That was just the way she was-any kindness shown to her, she would repay tenfold.
“Same old rule. Don’t tell Grandpa about this,” Corrine reminded him.
Jules shot her a knowing look.
“I think he already knows.”
Corrine’s heart skipped a beat at his words. As if sensing something, she turned toward the parking lot. Sure enough, Carl’s car was parked there. Her brows furrowed deeply.
“You let it slip in front of Grandpa?”
“Unless I’ve completely lost my mind, I wouldn’t dig my own grave,” Jules retorted.
Instinctively, he reached for a cigarette, but the moment Carl rolled down his window, he felt like someone had smacked the back of his head. He quickly shoved the cigarette back into his pocket.
“You made such a spectacle-there’s no way he wouldn’t find out. Besides, Carl has always doted on Corrine. Even the slightest disturbance was enough to make him anxious. There was no way he hadn’t caught wind of this.”
Corrine’s gaze flickered toward Nate’s car before she suddenly blinked and flashed Jules a sweet smile.
“Jules-“
“Don’t even start!” Jules cut her off instantly, stepping back as if drawing an invisible line between them.
“I already know what you’re about to ask.” That smile of hers only ever meant one thing-she needed his help. Classic Corrine.
He could only sigh inwardly before heading toward Carl’s car. Jules watched her walk away, and it suddenly dawned on him-he had completely forgotten to ask where she had stayed last night.
Corrine entered her grandfather’s car. She stole a glance at him, noting the slight sternness in his expression. She obediently greeted, “Good evening, Grandpa.”
“Something so serious happened, and you didn’t even think to call me?” Carl huffed, but despite his scolding tone, his eyes held an unmistakable glimmer of concern.
Corrine could tell he wasn’t truly upset, so she flashed a bright, disarming smile.
“I didn’t want to worry you, Grandpa. Besides, look at me now-I’m perfectly fine.”
As she spoke, she wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder, her voice laced with playful affection.
“Grandpa, don’t be mad. I promise it won’t happen again.”
Carl looked down at his granddaughter snuggling up to him, and for a moment, it was as if he were seeing his beloved daughter instead. His cloudy eyes softened, and he gently ran his fingers through her silky hair
“You really do take after your mother.”
Corrine’s smile faltered slightly. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken of her mother. Both her uncles and grandfather avoided the topic, as if silence could erase the painful truth of her absence.
“Do you miss her, Grandpa?” she asked softly, her fingers gently clasping his hand.
To her surprise, Carl shook his head.
“I’ve never felt like she’s gone. She’s always been with me.”
Not long after they arrived back at the Ford family’s mansion, the other three men of the household returned as well. They gathered in Carl’s study.
Carl sat with his hands resting on his cane, his gaze fixed on an oil painting hanging on the wall. It depicted a forest bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, a lone deer standing at its entrance, as if silently guiding-or perhaps warning-those who dared to step forward.
The painting’s beauty held a strange, almost haunting allure.
It wasn’t the work of a renowned artist, but that of Kiley, the cherished daughter of the Ford family.
In the quiet, Jayden, the eldest, spoke first.
“I’ve erased everything to keep Corrine out of trouble.”
“Have you figured out who’s behind the reporters?” Carl asked, his gaze sweeping across his two sons and grandson. His voice was steady but sharp.
Waldo answered, “They admitted they were following Leah Burgess’ orders.”
Carl reclined in his chair, setting his cane aside. He toyed with the jade ring on his thumb, his expression hardening.
“Now that we know, you understand what needs to be done, right?”
With the Ford family’s vast influence, the Burgess family was a small concern, not even worth a second glance. But Leah’s reckless targeting of Corrine meant there would be consequences. She thought she was acting in the shadows, but in Lyhaton, under the Ford family’s watchful eyes, there were no secrets.
Waldo nodded.
“By tomorrow, the Burgess family will be all over the front page.” His voice was unnervingly calm, carrying a chilling certainty.
In the cutthroat business world, no one was naive, and the Burgess family had survived the financial crisis not by chance, but by experience.
Carl turned his attention to his grandson, Jules.
“Handle Brevard quickly, so we don’t face more complications.”
“Understood!” Jules responded.
In the semi-underground wine cellar of Celtis Estate, glass cabinets lined the walls, each filled with an array of fine wines. At the black marble bar, Nate and Zack sat side by side, while Moses wandered around like a tourist.
It wasn’t that he was unfamiliar with such sights-it was just that Nate prized this cellar so much that he rarely let anyone step inside.
“You’re not usually the type to meddle in things,” Zack remarked, idly swirling the amber liquid in his glass. A knowing smirk tugged at his lips, his gaze carrying an amused edge. The online broadcast had stirred up such a frenzy that ignoring it was impossible.
Hearing Zack’s remark, Moses strolled over to the bar with an air of indifference. His eyes met Zack’s briefly, a flicker of mischief passing between them.
“Aren’t you the one who hates the spotlight more than anyone?” Moses mused, dropping an ice cube into his drink. The soft clink echoed as he lazily swirled the glass
“So what’s with the sudden enthusiasm? You never get involved in any domestic affairs. Aren’t you worried that stepping in this time-especially with Brevard-might break a few rules?”
Nate leaned against the bar, his arm draped over the counter’s edge. His black shirt sleeves were casually rolled up, exposing slightly tanned skin, and his slender fingers curled loosely around his glass. The amber liquor caught the warm glow from the overhead light, casting golden reflections against his knuckles.
He suddenly tipped his head back and drained his drink in one go before lazily glancing at Moses.
“There’s a shipment at the dock tonight. You’re in charge of escorting it.”
Moses blinked.
“What the…”
Nate was clearly throwing a fit. No other explanation seemed to justify his actions.
Beside him, Zack smirked in amusement before quickly masking it with a more serious expression.
“That woman-she’s from the Ford family, isn’t she?” He couldn’t think of any other reason.
Moses arched an eyebrow, his tongue briefly running over his lips as if he had just caught the scent of an intriguing scandal. His sharp gaze locked onto Nate.
“Don’t tell me you’ve actually taken a liking to Carl’s granddaughter?” They all knew why Nate had returned to Lyhaton-to sever the engagement with that very woman. Yet, so much time had passed, and not once had he mentioned it. Naturally, that raised suspicion.
“To be fair, she is stunning-a match for you in that regard. But aside from that, I fail to see what makes her worthy,” Moses remarked bluntly.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.