?


    Celine was there before me. She was dressed meticulously, and although she was middle-aged, she still took great care of herself. We were standing very close to each other, so I could see the expensive foundation on her face that was failing to conceal her wrinkles. Not far behind Celine stood her ''shadow,'' the sinister Kenzie.


    Celine didn''t seem surprised to see me emerge from the room. However, Kenzie''s eyes widened, and she looked at me in disdain.


    I nced at her and cursed silently. ''Damn.''


    Celine faintly said, "So, you''ve finally be part of the Pierce family?"


    I smiled calmly and replied, "I have, Celine. Didn''t you say grandpa was critically ill? As his granddaughter-inw, I had toe see him, of course."


    She probably hadn''t expected me to be so bold.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Her eyes darkened slightly, and herplexion turned pale.


    "Granddaughter-inw?" She repeated skeptically. "You seem quite eager to im that title."


    I nced at her and calmly walked out of the room.


    I moved to the tea table on the side veranda, ignoring her words, and elegantly sat down beside it.


    Celine was a little angry when she saw my arrogance. She turned to the servant and coldly asked, "How much longer is it going to take, Abbas?"


    "Mr. David is talking to Mr. As. Please sit down and wait," Abbas replied gently, gesturing to the tea table.


    Celine didn''t say anything. I could feel her gaze locked on me as I reached for the teapot.


    I poured myself a ss of tea, took a sip, and noticed Celine walking toward me.


    The sound of her high heels clicked on the ground as she approached, and she sat down opposite me, saying, "Ms. Chloe."


    I looked at her and said, "Please call me Ste or Mrs. Chloe, Celine."


    Sheughed disdainfully when she heard my words.


    "Sorry, that was a habit." She regained herposure. "I heard your father has returned. Is he okay?"


    As I looked at her again, I thought that she seemed thinner than the first time I saw her, and herplexion wasn''t great.


    "You know about that too? You''re


    quite well-informed. Thanks for your concern, My father is fine except for his crippled leg. His memory, especially, is quite good," I said with a smile.


    I was hinting that my father remembered everything with that remark.


    "How fortunate." Her insincere words sounded casual.


    I admired herposure. Didn''t she feel guilty? I wondered if she hada conscience, or if doing so many bad deeds had made her immune to feeling guilt.


    "People always say that surviving a great disaster brings great fortune in the future." I took another sip of water, then casually looked at Celine.


    "I can''t believe he''s still alive after twenty years." Her words were harsh.


    "Yes. My father has always wished


    toe back alive, uncover the


    net


    truth of the past, and find out who killed my mother and my


    grandparents. He won''t rest until the


    real culprit is brought to justic


    This


    wish has kept him going over the years."


    Celine''s expression remained calm, but I could tell that she had tightened her grip on the cup.


    I smiled lightly. "I actually nned to visit you another day."


    Celine''s gaze turned cold as she mocked, "I''m d you thought about me."


    I smiled wickedly. "I wanted to see if my former home was still the same."


    Her expression visibly turned dark.


    I got up and nced around the courtyard, which exuded an ancient and elegant atmosphere.


    "Did you live here when you were young?" I asked as I turned back to Celine.


    "I''ve never lived here. This is the Pierce family''s old family home, and I don''t like old things."


    "Oh..." I sighed. "This ce seems refined, but I don''t see that quality in you, Celine."