?Chapter 1045:


    Nina set down her fork and knife, her voice edged with indifference. “Grandfather’s attention is all on that granddaughter he just recognized. Going there now would only make me feel like I don’t belong.”


    Daniel gave a shortugh. “Ste won’t get far. I heard she got herself mixed up with Erebus, that underground group everyone’s afraid of. She’s in serious trouble now.”


    Nina’s eyes lit up slightly. “Dad, how did you find out about her problems with Erebus?”


    When Lance and Karson had secretly sent people to bring Ste back, she thought her parents didn’t know anything about it.


    Daniel took a slow sip of his soup and nced at Nina. “In business, word travels fast. Erebus isn’t the kind of group you mess with. Karson’s been sharp all his life—he wouldn’t risk the Carter name for a granddaughter he barely knows.”


    Norene quickly nodded. “Exactly. Nina, you should go see your grandfather more often. Cheer him up a little. He’s probably stressed out because of Ste’s mess. If you make him happy, you might get a bigger share when it’s time to divide the family inheritance.”


    Nina gave a small, forced smile. “Mom, you’re overthinking it. Grandfather only cares about his real granddaughter now. No matter what I do, it won’t change that.”


    Norene frowned slightly, setting her spoon down. “You don’t get it, Nina. Karson values the family’s reputation more than anything. If Ste bes a problem, do you really think he’ll still favor her?”


    She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Think about it. With everything Ste’s been throughtely, has Karson helped her? Has the Carter family done anything to fix her situation?”


    Nina thought back. Karson had publicly acknowledged Ste, but that was about it. No one in the family had stepped in to help. They had only sent people to bring her back—and William had even gotten hurt because of it.


    The thought brought a glimmer of hope to Nina’s eyes.


    “Maybe Grandfather never really nned to take care of her. Maybe acknowledging her was just for appearances. When real trouble shows up, he won’t risk the family for her.”


    After all, as the head of the Carter family, Karson knew better than to let emotions cloud his judgment.


    Every story starts at g ? ln σ ν?? ??s,


    Nina thought that if Ste had any sense at all, things could have gone smoothly. But instead, Ste just had to cause trouble—bold enough to mess with Erebus like she had nothing to lose.


    Then, all at once, Nina’s mood lifted.


    She trusted her grandfather’s judgment; he was far too wise to risk getting tangled with a group like Erebus for the sake of a granddaughter he barely knew.


    Her appetite returned as she picked up her fork and knife again. “I’ll visit Grandpa tomorrow. I’ve been thoughtlesstely, but from now on, I’ll spend more time with him,” she said.


    Norene gave a satisfied nod. “That’s the right thing to do. Be polite and generous around Karson, and don’t bring up anything petty,” she said.


    .


    .


    .