Ryan gasped for air as though there was not enough oxygen in the air.


    Driven by his deep sense of loyalty, Ryan chose to stand against Gregory to defend his two best friends at that party. But the price he had to pay for his decision was truly high. He may never be able to marry the woman he loves most.


    He could challenge the entire Hoffman family and was willing to even risk everything. But how could Carrie do that? She seemed so helpless and afraid. Even if she wanted to, how could he allow her to handle all that pressure and abandon everyone?


    "Carrie,e back home. You''re a good girl. Listen to Daddy ande home." Gregory''s gaze softened as he looked at Carrie and opened his arms. "You''re still young and don''t understand the ways of the world. You can''t see through people''s hearts. You don''t even know when you''ve been deceived. But it doesn''t matter. I don''t me you. As long as youe back, you''ll still be Daddy''s good daughter... Daddy''s most beloved daughter."


    Carrie felt as if all the energy had been sucked out of her. She stood frozen in ce.


    She had already lost her mother, so she did not want to lose her father as well. But she could not stand the thought of losing Ryan.


    "Carrie, Daddy treats you so well. Are you willing to make Daddy angry?" Bethany immediately chimed in, seizing the opportunity to vent her frustration. "You used to stay at home all the time, not knowing how wicked the world outside is. When ites to men, you can''t believe their words. Not a single one.


    "Ryan, you''re talking about me without any shame. But it looks like you can''t even see your own mistakes! Carrie, this guy who sweet-talks you every day is actually the biggest yer in Savrow, and he''s had more rtionships than anyone! He''s only into you because he hasn''t added you to his collection yet. When things go south and you want toe back home, Daddy won''t take you in anymore!" Carrie''s body trembled uncontrobly, tears welling up in her doe-like eyes.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Ryan quickly pulled her into his embrace, his hand resting on her back tofort her. Even though he was struggling to keep his emotions in check, he always had endless patience when it came to the person he cared for most.


    "Ryan, I''m sorry... I..."


    "I have such a good granddaughter. Let me see who''s the blind fool that doesn''t want to marry her!" A robust voice resounded from outside, sending shivers down the spines of everyone in the Salvador family. The next moment, Justin was seen pushing Nigel in a wheelchair through the gate. Walking beside him was none other than Be, radiating beauty and confidence.


    Though there were only three of them, they exuded an overwhelming, unstoppable force, as if they were leading a mighty army.


    Gregory''s heart shrank, while Bethany''s face froze.


    "Justin... Be..." Ryan said as tears welled up in his eyes.


    Justin gazed at him, his lips slightly puckered, giving a subtle nod. No words were.exchanged, yet it was enough, As best friends for twenty years, they had an unspoken bond that allowed them to always support each other in the most crucial moments.


    Be noticed Carrie''s paleplexion and asked, "Ryan, how''s Carrie?"


    She could not care about anything else at the moment and was only worried about her condition.


    "With me here, she''ll be fine." Ryan''s voice was hoarse with emotion.


    Nigel''s eagle-like eyes scanned the room, eventually fixing his gaze on the young couple, his expression gradually softening.


    "Dad, what brings you here?" Gregory asked and he descended the stairs, his expression extremely stiff.


    "If I hadn''t shown up, who knows what you would have done to my sweet granddaughter! Who knows what kind of garbage you''d be spewing right now!" Nigel shot him an angry look, feeling so furious that he wanted to get up and kick him.


    Gregory''s face turned red as he said, "Dad! What did you say? Carrie is my daughter, and everything I do is for her sake!"


    "Hmph!" Nigel spat at him in front of everyone and said, "You''re just trying to make up for the pride you''ve lost That''s why you''re pressuring Carrie like this, using the rtionship between your daughters to shamelessly humiliate Ryan!"


    Ryan felt a bitterness in his throat and looked at Nigel with red eyes.


    "Seriously, I can''t wait to go to the hospital and give my ears a good cleaning after listening to that. It''s really disgusting!"


    Nigel gave Gregory a disgusted look


    and said, "I think you''re the one who can''t see people for who they are and doesn''t even realize when you''ve been fooled, don''t you think? How can you call yourself emotionally stable if you can choose to marry Shannon, a toxic woman hated by many people? Carrie is a thousand times better than her father, so please don''t drag my granddaughter into this mess!"