?Chapter 813:


    Karson’s expression eased, though he still waved firmly toward the door. “Alright. You should go. We have to begin dinner.”<fn5c31> This text is hosted at find?novel</fn5c31>


    Without another word, the door shut in William’s face.


    William’s jaw tightened as he stood outside, the faintest shadow flickering across his expression. Through the narrowing crack of the door, his eyes had fallen on Ste inside. For an instant, hisposure wavered. But then the door clicked shut.


    He pulled out his phone. His voice dropped, dangerous and sharp. “Luca, find out exactly what Amon did at the Carter family banquet today.”


    His gaze turned cold. How dare Amon meddle here and offend Karson? Was he looking for death?


    Back inside, Karson returned to his seat. His sternness melted as he nced at Ste, who sat quietly beside Lance. His voice softened. “Stel, did that scare you?”


    Ste shook her head. “No, Grandpa. Did Mr. Briggs want something?”


    Karson chuckled lightly, waving it off. “Nothing worth mentioning. He’s already gone, so let’s not let it ruin our dinner. Come, eat.”


    Ste nodded, not pressing further. She cast onest nce toward the closed door, then quickly looked away.


    The Carter family’s dining room glittered with luxury. A grand mahogany table stretched the length of the room, its polished surface lined with crystal sses and gleaming silver cutlery. Dishes arrived one after another, carried in by uniformed maids beneath the glow of the chandelier.


    Besides Ste, Lance, and Karson, the table held Nina and her parents. Nina’s father, Daniel Carter, sat to her left, with his wife Norene beside him. They both wore the same polite smiles, but behind the masky calction and cool detachment.


    From the moment Ste sat down, Nina’s eyes never left her. They burned with jealousy and resentment, sharp enough to cut ss.


    Norene kept her smile intact, but anyone could easily see through it.


    Karson tried to smooth the mood with a few words about family harmony. Everyone nodded dutifully, raising sses and pretending at civility, but tension pulsed beneath the surface.


    After a few rounds of wine, Daniel decided it was his moment. He turned to Ste, smiling with the air of a concerned elder.


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    “Ste, you’ve been back for some time now. Are you adjusting well? I hear you’re at the research institute. That’s good, of course—young people should have ambition. But you must also pay attention to the family, learn our ways and proper etiquette. You’re a Carter now. You represent us. It’s not like before, when you were on your own. You wouldn’t want to embarrass the family, right?”


    His words dripped with false concern but struck like a de. Cloaked as advice, the message was clear—Ste was unrefined, not good enough.


    Silence fell over the table. Under the chandelier’s light, Nina smirked, her knife catching the glow like a threat.


    Ste’s hand stilled on her fork. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to Daniel, her voice calm but edged with frost.


    “Thank you for your concern, Uncle Daniel. The work at the institute is my career, and I take it seriously. As for etiquette, I believe respect is the foundation. Standing on my own two feet is better than leaning on family clout and spreading rumors behind people’s backs.”


    The wordsnded with precision—polite on the surface, merciless underneath. She had flipped his criticism back at him without breaking herposure.


    Daniel’s smile froze. Color rose, then drained from his face.


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