Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei

Holden cursed under his breath but couldn't deny that Kathryn possessed the cold, calculated cruelty typical of the Farrell family's head.

Clarissa had grown particularly fond of Kathryn in her later years, realizing that Kathryn embodied the sharpness and ruthlessness inherent in the Farrell women.

Yet, it was a cruel irony. Clarissa's most cherished daughter-the one she had protected and supported at all costs-ultimately turned her back on her.

Sometimes, Holden wondered: if the butler hadn't switched her at birth, and Kathryn had been raised alongside them, would things have been different? With Kathryn's cunning, could she have stood up to the powerful families of Wiltspoon?

One thing was certain no matter what, Kathryn wouldn't have treated her parents and brothers with such cold indifference.

"Pedro is an enigma," Noel remarked, breaking Holden's thoughts. "We don't really know the extent of his abilities."

Sage responded with confidence, "No matter how skilled he is, he's still just one man. Everyone has a weakness. If we strategize, we can handle him. Even if we can't eliminate him outright, we can at least get Kathryn to send him away. If he's gone for even a day or two, I'll have my opening."

best shot. The four Janzen family members huddled together, whispering about how to lure Pedro away and seize the opportunity to strike against

mansion in Jensburg

invited many of the family elders for

she might stage a "Hongmen Banquet," much like her late mother, and eliminate them

when word spread that Liberty had moved into the Farrell mansion. Liberty was set to become the new head of

elders and choose an auspicious day for Liberty to officially take over as

Liberty. But appearances mattered. Liberty wanted to show respect to the elders, reassuring them that the new leadership valued

in Clarissa's time,

made unilaterally. She'd

U

of her choices, expecting them to pass the word down to the younger generation. While occasional family meetings were held, they were largely symbolic-Clarissa never truly entertained

Clarissa, the elders had been sidelined, and their influence diminished in favor