Chapter 457

Hayden's eyes narrowed slightly, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. He was well aware of Francis' matchmaking efforts for Julia and Anna. But this was happening earlier than he remembered. Had his interference caused the timeline to shift? He slowly lifted his head, his gaze cold and detached as he looked at the people before him. "So? Then, what?" he asked. "I'm telling you that this move of Francis' is nothing more than an attempt to sell off Julia and Anna. The Sterling family will finally get a foothold in the capital if this marriage goes through. He's trading their futures for the family's gain!" Charlotte said, her words heavy with meaning. Her voice carried an undercurrent of anger and sorrow. She was furious—at fate, at Francis, and at the sheer injustice of it all. Hayden remained impassive, his expression unreadable. His icy gaze shifted to Julia and Anna, waiting to hear what they had to say. "He promised that if we weren't compatible, we could refuse. But