Keira was deep in thought when the sharp crack of someone cracking pistachio shells broke the silence.

Mrs. Horton and Fiona heard the sound behind them and immediately turned around. When they saw Lewis standing there, old Mrs. Horton quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and forced a bright smile. "You rascal, you finally brought your wife back home!"

Lewis clenched his fists, then took a step forward and spoke firmly, "Grandma, don't worry. I won't do anything to the main family. The Horton family… I'll just let them have it."

The moment those words left his mouth, old Mrs. Horton's expression darkened. "What nonsense are you talking about?!"

She continued, "This estate was built with every penny I earned. I founded the Horton Group from the ground up. If you give it up to those people, the company will go downhill fast. You're the only one I trust with it!"

Lewis paused, taken aback.

Old Mrs. Horton patted his hand. "Forget what I just said. I was just rambling. I'm getting old, and my heart's gotten softer. If I were younger, I would've kicked those people out long ago and saved you from this mess… Just promise me, don't hold it against me."

"How could I ever?" Lewis gently held her arm. "You're the closest person to me."

Old Mrs. Horton chuckled and glanced at Keira before playfully taking Keira's hand and placing it in Lewis's. "No, sweetheart. She's the one who's going to be the closest to you from now on."

Keira and Lewis exchanged a look then shared a small smile.

Erin, who had been circling them, suddenly said, "Oh, look at you all. Such a picture of harmony… but it's only on the surface."

She then turned her gaze to old Mrs. Horton. "Ma'am, if you don't make the hard decisions now, it'll come back to bite you. A family's success depends on cutting off the branches that hinder its growth. By being too soft, you're just leaving Lewis with a mess to clean up."

Everyone was momentarily stunned.

Old Mrs. Horton's face stiffened.

Lewis immediately snapped, "Erin, shut up!"

Despite his scolding, Erin seemed ready to retort, but before she could say anything, Keira's voice cut through the tension, "Be quiet."

Keira's tone was lower and calmer than Lewis's, yet for some reason, it intimidated Erin enough to make her reluctantly close her mouth.

sighed, "I've been so

quickly offered, "Let me help

into the room, Keira turned to

just looking out for you. With Lewis in control of the Hortons, he'd be your biggest ally. After all, you're

for the inheritance, you need to preserve and unite all the forces you can. The Horton Group is thriving, rivaling the five major families, and if you had control of it, that would mean another powerful family backing you. It would make

adapted to fit the style of American

really think

"I'm just worried that Lewis might get all sentimental and promise old Mrs. Horton that he won't kick the main family out after she's gone, leaving

Lewis got

that time

savior, but the moment he learned the truth, he cut her out of his life

always been a man of ruthless

blinked, caught off guard. "What are

life because she's worried about what will happen with the main branch after she's gone. But if she knew that the outcome would be the same no matter how long she lives, what do you

quickly caught on. "So, Lewis never intended to spare the main branch. He's just using them to keep old Mrs. Horton holding

eyebrow. "Took you long enough to figure that

She's clearly not going to make it, so why drag

jaw tightened. "Because… that's

Erin was puzzled. "What?"

explained, "Family is like that. You wish for them to live a long

lowered her head, falling

with me, that's fine. But from now on, think before you speak.

Erin sulked. "Got it…"

night, Keira and Lewis stayed at the Horton residence in the room next to

had a bedroom prepared for himself

in the guest

again. After what happened last time, we want to make sure this

bluntly, "Getting married again? Who is it

someone from a well-known family in Clance. Selena helped set it up. We met her yesterday—her name's Eve Clark. She's a famous

frowned. "And Jake

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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