Chapter 1317: Chapter 1317

Chapter 1317:

Even if Paulina’s status within the Fletcher family had diminished, it was hard to believe they could treat one of their own so harshly.

Paulina struggled to keep her composure, finding it difficult to articulate her words. “Five years after Serena cut ties with the Fletcher family, my grandfather died unexpectedly without a will. Samson asserted that he, being the oldest son, was the rightful heir to the Fletcher Group.”

As Harlee listened, her expression grew even sterner. She was familiar with Samson and knew that if he took control of the Fletcher Group, it would be a stroke of luck if the company didn’t end up going bankrupt.

Serena’s face turned grim upon hearing this reference to her former father, and she gripped the tissue in her hand tightly. Samson and his wife were among the people she despised most.

Trying to calm her anger, Serena gently comforted Paulina, dabbing at her tears. “Take your time, Paulina. There’s no need to rush.”

“My father and my second uncle opposed Samson, and shortly after, they were involved in a car accident,” Paulina said, her voice faltering as she nearly passed out.

Serena, with her medical expertise, was carefully monitoring Paulina’s condition.

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“My father suffered a broken leg, but my second uncle’s condition was more severe. He still hasn’t regained consciousness,” Paulina continued with difficulty. “Neither my father nor my second uncle could then claim the inheritance, which ultimately went to Samson.”

Harlee had already pieced together the likely events. She suspected the car accident might have been orchestrated by Samson. She contemplated Paulina’s situation and said, “Your injuries are less than a year old, yet Samson took control of the Fletcher Group five years ago. So, he wasn’t the one who abused you, correct?”

Harlee deduced that if Samson had indeed intended to eliminate his relatives who stood in his way of inheriting the family wealth, Paulina wouldn’t have been able to escape and seek her help.

Paulina burst into tears again at this point.

“Did your parents realize you were being mistreated and abused?” Harlee inquired. “Was Samson aware?” The entire narrative was puzzling. Was Paulina perhaps omitting some details?

“Three years after Samson assumed control, the Fletcher Group started failing. To safeguard my grandfather’s legacy, Samson arranged marriages for his daughter and my second uncle’s daughter to forge strategic family alliances,” Paulina explained faintly.

“Marriage of convenience?” Harlee’s eyebrows lifted, her voice sharp with irony. “Using his own daughter as leverage for the business? Samson truly has no shame.”

Serena looked just as stern. Had she remained with the Fletcher family, she might have been the first to be traded off for benefits by Samson. From what Paulina was revealing, the detestable Samson, leading the Fletcher family, could stoop to any level for his own agenda, including coercing his underage niece into unwanted marriages.

As this crossed Serena’s mind, she heard Paulina crying bitterly.

“Samson pressured me into marrying Wesley Happer, the youngest son of the Happer family,” Paulina choked out between sobs. “Samson threatened to stop funding my father’s healthcare if I refused. Wesley is a sadist. He isn’t interested in normal relations. He gets pleasure from abusing women. All these injuries on my body, they’re his doing.”

The last year for Paulina had been more hellish than any conceivable nightmare. She had never thought it possible to experience such varied and horrific forms of abuse, a living fate worse than death!

“Samson prohibited me from telling anyone and confined me at home. Wesley was the only one who could take me away,” Paulina said, struggling with each word. “Eventually, my parents discovered my plight. They gambled everything to free me, allowing me to come here in search of you. What I didn’t expect was…”

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