?Chapter 815:


    Karson’s face hardened. With a thunderous crack, his palm mmed against the table. “That’s enough! You’repletely out of line!”


    Nina’s tears spilled over as she choked out, “How am I out of line? What’s wrong with loving him? A marriage between the Carters and the Briggs would benefit both families! Grandpa, just because you’ve found your real granddaughter, does that mean you don’t care about me anymore? Am I supposed to just step aside for her?”


    Her sobs rang through the room, painting her as pitiful and wronged.


    Norene pulled Nina close, adding her ownint in a soft but cutting tone. “Nina may have spoken out of turn, but she’s notpletely wrong. She’s liked William for years. You know how young women are about these things. Feelings only grow deeper over time. You can’t show favoritism like this—it’ll crush her. Nina’s still your granddaughter too.”


    Karson’s chest rose and fell heavily. His re swept over the tear-streaked Nina and the calcting Norene, his voiceced with steel. “Silence! What do you think marriage is—a bargaining chip? A tool for your games?”<fndaa2> Original content can be found at F?ndNovel</fndaa2>


    His fury shook the room. Karson had never once suggested leveraging a marriage for gain. Where had Nina even gotten that idea?


    He leaned forward, his voice sharper. “Has anyone here even asked William what he wants? Nina, you keep shouting about love, but do you even understand him? Do you know what he thinks? This one-sided obsession of yours—this is what you call love? It’s nothing but a disgrace to the Carter name!”


    His gaze shifted, razor-sharp, to Daniel and Norene. “And you two. Instead of teaching your daughter properly, you feed her delusions and hide behind the excuse of family interests. Is this what you call parenting?”


    Karson’s fury shook him so deeply that he pressed a trembling hand to his chest, his breathing uneven.


    But his voice never wavered. “From this moment on, if anyone dares bring up marriage alliances again—they’re out of this family!”


    His words rang like a gavel strike, final and unyielding.


    The dining room froze in silence. Nina’s sobs died in her throat, her face turning pale with humiliation.


    Daniel and Norene sat stiffly, their heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.


    L?t?st chαpt?rs in g??lnovels.??????


    No one underestimated Karson’s anger.


    The grand family dinner, meticulously nned, ended in suffocating silence. Ste felt drained, her heart heavy. Dealing with Nina and her parents had wrung every ounce of strength from her.


    After the meal, she quietly announced her intention to leave.


    “Ste, it’ste,” Lance said immediately, rising from his seat. “Why not stay at the estate tonight? The maids already prepared a room for you—it’s all new.”


    With Nina whisked away by her parents, the estate had settled into an uneasy quiet. Lance saw no reason for Ste to walk out into the night.


    Before she could answer, Karson came over, leaning on his cane. “Stay, Ste. I’ll have the driver take you to the institute first thing tomorrow. It won’t affect your work.”


    Seeing both Lance and Karson so insistent, Ste hesitated, then pressed her lips together and nodded softly. “Alright. I’ll stay tonight.”


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