Chapter 248: Chapter 246: Prenuptial Agreement

Downstairs, Carla Sinclair had no time to worry about their squabbles, new or old. She was only concerned with the old man’s true goal.

Simon helped Simon Adler to a nearby seat. He took a moment to catch his breath before answering her question.

"When the old man had me bring her to Portia, he did indeed promise not to harm her. As long as Silas Grant married quickly as demanded, he would let Mia Grant go."

"The reason he suddenly changed his mind... it has to do with your Sinclair Family."

"The old man wants her dead this time, and it’s not because of Silas Grant. It was a strange twist of fate. She got dragged into this because of you."

"Your youngest uncle... where is he?"

Carla Sinclair’s brow furrowed. "He’s in Southea on business. He hasn’t been back in a long time. Why? What’s the problem?"

"The old man wants his heart. He was the one who was supposed to die. But since that wasn’t an option, they chose Mia Grant."

Simon Adler spoke slowly, his wound aching with every breath.

He looked toward Kian Keller, who was sitting across from him. The man responsible for his injuries wore a cold, detached expression, as impassive as a Bodhisattva.

Simon Adler’s lips thinned. "I’ll remember what happened today."

’I’ll pay him back sooner or later.’

Kian Keller ignored him, his eyes impassive.

Aaron, however, stepped forward. "We can settle it right now."

"Don’t make trouble." Yates Donovan waved his hand dismissively, telling them to get lost. He had shed his playful expression while listening to Simon Adler speak.

"The old man knows about Mia Grant’s true parentage?"

"Yes." Simon Adler sighed. "It’s not surprising. The old man has always been cautious. The moment he has a suspicion, he acts on it immediately. No matter how implausible something seems, he needs to see proof."

"What’s more, you and she have been in contact quite a bit these last couple of days." Simon Adler turned to look at Carla Sinclair. "Your investigation into Mia Grant’s identity was exposed a long time ago."

"You made too much noise. It alerted the old man."

"Your youngest uncle was the primary candidate for the donor, and you were the backup. But right now, one is missing and the other is a difficult target. So Mia Grant appeared at the perfect time."

"A heart can’t be transplanted after the donor is already dead, can it?" Yates Donovan questioned.

"Correct. That’s why the old man’s people were chasing Mia Grant just now. They didn’t want her dead. They need to capture her alive."

...

’Capture her alive, and then what?’

Yates Donovan’s expression flickered. After a long moment, he let out a laugh. "I’ve lived for nearly thirty years, and I can finally say I’ve seen the living, breathing King of Hell with my own two eyes."

With that, he stood up.

Silas Grant’s men moved to block him, but he shoved them away.

"Go back where you came from. Stop being an eyesore."

"Take one more step, and you’ll be leaving with that old geezer upstairs tonight."

...

The man’s gaze was sharp, and his words were clearly not a joke.

Leaning on his cane, Kian Keller rose. Yates Donovan thought he was going to follow him upstairs. But to his surprise, the bastard walked straight out the door without a second glance.

Aaron and the others reacted quickly, following him out the door.

With them gone, the foyer suddenly felt much more spacious.

Yates Donovan retracted his gaze and stepped into the elevator.

Before the elevator doors could close, a hand shot out to block them. The sensors registered the obstruction, and the doors slid open again.

It was Carla Sinclair.

Yates Donovan stood with one hand in his pocket, leaning lazily against the elevator wall. He already had an exceptional figure, and the pose made him look like a model in the middle of a photoshoot, his charisma on full display.

Seeing her about to enter, Yates Donovan’s fawning demeanor from before vanished. The curve of his lips was cold and merciless. "You’d better not go up."

’He must have a screw loose,’ Carla Sinclair thought.

She ignored him.

The next moment, Yates Donovan added, "What you should be doing right now is going back to your father to discuss Mia Grant."

"You heard what was said. She was dragged into this because of your family. Your father should take a stance, don’t you think?"

Carla Sinclair understood his implication. "She hasn’t made up her mind yet."

"That’s her decision to make. But before she does, your family’s attitude is crucial."

"You really want her to return to the Sinclair Family?" Carla Sinclair frowned, her gaze probing. "The others don’t seem to want it, but you’re different."

"Like I said, I’m the one who understands her best."

"We’ve never discussed this specifically, but I know that if your father makes his position clear, she’ll be quite willing to accept you."

"When you’ve been adrift on your own for so long, you become this cautious."

"But no matter how guarded she is, deep down, she’s desperate for a safety net."

"All that talk about not needing a home, not needing a family..."

"You can just ignore it."

"How could she not be looking forward to it? In fact, she’s probably more eager for a reunion than any of you are."

"It’s just that she’s been so far removed from any kind of family warmth for so many years. That’s why she needs reassurance, again and again."

"As long as you are resolute in your feelings for her, she will accept you as her family."

"To be honest, if you’re asking what I really want... I’d rather not have too many people competing for her attention. It’s hard to juggle different kinds of love—familial, romantic, platonic."

"A person’s energy is finite. And nobody wants to see the love they desire get split a dozen ways. By the time it gets to you, all that’s left is a tiny, insignificant piece."

"And yet, you’re still doing this," Carla Sinclair said, puzzled.

"I am." Yates Donovan’s lips curved into a smile. "I don’t want a tragedy to repeat itself."

"She deserves to live a happy life."

"Power, status, money... she deserves to have it all."

"And family is an indispensable part of that."

After saying all this, Yates Donovan quickly reverted to his earlier, casual demeanor. He pressed the ’door close’ button. "Well, that’s that. I hope the rest of your family feels the same way you do."

Before the elevator doors closed, Carla Sinclair, still standing outside, saw the figure inside suddenly break into another smile. "Oh, right."

"Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Mia Grant’s boyfriend, Yates Donovan, from Jynsia."

"It was a pleasure to meet you tonight."

In the final second before the doors slid shut, the devil-may-care figure inside straightened up, then leaned forward, giving her a formal bow.

"I hope to hear some good news from you the next time we meet."

「The next morning.」

Mia Grant groggily opened her eyes.

Her head throbbed with a sharp pain the moment she opened her eyes, likely from crying so much the night before.

Her eyes, however, showed no signs of it.

Standing before the mirror, she examined her face from both sides and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

’It was probably because Felix Sinclair put a compress on them.’

Mia Grant was shocked by his thoughtfulness, never expecting he would think of such a thing.

After changing her clothes, she opened the door and saw a figure sitting on the sofa.

His back was to her.

But that silhouette... it was so familiar.

"Keller... Ethan."

she called out softly.

The figure’s shoulders twitched slightly. Without turning around, he said flatly, "Come and sit."

...

’His voice was as stern as a teacher calling on a student in class.’

Mia Grant walked over and sat down across from him.

As soon as she sat, her eyes immediately scanned him from head to toe.

’He seems to be okay.’

She let out a sigh of relief. But just as she was about to raise her head to look at him, her gaze was caught by something on the coffee table.

It was a...

She squinted, trying to make out the words.

Prenuptial Agreement