From Ashes of Scandals to His Embrace novel Chapter 145

When Laurinda met Irvin’s worried eyes, she knew he was genuinely concerned. This time, she didn’t brush him off. She spoke clearly. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve always been in charge of my own life. If anyone wants to control me, they better be ready to risk everything.”

York came over to collect the test tube, and Laurinda walked back to class with Irvin. As soon as she sat down, Shirley leaned over and whispered that the homeroom teacher had come by looking for her more than once.

Laurinda frowned, not sure why the teacher wanted her. She stood up and headed to the staff office.

When she pushed open the office door, the room was empty except for one woman sitting at the teacher’s desk.

Before Laurinda could say a word, the woman rushed toward her. Laurinda instinctively stepped back, putting space between them.

Catching Laurinda’s reaction, the woman stopped about a meter away with a nervous smile plastered across her face.

“Laurinda, right? Do you remember me? I’m your aunt!”

“Aunt?” Laurinda looked her up and down. The woman did look a bit like Florrie, but Laurinda had never heard anything about Florrie’s family. For someone to show up now just felt off.

“I don’t remember you. I’ve never even heard I had an aunt. You’ve got the wrong person anyway. I’m not part of the Austin family anymore. At my coming-of-age, they announced I was switched at birth. I was kicked out.”

Laurinda watched the woman—Bella—go from awkward to shocked to skeptical.

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