<h4>Chapter 195: A Family Feud</h4>


    Amelia was still annoyed and shot Richard a re. "I should’ve known better than to have lunch here!"


    Richard quickly tried to soothe her. "Sweetheart, Old Mr. Carter is still an elder. He won’t make things difficult for E."


    "But that Leah..." Amelia began, only to be cut off by Eric’s cool voice, "Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, she won’t be able to mess with my woman."


    E’s face flushed at Eric’s words, and the group broke into amusedughter. "Of course, no one can mess with your woman except you!" someone teased.


    Amelia joined in, grinning, "Exactly! And at night, you’ll be the one ’bullying’ her!"


    E wished she could disappear into a hole. "Hey, you guys, stop teasing us like that!"


    The room erupted intoughter, and the earlier tension quickly dissipated. Soon, everyone was back to their activities—some ying cards, others eating, drinking, or chatting.


    Soft, rxing music yed in the background as the party picked up again. Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, Leah gracefully descended the stairs, her movements full of seduction. But the men in the room paid her little attention.


    "E, my grandfather wants to have a word with you. Let’s go upstairs," Leah said with a sweet smile, acting as if she were the hostess. Her demeanor annoyed Jenny, who let out an audible huff of disapproval.


    "White lotus will always be a white lotus. No matter where you go, you pop up like a weed. So annoying," Jenny muttered under her breath.


    Leah maintained her calm, turning her warm smile toward Jenny. "Jenny, it’s been so many years since west met. Why do you still have a problem with me?"


    Jenny rolled her eyes, clearly uninterested in engaging with Leah. Instead, she leaned in close to E and whispered, "Did you know? I have a cousin who went to school abroad with Leah. Leah once chased after a handsome guy in Country W, but she ended up getting pregnant and was dumped afterward. It’s pathetic, really."


    E was taken aback. She never imagined that someone as cunning as Leah could end up being used by a man. It just goes to show that no matter how strong a woman is, there’s always someone who can bring her down.


    Just then, Eric walked over and handed E a ss of juice. "If you don’t want to go, then don’t."


    With him around, who would dare to mess with her?


    E pressed her lips together, a glint of determination in her eyes. Avoiding the situation wasn’t a solution—eventually, she would have to face him.


    "It’s fine. Old Mr. Carter isn’t a monster. I’ve actually been wanting to meet him," E said with a soft smile, taking the juice and following Leah upstairs.


    Eric, still concerned, decided to apany her.


    In Grandpa Martinez’s study, Sean was admiring his friend’s artwork while Grandpa Martinez looked visibly irritated. "Can’t you leave? I’ve barely made any progress on this piece, and now you’re here disrupting my flow!"


    Sean snorted, "You think I want to be here? If I hadn’t heard that you weren’t feeling well—"


    "Your damn health is the one in trouble! You’ll die before I do, you hear me? You’ve done enough bad things in your life, so try doing some good for a change!" Grandpa Martinez spat back, clearly unimpressed.


    Standing at the doorway, E couldn’t help but smile at the exchange between the two old men. Her respect for Old Mr. Martinez grew. Outwardly, they might seem like friends, but it was clear there was more to their rtionship than met the eye.


    Just then, Leah called out sweetly, "Grandfather, E’s here."


    Sean’s expression immediately turned cold as he turned to re at E. His gaze was icy, and it was as if he were seeing the ghost of histe daughter, Isabe, in her ce.


    Old Mr. Martinez’s eyes lit up when he saw E. "Well, well, Isabe’s daughter really does look just like her! Come here, dear, I have a little gift for you as a wee."


    E was taken aback by his kindness and quickly shook her head. "Thank you, Grandpa Martinez, but I’m just the younger generation. I couldn’t possibly ept such a gift. You should save it for your future grandsons."


    Hearing E’s polite refusal, Old Mr. Martinezughed heartily. "Good, good! You’re such a well-mannered girl. Now, I definitely can’t just give you any random thing. In three days, you’ll receive a proper gift from me."


    Leah, standing nearby, seethed with jealousy. Old Mr. Martinez had never treated her, a capable and astute woman, with such warmth. Yet, E seemed to effortlessly win everyone’s affection.


    After a few more pleasantries with Old Mr. Martinez, Sean exited the room with a stern expression, heading out onto the balcony. E followed him quietly, her gaze fixed on his slightly hunched back.


    Despite his gray hair, Sean’s eyes still held a rebellious glint. His features were still handsome, hinting that he had been quite striking in his youth. But to E, he was nothing more than a heartless man.


    Sean sat on the stone chair on the balcony, his cold eyes locking onto E, who stood nearby. E’s features bore a striking resemnce to Isabe’s, but her gaze was much colder.


    Sean had always harbored some guilt towards E’s grandmother, Ava Perez. After all, it was he who had switched Ava’s son with another baby. Ava had given birth to a single child, but Sean had conspired with a doctor to give her the ultrasound results of his current wife, Julia Allen.


    Sean and Ava’s marriage had been one of convenience, with no real affection between them. However, Ava had loved Sean deeply and prioritized him in all things after their marriage.


    Under Ava’s bold and innovative leadership, Carter Group, which had been a small family business, grew into arge and sessfulpany. But Sean’s heart had always belonged to Julia, the woman he could never marry.


    Everyone knew how much Ava had contributed to Carter Group, so Sean’s guilt was well-deserved. But yearster, when Ava suddenly cut ties with her daughter and secretly made moves against Carter Group, buying up shares during a crisis, Sean had been furious. She even wrote a will, leaving her shares to E, which led to an irreparable rift between the couple.


    Despite their outward appearance of a loving marriage, it was all a facade to protect Carter Group’s reputation. In thest years of Ava’s life, Sean had her confined to their home, never allowing her to leave until she died.


    Through Eric, E had learned many things about her family’s dark history, and she harbored no warmth or affection for Sean.


    "Sit down," Sean ordered.


    E met his gaze with a calm, detached expression. "If you have something to say, Old Mr. Carter, just say it. I don’t have any patience for hypocrisy."


    Sean’s face darkened further.


    For decades, everyone in Carter Group had shown him nothing but the utmost respect. Yet here was E, his own granddaughter, treating him with such coldness.


    "What kind of upbringing have you had? Is this how you speak to your elders?" Sean thundered, his voice rising in anger as he chastised E.