Chapter 246 Fire Beneath the Veil

But if Reba wanted to climb higher, why not choose a safer route?

“Maybe it was whoever’s orchestrating things for her, Scarlett muttered. “Maybe they picked the Kramer family.”

Just as she said that, a familiar pair stepped in front of Reba.

It was Grayson and his wife.

Compared to their usual aggressive arrogance within the Lane family, now they looked like devout followers. Their reverence toward Reba bordered on worship.

Even though the Lane family had its internal rifts, Grayson and his wife still represented the family in public.

Their attitude made one thing clear: the Lane family had officially acknowledged Reba’s status.

And with that, Reba could now use their name as her ticket into high society.

Once upon a time, she had stepped over Scarlett to be the Joyner family’s darling.

And now, she was doing the same again–using the very same tactics to w her way even higher.

A cold glint shed through Scarlett’s eyes.

An invisible fury hung around her like a dark cloud.

“Hah!”

She was abruptly blocked–by Sophia.

And Sophia’s tone was sharp with mockery.

“Have you converted now? Started chasing spirits? If the golden idol your mother prays to found out, don’t you think he’d be a little… displeased?”

Grayson’s face darkened.

“You clearly don’t understand what’s going on here. Didn’t you hear what the little astronomer just revealed?”

Sophia let out a coldugh.

“This so–called little astronomer? The Mr. Seth beside her used to be tight with the Seth family. You not have the brains to figure that out, but hey–that’s a birth defect. Instead of dreaming about nons maybe load up on DHA and try to grow a few more brain cells.”

Grayson’s face turned pitch ck/

Being scolded in front of a crowd–especially by his sister–inw–was a p in the face.

But he couldn’t fight back.

In public, he was the younger brother, and Sophia was the respected wife of the family head. Getting

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Chapter 246 Fire Beneath the Vell

chastised by her? Normal.

bArguing /bwould break the persona he’d worked so hard to maintain,

So even though he was seething, he gritted his teeth and held it in.

Chloe, on the other hand, wasn’t as restrained.

Grayson had to protect his “loyal brother‘ imagei–/ibut she didn’t.

“You’re a bold, powerful woman, Sophia. I can’t force you to believe. But at the very least, you could respect my beliefs.”

Sophia smiled.

“No one’s criticizing your beliefs.”

“But think about this: for years, our mother–inw has gone to church faithfully, praying for the Lane family’s prosperity. And because of that devotion, our family’s flourished under her blessing. You can believe whatever you want. But if your beliefs start shing with hers, affecting the Lane family’s fortune– then even if she says nothing, others in the family won’t let it slide.”

Her voice wasn’t loud.

But it was steady, reasonable, and irrefutable.

She spoke from the perspective of family unity and filial piety.

Chloe had noeback.

She could have her own beliefs.

She could even spend money on them.

But she couldn’t publicly dere them.

Otherwise, it would look like a direct challenge to Madam Susan–her mother–inw.

To outsiders, that would signal a family split.

And that meant vulnerability.

Because the most elegant way to destroy a powerful n… was to divide it.

Even a royal family–no matter how strong–could be bled dry through inheritance if there were enough heirs and enough divisions.

Which was why most big families refused to split.

There would always be one heir. Everyone else lived under the main branch, enjoying the perks bas /blong bas /bthey stayed loyal.

And right now, the Lane family’s head was Owen–Sophia’s husband.

That meant her words werew.

Chapter 246 Fire bBeneath /bbthe /bVell

If Chloe dared push back-

Her entire branch of the family would face restrictions.

Others would begin to question whether they still belonged.

Chloe understood all too well.

So she stayed quiet.

But Reba’s hand, hanging at her side, suddenly clenched tight.

Within the Lane family, the second branch had always lived in the shadow of the main one.

And now, even her spiritual beliefs were being painted as a threat to the family’s wellbeing?

Her standing would be even more fragile than before.

“Madam Darian, that’s where you’re mistaken.”

Reba stepped forward, her wrist flipping gracefully. A small object appeared in her palm, engraved with the seven stars of the Big Dipper.

“Metaphysics is just one stream of the heavenly path. There’s no conflict. The matriarch prays for peace in this life. I study fortune and flow. Both are done for the Lane family’s sake. In essence, there’s no differenceb. /b

As she spoke, the pointer on her shadowpass began spinning wildly–counterclockwise–clicking sharply.

Just then, the crystal chandelier above Sophia sparked and red. Molten wax dripped, nearly sshing her shoulder.

Sophia had always been cautious with Reba. Her bodyguard had already been prepared.

The incident didn’t harm her.

Didn’t even shake herposure.

“Oh? Is that so?” she said coolly. “Because it all feels a little… dark ito /ime.“.

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