After her rebirth
Chapter 79

As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone's faces changed, and they exchanged uneasy glances.

Nobody dared to eat anymore. The living room went dead silent, and all eyes were on Carlton.

Maximilian didn't get along with the Boleyn family and rarely visited, only showing up on specific occasions.

It was rare for things to get this tense.

Maximilian's long, slender fingers played with the porcelain soup spoon, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Gabriel's face darkened. Being challenged by his son made him furious. "What nonsense are you spouting? Does the Boleyn family need her shares? The engagement was for the Manners family's real daughter. Katniss is their daughter. Why should Clara, an adopted kid, be involved?"

Maximilian chuckled, "Father, since when do you follow the marriage agreement set by Grandpa? Aren't you the one who hates those the most?"

Emily Clark was Desmond's real mom. She was a poor student who sold herself, with no family background or skills, just a pretty face.

She got lucky and caught Gabriel's eye, who valued freedom and hated the constraints of marriage agreement.

For true love, he drove his first wife to death. And now, he talked about engagements?

He just wanted to secure more benefits for Desmond, fearing that one day Maximilian would take full control of the Boleyn and Hamilton families, leaving Desmond with nothing. Gabriel trembled with rage.

Compared to Gabriel, Maximilian stayed calm.

He sipped his soup and said lightly, "Do you want Desmond to follow in your and Emily's footsteps?"

"Marry Katniss openly and keep Clara as a mistress in the suburbs for life?" he added.

This hit Gabriel like a thorn, making his face look extremely unpleasant.

Carlton, who had been quiet, sighed, stood up, and looked at Desmond, "Desmond, this is your marriage. What do you think?"

Desmond was a bit stunned, not expecting the decision to fall on him.

He bit his lip, glanced quickly at Gabriel, and then said firmly, "Grandpa, I don't like Katniss. Even though Clara isn't the Manners family's real daughter, she was raised by them. She's a good girl, and I've always liked Clara." After speaking, he didn't dare to look at Gabriel but could feel his anger.

Carlton was silent for a moment. He knew Maximilian wouldn't meddle in Desmond's affairs out of kindness.

What was Maximilian planning?

Carlton pushed his thoughts aside and made a decision, "Find a time to go to the Manners family and change the engagement."

"Dad!" Gabriel protested angrily, "I don't agree with this..."

"Is it me or you who holds the reins of this family?" Carlton said sternly, his eyes sharp. "If Desmond doesn't like her, then it's not meant to be."

Seeing that Carlton was firm, Gabriel's scrutinizing gaze fell on Desmond, "You better not regret this!"

Desmond's eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth, "I like Clara, and I want to marry Clara."

Gabriel's face turned red with anger. He glared at Desmond and stormed off.

He had planned so much for Desmond, but it all came to nothing.

Desmond had been blinded by love, which made Gabriel so disappointed!

Watching Gabriel storm off, Carlton looked up and said, "Well, he's gone. Are you all going to eat or what?"

As if nothing had happened, Carlton called the butler to serve Maximilian, and everyone else, lost in their own thoughts, started eating again. The dining table buzzed back to life.

With a kind smile, Carlton said, "It's rare for you to come back. Eat up. You look better lately. Sleeping well?"

Facing Carlton, Maximilian softened a bit. "Yeah, I switched doctors. The new one's young but pretty skilled, though a bit of a nag, even more than you."

"As long as the doctor's good," Carlton chuckled.

Felix, who knew the whole story, had a glint in his eye. If Carlton knew this doctor was Katniss... Would he still say the same?

Carlton and Maximilian finished their meal with smiles and then headed to the study on the second floor.

In the study, Maximilian expertly handled the tea set, each movement precise and elegant.

Carlton watched him with satisfaction and asked, "You didn't come just for Desmond's matter, did you?" Maximilian paused, "No, there's something else."

Carlton looked at the tea and chuckled, then took a sip. "Go ahead."

"I'm here to ask for your help in proposing marriage," Maximilian replied.

Carlton was surprised for a few seconds, then his face lit up with a smile. "Well, who's the lucky girl?" "The Manners family, Katniss."

Even Carlton, who had seen a lot, was stunned for a moment. It took him a few seconds to process. He blinked, his expression indescribable.

No wonder he helped Desmond. This was his real goal.

With Desmond set on Clara, Katniss would be free of the engagement.

"What about Katniss?" Carlton's mind raced. "Didn't she like Desmond?"

A few days ago, she was always around Desmond, with those affectionate eyes, almost clinging to him.

He couldn't understand what Maximilian was up to.

Was he aiming to retaliate against his father or steal his brother's engagement?

No, Maximilian didn't seem like someone who'd do something so petty.

Maximilian raised his eyes. "Isn't it possible to change one's heart?"

Carlton chuckled, "You're seven years older than her, right? Isn't that a bit much?"

Maximilian looked at Carlton calmly, not saying a word. Feeling awkward, Carlton poured himself a cup of tea and said, "Thinking about it, Katniss is almost 20, not that young. It's good, it's good." At the hospital.

"I'm Katniss's brother-in-law. Wake her up. She'll definitely let me in," a man shouted.

No need to call, she's already awake.

Katniss stared blankly at the ceiling, woken up by the noise.

The man at the door was making a racket. She recognized the voice-Kieran.

"Let them in," Katniss said, fully awake and full of resentment, to the nurse.

The nurse hesitated but swallowed her words. Besides the person in the wheelchair, no one around Katniss was normal.

It was so early, and her brother-in-law was already here to visit?

Kieran's suit was impeccably pressed, and behind him was a man in casual clothes and glasses.

"Katniss, are you feeling better? This is my cousin, Ramon Meza. You've met him," Kieran said, his eyes shining as he pushed Ramon to Katniss's bedside.