs were now encased in plaster, and every slight movement sent waves of agony through her body.

Her first thought was for Isabelle. "Where's Isabelle?"

Donovan's initial relief at seeing her awake vanished, replaced by a shadow crossing his features. "Isabelle's in the next room. She's stable—out of danger."

Olivia threw off the blankets, determined to rise. "I need to see her. What did they do to my daughter?" Fear and maternal instinct drove her to move despite the pain.

Donovan immediately restrained her. "The doctors said any movement could cause permanent damage. Is that what you want?"

Olivia pushed him away, her voice breaking with emotion.

"Now I understand why my mother took me from the Kensingtons all those years ago. Since they never wanted us back, why force me to stay? I don't care about the Kensington fortune."

She took a shuddering breath. "True, my business isn't as grand as the Kensington empire, but it provides more than enough for Isabelle and me."

Her eyes burned with determination. "Once I recover, we're leaving and never coming back. Whatever schemes you, Alistair, and Reginald are plotting—count me out. They're right. I'm an outsider with no claim to the Kensington wealth."