Rose Manor, study.


    Jade lounged behind her desk, letting the video call invitation chime on herputer several times before she finally,zily, nodded for the butler standing nearby to ept it.


    The window popped open, revealing the lined, weathered face of Lysander''s grandfather.


    "Old man."


    Jade never bothered with pleasantries when it came to the Montgomery family. Her first words were sharp, intentionally making things difficult. "You''ve really got quite the airs, haven''t you? You call it an invitation, but you won''t even show up in person-just sending a video call to brush me off?"


    Lysander''s grandfather chuckled, his patience seemingly endless. "Now, now, please forgive me. My situation is a bitplicated, you see. If I could, I''d haul these old bones over there in person, rust and all, just to pay my respects. But while I can''t be there, at least the gifts should have arrived by now-think of them as a peace offering."


    They had, in fact, arrived.


    Every time the Montgomerys extended an invitation, it came with a parade of extravagant gifts: rare antiques, fine wines, gourmet delicacies. Money was never an object for them.


    "You think the Suthends arecking in the little trinkets your Montgomery family sends?" Jade sneered. "I had them tossed out the moment they arrived. Don''t try to win me over with this nonsense."


    "Yes, yes, just a few trinkets, nothing more." Lysander''s grandfather knew perfectly well their side was at fault, and with a favor to ask, he had already resolved to let Jade vent as much as she pleased. Nothing she said would ruffle him.


    Jade, however, wasn''t swayed in the least.


    After another jab or two, she took a sip of her tea, the porcin cup poised at her lips, exhaling as the warmth steadied her mood. Her tone turned casual. "So, what is it you actually want?"


    "Just to pay a visit to the family," Lysander''s grandfather replied politely.


    "Well, you''ve paid your visit now. Goodbye. And stop calling us family-those ties were severed long ago. I won''t have it." Jade cut him off before he could say another word, signaling the butler to end the call.


    "Lady Jade," Lysander''s grandfather protested, still smiling, "Adrian misses M. The poor boy''s been crying for his mother all day."


    The words were light, but the meaning was clear.


    As long as Adrian existed, the Montgomerys and the Suthends would never be fully disentangled. M''s responsibility to her child was also the only real link binding the two families now-the only third generation heir they shared.


    No one would ever let go of that, so long as it wasn''t a matter of principle.


    Especially since, for all Adrian''s stubbornness, he had matured a lot over the past year. The boy''s intelligence had not gone unnoticed by any of the elders. He was a gem yet to be polished.


    Jade fell silent.


    She understood perfectly well what Lysander''s grandfather was implying, but understanding didn''t make it any easier to stomach.


    Adrian...


    She knew that, whatever the child had done in the past, it could be exined away he was young, confused, easily led astray. With the right guidance, he could be set straight. But somehow, even knowing that, she just couldn''t let go of her resentment. And the fact that the boy really was so outstanding only made it moreplicated.


    He picked up on everything so quickly, grasped new ideas in a sh, and the future looked bright for him. What grandparent wouldn''t hope their grandchild was a prodigy?


    Jade''s feelings were tangled—a mixture of pride and frustration.


    And with Adrian still living with the Montgomerys, who knew where his loyalties would end up? If he were in her care, maybe she wouldn''t feel quite so conflicted.


    Still, today presented an opportunity.


    Maybe she could push back, just a little.


    "Old man," Jade said suddenly, hiding her thoughts behind a cool facade, "Did you know I''m hosting a ball at my estate tonight?”


    Of course he knew.


    He knew all too well. If he hadn''t learned at thest minute that his own grandson, Lysander, had gone to crash the Suthend ball, he wouldn''t have been so


    desperate-he would have gone through the proper channels instead of calling Jade so directly.


    The whole thing annoyed him to no end.


    That reckless grandson of his! Once Lysander regained his social standing, it wouldn''t take a genius among the Suthends to figure out who had caused tonight''s trouble.


    Nothing but headaches!


    But what could he do? He had to bite the bullet and keep smiling. "Lady Jade, an event you''ve organized yourself? I wouldn''t miss knowing about it for the world. If only I could attend in person, I''d be there with gifts in hand."


    "What would you do at a ball, at your age?" Jade''s words wereced with ice. "So, the young men I invited for M were attacked. Are you telling me you had no idea? Or was it your family''s handiwork?"


    “Lady Jade, you mustn''t use us of that!" Lysander''s grandfather protested at once. "As an elder, I just want what''s best for M. Whatever she wants, I''ll support her. I''d never do something so underhanded."


    "Oh, really?" Jade''s voice dripped with skepticism.


    "I remember the will quite clearly. Most of the Montgomery estate is in M''s name, isn''t it? If she remarries, all that might end up with a different surname. Are you telling me the Montgomerys are happy about that?”


    "What was given to M belongs to her, and she''s entitled to do with it as she pleases," Lysander''s grandfather replied calmly.


    He didn''t mention the support M had given the Montgomerys this past year, nor the fact that, in any divorce, splitting property was perfectly normal. The marriage itself had been forced by that stubborn grandson of his, and all the things he''d done to that girl were shameful. The family owed her, in and simple.


    No amount ofpensation would ever be too much.


    In truth, things should have ended here. But-thinking of Lysander''s bull-headed nature, the old man could only sigh. He would have to try to drag everyone back


    to the table, no matter how undignified.


    He was too old for this kind of drama.


    "So easy to say." Jade didn''t believe a word. "But since we''re being frank, let me make myself clear: don''te looking for M anymore. She has nothing to do with your family now."


    Seeing him about to speak, Jade raised a hand to stop him and continued, "As for the Montgomery shares and assets under M''s


    name''ll have ourwyers sud ne


    everything out. Aside from a portion that can be liquidated, the rest will be returned to you. Let''s make a clean break-no more ties between us."