Carly was frantic. "I''m not standing you up! My dad came home, and something
unexpected happened here."
"Ms. Hampton, how do we know you''re telling the truth? You promised to give us
more money, but you haven''t increased the amount, and you haven''t shown up
either. What''s the meaning of this?"
Carly said, "I will give you more money, just not right now. Alright, stop making a
fuss. It''s already dark. My dad should be asleep. I''ll head over now."
"Alright, Ms. Hampton. Let''s hope you actually show up this time."
"How''s the olddy and the kid?"
"They''re fine. Without your orders, we wouldn''t darey a hand on them."
Carly was actually furious. If these people hadn''t brought Grace into the picture,
none of this trouble would''ve happened. She could''ve easily dealt with Be.
She hung up the phone, got up, and left her room.
The massive estate was quiet. Everyone had gone to bed. Carly carefully made
her way downstairs, silently opened the front door, and tried to slip out.
But as soon as she pulled the door open, a group of ck-d bodyguards was
waiting outside.
"Ms. Hampton!"
Carly jumped in shock. "What are you all doing here?"
"Ms. Hampton, we''re guarding the door. You''re not allowed to leave."
She was stunned. "Why can''t I go out?"
If she didn''t leave, her men would start panicking. She had to go out tonight.
The bodyguard said, "Sorry, Ms. Hampton, but you have to stay inside the estate.
You''re not allowed to step out."
Carly snapped, "How dare you? Do you even know who I am? I''m the eldest
daughter of the Hampton family, the heiress of the wealthiest man alive! If you
defy me, I''ll have my dad rece all of you and make sure you''re severely
punished!"
The bodyguard remained unfazed. "Sorry, Ms. Hampton. These are Mr.
Hampton''s orders. You are not to leave the house."
What? Nigel ordered this? Why?
Carly refused to believe it. "No way! My dad would never do this! Move aside, I''m
leaving!"
Just then, a deep and maic voice came from upstairs. "Carly, I gave the order
to keep you from leaving."
Carly looked up and saw Nigel''s tall figure standing on the intricately carved
balcony on the second floor.
Furious, she stomped her foot. "Dad! Why are you restricting my freedom? I have
to go out!"
Before Nigel could respond, a clear
and elegant voice rang out. "Ms.
Hampton, it''s sote. Where
are you trying to go?"
Carly stiffened.
Celine stood next to Nigel. From her elevated position, she looked down at Carly
with her bright, intelligent eyes.
Carly clenched her fists. "Celine, it''s you again! You''re the one who told my dad to
keep me locked up, right?"
Celine nodded. "That''s right. I did tell Mr. Hampton to do this."
Carly was livid. How was it that even
now, despite being the daughter of
the richest man alive, Nigel still
sided with Celine? Whatever Celine
said, Nigel agreed to it without
hesitation.
While looking at them standing together like that, Carly was so angry she could
cough up blood.
She had been thriving for the past three years. But the moment Celine showed
up, her good days came to an abrupt end.
"Dad! How can you stand by Celine, an outsider, and go against me? I''m your
biological daughter!"
Nigel looked at her. "Carly, where exactly are you trying to go sote at night? If
you tell me, I''ll go with you."
She froze.
Celine smiled, "Ms. Hampton, Mr.
Hampton really cares about you.
He''s worried that it may be
dangerous for a young woman to go
out alone at this hour. Hurry up and
tell him where you''re going so he
can apany you.
"Actually, I''m really curious./ Where are you going in such a hurry? Who''s waiting
for you out there?"
Carly fell silent. She was fuming at Celine''s sweet but sharp words.