"I said we should have a meeting," Mr. Brown roared, his voice echoing through the room, "and instead you all started fighting as if I were already dead! Yet you still have the audacity to tell me I'm keeping distance from my family."
The room fell dead silent.
"Why wouldn't I?" he continued harshly.
"Your chatter and constant fighting are more stressful than illness itself. You fight like children."
He let out a cold laugh.
"You're all adults now. Do whatever you like. I've washed my hands of this."
His gaze sharpened.
"But if you get hurt, if you fall, if you dare come back to the old mansion, then I will use family law. Don't call me heartless when that time comes. Now—out. All of you."
Mr. Brown waved his hand, and the butler stepped forward. The servants gathered, bowing politely, but their posture made it clear—leave immediately.
"I'll take my leave now, Grandpa. Have a good rest," Ava said calmly before turning away.
Jacob glared at the servants as he stood up, leaving with Isabelle. Amelia grabbed her bag and stormed out shortly after. Soon, only Peter and his wife remained.
"Dad," Grace said, clenching her fists, "you've never supported me. Not once. You always take my brother's side. I'm your only daughter, yet your favorite has always been Nathan."
"If you want to speak ill," Brown replied flatly, "tell your husband to leave first."
He looked at Peter.
Peter lowered his gaze, but the killing intent in his eyes was impossible to miss before he turned and left.
Brown Carter's voice remained calm as he spoke again.
"You say I favor Nathan more than all of you? The best will always win. Jacob is the eldest—I gave him the company to manage. Nathan is the smartest—I gave him nearly equal shares, slightly lower than Jacob's, so he could assist and support the family."
He continued coldly.
"I gave Henry another company because he understands expansion. He knows how to involve himself in different industries and spread influence across empires like a tortoise he knows to not have all his egg in one box ."
Then his eyes landed on Grace.
"I gave you shares because you are smart—and greedy. The Carter shares were never your only target. You wanted your husband's family shares as well. That's why you married Peter—because he is weak and needs support to fight for inheritance."
Grace stiffened.
"You wanted control. That's why you pushed him to start his own business using Carter resources, while secretly taking shares from his family's company without him knowing telling him that he should use Carter resources to grow and then when he attacks his family every thing would be his using him to attack your brothers using him as a shield to take the fall of all your evil act why the fool doesn't know."
Brown's voice did not waver.
"You know Peter hates you. You know he is planning against you. Yet you pretend not to care, making him believe you're unguarded—when in truth, you are always on guard."
He scoffed.
"You want more shares so you can turn the entire Carter family upside down. I know all of your characters. Your innocent act won't work on me."
He leaned back slightly.
"I gave you money, material things, and small properties—not major ones—because I know you would use anything bigger to attack your brothers. And they would not sit back. They would see it as a chance to remove one chess piece from the board."
His eyes darkened.
"That would cause chaos in the Carter family, allowing outsiders to take advantage. And Nathan? Nathan would simply watch."
"So I know exactly what I'm doing," Brown finished coldly. "I'm doing this for my business. If you want me as a father, then come as a daughter. If you come to me as a business partner, don't expect sympathy. Go fix your marriage instead of arguing with me. Go."
Grace sneered, stood up, then paused at the door.
"You just said you've cleared your hands of us," she said coldly. "So don't interfere when we fight. And if Ava and Prim are ever in danger, don't act surprised."
She left.
"What should we do?" Mrs. Carter asked softly.
"You should worry about your children," Brown replied, rubbing his temple, "not your grandchildren. Ava might still remember family ties—but Prim?"
He shook his head.
"I doubt he would remember anything before killing them."
Mrs. Carter frowned. "I know Ava is capable, but Prim… are you sure?"
"Of course," Brown said calmly. "He took over all of Nathan's projects and deals. Do you know how he did it? He's even more ruthless than Nathan."
He let out a quiet scoff.
"They are on par—one devil pretending to be normal, and the other a devil pretending to be an angel."
" Nathan is like a owl watching and waiting using anyone allies enemies friends does even himself to achieve what he wants know how to use any position he find himself to his benefits know when to beg and when to eat go when to fight when to run and come another day when to end things " brown paused
"Jacob is like a fox who has outsmart himself yes he is good he has lead the Carter family up but he is greedy letting it get into his head easily provoked can't control his greedy, Henry is a tortoise he has his hand in all the big family in everyone pies he knows how to leave backdoor to escape when it is time the only thing is that he is good in the shadows not in the light "brown Carter said rubbing his chin.
"Then they is always a black sheep in every child which is grace a Sanke never satisfied never happy never wants anyone to be better she want all need it all ready to kill anyone even her husband is not spare nor her children she is that ruthless ".
Outside the mansion
As Ava walked toward her car, Jacob suddenly stepped into her path.
"Your brother will soon become a shareholder of the Carter family," Jacob said with a smile. "What a pity. I wanted to be nice to him, but Father said we should forget family ties. So tell him I said sorry in advance… if I end up attacking him."
Ava giggled, covering her mouth lightly.
"Uncle, aren't you quick to assume we're harmless?" she said sweetly. "Don't be like a snake plotting to eat a mouse while eagles are watching from above. You never know what might happen."
Jacob frowned.
"Oh—right," Ava continued casually. "Your project with the Korland government? It might get destroyed halfway through. And I almost forgot… the things you're shipping are illegal. Not to mention the huge loan you took from the Blake family."
She clicked her tongue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Uncle, you should be careful."
Jacob's face drained of color.
No one was supposed to know, he thought. How does she know this?
"Did you really think you hid it well?" Ava leaned closer, her smile cold. "Come on, Uncle. You should take your own advice."
She straightened and waved her hand dismissively.
"We're the ones who should say sorry in advance. There are no family ties holding us back anymore."
Jacob squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for a slap.
It never came.
When he opened his eyes, Ava was already pulling her fist back, calm and composed—as if she had never intended to touch him at all.
"Ava! Don't you have any respect for your uncle?" Isabella shouted.
Ava paused, then turned slightly.
"Respect?" she asked innocently. "What is that? Is it something you eat? Sorry—I don't know what respect is."
With that, she got into her car
"Of course you wouldn't know what respect is!" Amelia yelled furiously. "Someone who can have her own uncle arrested—people like you should be tied and flogged! With parents like Nathan and Emily, it's no surprise you lack respect. You're a sin to the world!"
Ava slowly turned her head, her expression calm—too calm.
"Aunt," she said lightly, "if I were truly a sin to the world, I wouldn't have just arrested your husband."
She smiled, her eyes cold.
"I would have ended him."
Amelia stiffened.
"So be careful with your words," Ava continued. "As for my parents—Nathan and Emily didn't teach me respect."
She raised her hand, forming it into the shape of a gun, clicking her tongue as if pulling a trigger.
"They taught me this."
Bang.
"Deal with those who annoy me quickly," Ava added with a tired sigh. "Honestly, having crazy parents is exhausting I don't know how to act normal so dont test how normal I'm cause even if I kill you I would be out in a week highest you don't want your murderer to be left off with just a do a community service rigy."
She rolled up the window.
The car pulled away, leaving Amelia frozen in place, her rage swallowed by fear.
In Mia's mansion
In her room,
A massive oil painting hung above the king‑sized bed, her face painted like royalty, eyes looking down on the room as if daring anyone to challenge her.
The bed itself was enormous, draped in silk sheets imported from Europe, layered in soft furs and velvet throws that were changed weekly. The headboard was custom‑made, carved with intricate patterns and embedded with tiny crystals that caught the light and sparkled like stars.
One entire wall was dedicated to trophies.
Gold, silver, crystal—stacked on glass shelves with no effort to space them out properly. International awards, art competitions, academic medals, fashion titles, even plaques that looked more expensive than meaningful.
A walk‑in closet stood open, larger than most apartments. Rows of designer clothes hung untouched, some still with tags. Shoes—limited editions, custom orders—lined the shelves like museum pieces. Handbags sat in transparent cases, arranged by color
Even the desk was excessive—solid ebony wood, a gold‑trimmed laptop, scattered luxury pens that had never been used. A few framed magazine covers rested nearby, all featuring Mia. Different years. Different titles. Same name.
Mia stood by the balcony doors, city lights bleeding into the shadows behind her.
"Just do what I said," she spoke coldly into the phone. "Make sure she doesn't leave the room. Simple."
"Are you crazy?" the man whispered back. "If it were anyone else, fine—but she's a Carter. Her family will kill me. I won't get involved."
Mia's eyes hardened.
"Be careful with your words," she said softly. "Ava and her family might kill you. But I will give you a hell twice as painful—before selling you to a research lab—if you don't do exactly what I say. And you know I'm capable of it."
The man swallowed. "Even if I succeed, the Carter family will investigate. And once they do, your family will be dragged in too."
Mia laughed, low and sharp.
"This is why you'll never go far," she said, leaning back against the balcony railing, arms folded. "You think I don't have a plan?"
She looked out at the night.
"Right now, the news about Ava's parents is only half‑buried. People are still watching. All it takes is one spark—and everything explodes."
She paused, then smiled.
"As for who takes the blame…"
Her lips curved slowly.
"Asher."
The man went silent.
"Since he dared to go against me," Mia continued calmly, "he should be ready."
"Who is Asher?" the man asked cautiously. "And even if he's blamed, what makes it believable?"
Mia's smile widened.
"He's illegitimate. Poor. Works nights at places people love to judge. If suspicion falls on him, I won't even need to push."
She scoffed.
"His siblings will use it to kick him out. Outsiders will use him to fan the flames. The fire will burn on its own."
Her voice dropped.
"So do it. Or swear to God you want to see what I do next."
"…Fine," the man said after a long pause. "I'll do it."
The call ended.
Almost immediately, another phone rang.
Mia smirked.
Another chess piece.
She picked up a different phone—one that would never lead back to her.
"Hello?" she said sweetly.
"Please—please stop," the purple‑eyed girl sobbed on the other end. "Why are you doing this?"
"Shh," Mia cooed. "This is a lesson."
Her tone sharpened.
"You forgot your place. You glared at me. You talked back. You thought Ava would protect you."
She laughed softly.
"And now look at you. Begging."
The girl cried harder.
"One call from me," Mia continued, amused, "and your family is already on the edge of bankruptcy. By tomorrow, they'll be finished."
"Please," the girl choked. "What do you want? I'll do anything."
Mia didn't hesitate.
"Leave the elite group. Give up your spot. Quit the competition."
A pause.
"And never enter another one again."
She ended the call without waiting for an answer.
Mia walked back into the room, sinking into the couch as she dialed another number.
Debbie.
"You know what to do," Mia said.
Silence.
"If you can't," Mia added softly, "tell me now."
The gentleness in her voice sent a chill through the line.
"I understand," Debbie said quickly. "Your plan will go exactly as you want."
"What did you say?" Mia asked.
"S‑sorry," Debbie corrected herself. "my plan all my plans you are not involved. Everything will go as planned."
Mia smiled—and ended the call.
The board was set.
The Next Day — Carter Manor
"Ava! Get your ass up! We're leaving for the party now!"
Daisy's voice echoed down the hallway as she knocked—no, pounded—on Ava's door again and again.
From the room across the hall, a door flew open.
"For the love of peace—!" Prim stormed out, hair a mess, silk pajamas hanging loosely on him as he squinted at the scene.
He took in Daisy standing outside Ava's door like she was about to break it down, sighed, then bent down and lifted the corner of the rug.
He pulled out a spare key.
"Drama queen," he muttered as he unlocked the door. "Come in. Stop summoning new Jesuses. Some of us are trying to sleep."
Daisy glanced at him.
Messy hair. Half‑awake eyes. Silk pajamas. Annoyed expression.
Unfairly good-looking.
"Only you sleep till two in the afternoon," Daisy said, folding her arms.
"It's a hobby," Prim replied lazily, yawning. "Got a problem, mama?"
He winked, still clearly half asleep.
Daisy rolled her eyes. "Still flirting? I thought you'd be happier. Aria's coming back. The squad will finally be complete again."
She ticked them off on her fingers. "Aria, you, Daniel, Milo, Ava, and me."
"Sure, sure. Whatever," Prim said, already turning away. "Wake her up. I'm going back to bed."
He disappeared into his room.
Daisy clicked her tongue and walked inside Ava's room.
Ava was sprawled comfortably on the bed, headphones on, calmly reading like the world wasn't ending.
Daisy stared at her.
"…Reading," she said flatly. "Of course."
She reached over and tapped the book sharply.
"Bitch. Get. Up."
Ava looked up slowly, unimpressed. "Why are you here so early? Isn't the party at night?"
"No," Daisy snapped, sitting on the bed. "The party is from three to six. And if you don't know—"
She shoved her phone toward Ava.
"—it's 2:40."
Ava sighed. "Stars don't arrive early, Daisy."
Daisy leaned closer, smiling dangerously.
"Stars also don't get screamed at by their mother when their friends drag them out of bed."
She cracked her knuckles.
"And that's exactly what I'm about to do."
Ava groaned and pulled her headphones off.