The Tate family wanted to pay their respects to Aaron. Celine didn’t refuse. She watched as Sonia led the family in placing flower bouquets before the tombstone before they all bowed together.

“Aaron, Mom is here to see you.”

Hayden and Wayne bowed as well. “Aaron, we’re here to pay our respects.”

The bouquets were placed nicely before Aaron’s tombstone. Sonia turned to Celine. “Celine, we’re still a family. Aaron may have been adopted, but he was a son, and I was his mother. There’s no need for us to destroy each other. Here, at his gravesite, let’s put the past behind us and make peace.”

She wanted reconciliation.

Celine let out a cold laugh, her sharp gaze locking onto Sonia. “Yes, my father called you mother. But what kind of mother kills her own son? You all murdered him, and now you stand before his grave, shamelessly asking for reconciliation?”

Her eyes swept over Hayden, Lucy, Wayne, and Hazel. “Let me ask you this—if I weren’t Dr. C, would any of you have come to pay respects to my father?”

They surely had not suddenly grown a conscience. They were only here because of her status as Dr. C. The Tate family had no sense of morality. They only preyed on the weak. Since then, Celine would never let them get away with it.

Hayden spoke up. “Celine, must you be so aggressive? Aaron truly raised a remarkable daughter. Not only were you a Haffard prodigy, but you also became the legendary Dr. C. However, does that mean you need to turn against your own family?”

Wayne chimed in, “That’s right, Celine. Don’t be so heartless. You still carry the Tate name.”

They were trying to guilt-trip her.

Celine let out another cold laugh. “You all severed ties with me long ago. If it weren’t for my father, I would’ve changed my last name already. The Tate last name disgusts me!”

Sonia’s face darkened. “You—”

Cady stepped forward. “Celine, we have treated you with respect and have sincerely asked for peace, yet you remain ungrateful.”

“You want peace? That’s impossible!” Celine retorted.

Tracy scoffed. “If that’s the case, then we have no choice but to become enemies.”

Celine looked at them. “Don’t forget—Carly has a heart condition. She still needs me to save her. I have time to make sure every wart's too long, she’ll be dead.”

Carly sneered. “Celine, are you really that confident? What if I told you I have a way to—”

Celine raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Go on then, I’m listening.”

Lucy smirked. “It’s not Carly who has a way, nor is it the Tate family. It’s our powerful backer.” Celine’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Lucy continued, “You already know, don’t you? That’s right. It’s Mr. Alvarez.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up into view. Les stepped out and respectfully opened the rear door. A tall, imposing figure stepped out—Adam had arrived.

Carly’s face lit up with delight as she rushed forward. “Adam, you’re here!”

Adam’s cold gaze fell on Celine’s face. His deep voice rang out, “Celine, whether you want to or not, you have no choice. You must treat Carly’s heart condition.”