Karl''s eyes flickered with surprise at what he''d just heard.


    His grandfather seemed to have no intention of holding Ste ountable for smashing Sherman''s face. In fact, the way Mr. Burton responded to Skyler''s words made his attitude even more difficult to read.


    If this was what Ste wanted, was Mr. Burton really nning to make Sherman take responsibility for her? Karl had heard the rumors-Ste had been married before, and she already had a five-year-old child. Sherman, on the other hand, had never even been engaged.


    Sherman might not be good enough for Aurora, sure, but... was he supposed to marry Ste instead?


    Was Grandfather really so enchanted by this woman that he''d lost his mind?


    Just then, Ste finally spoke up.


    "Mr. Burton, I don''t need him to take responsibility for me."


    Mr. Burton replied, "Ste, I know marrying Sherman might be a bit of a stretch for


    you, but fate has brought you together, and that''s rare. If you''re willing to join the Burton family, I''ll personally see to your dowry..."


    He paused for a moment, then added, "How does five percent of Burton Group''s shares sound?"


    The room erupted in shock.


    "Granddad?!"


    "Mr. Burton?!"


    Five percent didn''t sound like much, but the Burton Group was a vast family empire, with an ever-growing number of rtives.


    Mr. Burton had five children, and by the time the shares trickled down to the grandchildren, there wasn''t much left to go around. He still held onto a sizable portion himself, but even Sherman didn''t own five percent.


    Karl, with all his sess running one of the Burton Group''s subsidiaries, had worked for years just to earn five percent.


    Now, Mr. Burton was offering the same amount to an outsider without a second thought-no wonder everyone looked stunned.


    As the shock still hung in the air, another voice suddenly broke the silence. Nicolle, who had said nothing until now, spoke up.


    "Ste, if you agree to be the adopted daughter of the Watson family, I''m willing to offer you ten percent of ourpany''s shares."


    Mr. Burton''s offer alone had put Nicolle under tremendous pressure. Thankfully, the Watsons were a much smaller family, and they still controlled all their own shares.


    Giving ten percent wasn''t out of the question.


    Before anyone could process Mr. Burton''s words, Nicolle had thrown another bombshell into the room. People were left speechless.


    Karl was half-convinced he was hearing things.


    A divorced woman, and not only was Mr. Burton apparently bewitched by her, but now the Watsons wanted in on it too?


    Mr. Burton shot Nicolle a displeased look. "Nicolle, are you trying to poach her from me?"


    Nicolle nodded calmly. "Mr. Burton, as I just told you, my son has his heart set elsewhere and refuses to return to the Watson family. Florriè has no ambition and is determined to remain single. I can''t hand the Watson Group over to her. My only hope now is Antoney."


    He turned to Ste then, his usually stern face softening as he forced a smile.


    "Ste, is it? I''m Antoney''s father. I''ve heard you and Antoney grew up together like family. Since you''re like family to him, you''re family to us as well. You can call me Father, just as he does-"


    A sudden cough from Skyler cut him off.


    Nicolle didn''t care if he was


    offending Skyler-what did it matter, with the Watson legacy at stake and no heir in sight? He''d made up his mind. If Antoney insisted on marrying Ste, so be it. No matter the cost, he was determined to win Ste over today.