Chapter 331: Chapter 323

The morning after Carlos’s incident, Mrs. Carter appeared at the Carter Clan Group headquarters dressed in a black suit.

As she walked through the corridor in high heels, all employees held their breath — this chairwoman, who had retreated behind the scenes for many years, now had eyes burning with a chilling determination.

The board meeting lasted less than two hours.

When the conference room doors opened again, Evan Palmer’s cronies shuffled out with gloomy faces.

Mrs. Carter stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching their backs as they left the building carrying boxes, her gaze cold as frost.

Meanwhile, the Carter family villa was unusually quiet.

“Maria, I told you, I’m fine.”

Emily Parker put down the half-finished calming soup, the ceramic bowl making a slight clink against the tea table,

“You’re already a senior in high school, there’s no need to take leave.”

Sunlight poured through the sheer curtains, casting mottled shadows on her pale face.

Despite her efforts to remain calm, her slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed the turmoil within.

“Sister-in-law, my studies haven’t been neglected.”

Maria Carter forced a smile, gently covering Emily’s legs with a blanket.

The room became silent for a moment.

Maria watched Emily’s unconscious gesture of rubbing her belly, her nose suddenly tingled — brother would never get to see his child’s birth.

“I’ll go warm up a glass of milk for you.”

Maria rushed to her feet, afraid that the tears in her eyes would be noticed.

Everyone in this family was supporting each other in their own way.

Maria took a deep breath, wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye. She couldn’t help her mother in the business battle, but at least she could protect this home with her sister-in-law.

When she returned to the living room with the warm milk, Emily had already fallen asleep on the sofa.

Maria quietly put down the glass, carefully covering her with the blanket.

Outside the window, the early autumn wind swirled with fallen leaves.

Staring at her sleeping sister-in-law, Maria suddenly understood what “family” was — not just blood ties, but those who choose to stand shoulder to shoulder when the storm comes.

Maria gently closed the door, afraid to disturb Emily who had just fallen asleep.

In the hallway, the butler came quickly, looking anxious, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“Miss, the old master has returned.”

The butler lowered his voice, his eyes flickering.

Maria’s brows instantly furrowed, her fingertips involuntarily digging into her palm,

“Didn’t mom say that he was forbidden from stepping into the villa again?” Her voice was low but carried an undeniable coldness.

The butler looked troubled, hesitantly adding, “The old master didn’t come alone… Lady Palmer is here too, and… a pregnant woman.” He swallowed hard.

Maria’s heart dropped to the bottom. She instinctively glanced at the closed door to confirm Emily was undisturbed, then said coldly, “Don’t let my sister-in-law know about this for now, I’ll handle it.”

Stepping steadily downstairs, Maria took a deep breath at the stairway corner.

In the living room, Lady Palmer sat in the main seat on the sofa, her silver hair meticulously combed, and Evan Palmer stood by the window, his suit so crisp as if yesterday’s disgrace had never occurred.

But what caught the most attention was the timid young woman sitting on the sofa — Rainny White.

Her hands overlapped on her slightly swollen belly, and she shrank back under Maria’s sharp gaze.

“Maria’s here,” Lady Palmer smiled affectionately, patting the spot next to her, “Come over and let Grandma see you.”

Maria didn’t move.

Her gaze shifted from Rainny’s belly to Evan’s face, her voice icy, “What do you mean by bringing outsiders into the house?”

Evan adjusted his tie, a smile of confidence emerging on his face, “Maria, this is your sister Rainny. She is pregnant with your brother’s child, it’s Carter family blood.”

These words pierced Maria’s heart like a sharp knife. She stared at Rainny’s belly, her nails deeply digging into her palm — there might really be her brother’s flesh and blood there.

Yet what chilled her more was her father’s calculating gleam and her grandmother’s undisguised anticipation.

Rainny’s fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the leather sofa, feeling its smooth texture.

She constantly surveyed the living room — the light refracted from the crystal chandelier scattered on antique ornaments, the oil paintings on the wall looked priceless, and even the carpet beneath her feet was soft as if walking on clouds.

“This is Cloud Lake Villa…”

She silently recited in her heart, her mouth curving upwards involuntarily.

A mansion she could only see in financial magazines, here, far exceeded her imagination in luxury.

When her gaze swept over the meticulously trimmed garden outside the floor-to-ceiling window, Rainny suddenly realized — this place should have been her child’s home.

This thought spread in her heart like wildfire, burning away the timidity she felt upon arrival.

She murmured softly, her palms resting on her slightly raised belly.

Her previously hunched back straightened unconsciously, the timidity in her eyes gradually replaced by a kind of fervent glow.

Evan keenly noticed Rainny’s transformation.

He subtly smirked, intentionally raising his voice,

“Rainny dear, from now on this is your home. Once the child is born, you can stay in the suite on the east side, it has the best lighting.”

Rainny’s eyes immediately brightened, and she could almost envision her child wearing exquisite little clothes, running and playing in this castle-like mansion.

Luxuries that once seemed unattainable would soon become everyday realities for her child.

She feigned shyness and lowered her head.

Maria coldly observed the scene, her nails deeply embedded in her palm. She knew too well what her father was scheming — this sudden “posthumous child” is merely a new pawn in his battle for the estate.

“Enough!” Maria interrupted sternly, “No one dares to touch the Carter family’s assets until the DNA test results are out!”

Rainny flinched from the reprimand but quickly straightened her back again.

She gently stroked her belly, a determined glint flashing in her eyes — this child is the golden key to her wealth and riches.

Tears welled in Rainny’s eyes as she looked at Lady Palmer, “Lady Palmer, I… I truly…”

“Enough!” Lady Palmer struck her cane heavily, “Rainny is carrying the Carter family’s seed! Your dad has confirmed it!”

Maria gazed at the drama unfolding before her, suddenly comprehending her father’s agenda — he plans to use this unexpected “grandson” as leverage in the inheritance battle.

And she refuses to let this plot succeed.

“What evidence do you have to prove this child is my brother’s?”

Maria took a deep breath.

She couldn’t believe her brother was such a careless person.

“I have evidence.”

Rainny said as she took out her laptop, opening it to reveal a video to everyone.