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“I will tell you what I found on your sister. I was always going to, but that folder—not until we’re public if we get to that. She needs an overview to know—”

“I don’t need to know how much money you have, Ellie,” he said gently, understanding in his eyes. “I know Mum understands your history better and—”

“Forgive me for being blunt, but her family was like ours for vampires, but they fell,” Ha-yun mumbled. “Her father was their downfall. I did my own digging after I overheard Da say he wronged her, and it was a miracle she wasn’t out for blood but would be so good to Mum.” She glanced up at me. “It wasn’t a slight against you—”

“But you’re protective of your mother. Good. You should be. I take no issue in that or you digging into me because of that.”

“But you take issue with me,” she muttered, studying me closely.

“Because you don’t do the same for your baby brother,” I seethed. “He’s done nothing wrong other than being born special. That’s not his fault and not something he rubs in anyone’s face. Atmosthe didn’t understand it as a child and said stupid shit.

“As someone who made the same mistakes—it’s not our fault. If we’re supported the right way, it should never hurt anyone besides the lazy or jealous. You’re not completely lazy to have worked hard and found your path, but clearly you are in other areas and—”

“I’m not lazy at all, nor—” she tried to argue.

“You had a supportive family,” I cut in. “I ran for mylifewith nothing. Yes, I’m older, but look in that folder and see what real drive is, Ms. Clark. I am the Alpha you could have been instead of resenting someone like Ha-joon because he could take power from your eldest brother but doesn’t want it. You want it but don’t have the nerve totake it!”

“You are amazing; I’m looking at the proof,” she said easily, gesturing to what was in front of her. “I would have known that even if I hadn’t seen this. Everyone with a brain knows that, Dr. Reed. You are ASH and—not all of us can be as bold as you. Even if I could truly take on my brother, what would become of my family if I did?”

“That’s fair, and I’ve never had a family I’ve loved enough to care, but you also don’t protect your family you love enough,” I said firmly but easing back my tone. I nodded when she seemed confused. “Ha-joon told me about your name. You could have changed it, Ha-yun. That was my first thought—that I was disappointed in you that you didn’t and stood up for your mother.”

“It seemed a slap in the face when it was a decision she allowed,” she muttered. “Petty over something so—”

“Do not say trivial,” I interrupted. “Andpettyis your grandfather. I can even understand your stance if you ever brought it up to your mother and told her that it bothers you that you were named to be passive. That she wasn’t given the option to name you.” I saw in her aura that she hadn’t—the colors of shame telling me the truth.

“I don’t like that Ha-joon shared this with you, but I hear your words and stance,” she muttered.

“I told her that I thought my starting a problem with Grandfather was part of why you didn’t like me,” he mumbled. “That I didn’t understand the history there, or… I was actually defending you and how often I stepped in things that weren’t mine to step in or because I was so much younger and from a different generation that I brought the disdain on myself.”

Hope filled me when I saw the guilty look she shot him.

“No, I was jealous that you were so bold to speak up to him so young and the consequences be damned,” she admitted. She let out a shaky breath and met his gaze. “I was so angry at you that you stood up for Mum and me on the topic and I never could.”

“Good on you for finally admitting that, hon,” I praised her. “Stop letting that past hold you back. Stop blaming him for what others in that family have done to you or the confines a prestigious pack like London holds you to. He’s not the problem.” I tapped the other folders I had. “He’s willing to be part of the solution. If you let him.Ifyou be the sister he needs.”

She nodded that she heard me but kept his gaze. “No matter our issue or past, Byeol wentwayover the line and I will handle this. Mum and Da have always,alwaysmade it clear that none of us will be backed into a corner and pushed into a mating. For one of us to try that shit and—I’m disgusted. I will handle her and smooth it over with the Alpha.”

Ha-joon snorted. “He’s lucky I didn’t take his head. He fucking knew I was clueless and announced it to his pack to try and trap me. He’s a sexist fuck who’s pissed that his eldest daughter is more powerful than he is. I did my homework today and she isbeloved. He’s jealous and wanted to mate her off. He was ready to brag that she snagged a good mate who would—”

“I will handle it and maybe take her under my wing,” Ha-yun promised. “Take that as my penance for not helping you on more.” She cleared her throat and cut a quick glance at his friends before focusing back on me. “Now, enough with the personal laundry on display for a business meeting. I assume you’re adding to the agenda if you’re attending. Your threats were received.”

I was impressed when she sent back the folder with my portfolio. I liked her. If she could pull her head out of her ass and truly treat Ha-joon as she should, we might even become friends.

Maybe. I wasn’t sure given how much damage she’d done to him.

“Yes, and while expanding too much is idiotic, you have all of the pieces here that can make the expansion I’m proposing go well with the steps,” I said firmly as I slid folders over to each of them. “It’s now out that I own several buildings of condos around Atlanta. What many at ASH have figured out is those who work in health care receive perks.”

“I heard it was more than that,” Ha-yun purred.

“You’re right, which is why the president has been pushing me to expand, but as I’verepeatedlytold him, I’m basically the mayor of Atlanta running ASH. He knows that, but he reminds me that I’ve got more staff than he does. We go back and forth because I had a useless board that hurt us more than helped until recently.

“But as your brother can tell you we’re looking to change up and expand.” I realized she and his friends had no idea. “He was the rockstar of the presentations the department heads heard. He was the only one who came in with four and all were stellar that we’re going to implement. One was an idea I’d long since been fighting for, so technically we’re accepting three.”

“Well done, mate,” his friend praised, the others reaching over and patting him on the back.

“The head of my department was a big help freshening them up and adjusting what would work for ASH,” Ha-joon muttered. “Da told me it was the right time to push them since the board was out.”

“He’s genuine in being humble and spreading around the praise,” I told Ha-yun after catching her aura. “You’ve been assessing him wrong because of your own biases.”