But the world has changed.

The Carson Family could no longer afford to lose any chess pieces in their hands. Everyone who had some values would be squeezed until all of their worth was gone. Everything for the sake of the 'family.'

To be honest, Stephen was disgusted by it.

However, he also knew that he could not get away from the Carson Family back then. They have various connections and it would be difficult to get away from them. Besides, where does he want to hide?

It was impossible.

He could only be one of the 'heirs' and managed business well for the Carson Family while protecting his sister.

Under his protection, Sophia didn't have to touch these dirty things.

Unfortunately, things didn't go in accordance to what he wanted.

The world changed and what awaited them was nothing more than the fact that it became increasingly difficult for Stephen to protect his sister.

His father?

It was already good enough if his father didn't hand Sophia over to their grandfather in a silver platter. His father's filial piety was extremely strong, so strong that Stephen didn't understand.

At the same time, Stephen knew that he couldn't be like this father of his.

The person he cared for the most is his sister followed by his father.

As for that grandfather of his?

Stephen couldn't really bring himself to truly care for that man who only saw his descendants as nothing more than chess pieces on top of a chess board.

If they were useful, they would be favored.

If they were useless?

Then they just had to wait for the day when they would be thrown out or having their entire value squeezed without anything left.

"Stephen." Stephen's father looked at his son who had a calm face and frowned. "Without the Carson Family, it's not possible for you…"

"Father, I know."

He knew but he couldn't agree to it.

Even if he knew that they have gained a lot of privilege by staying in the Carson Family, Stephen could not bring himself to truly stay loyal to the family and dedicated everything to his grandfather.

He's a selfish person.

It was precisely because he's selfish that he didn't think he would be able to sacrifice everything for the sake of other people.

These people might be related to him by blood, but the real connection between them was extremely faint. So faint that Stephen would not think it was strange if they suddenly stab him from the back.

Because he himself had no expectation for them.

"Only if the family thrives would it be possible for you to live well…" Stephen's father continued the words he wanted to say.

It was also the motto of the Carson Family.

Dedicate their ability for the family and only then would it be possible for them to truly thrive. Because only if the family is strong would they be protected by the family when they were outside.

In a way, it was true.

But only if the family was truly protecting them well instead of exploiting them as what they have done so far.

From what Stephen experienced so far, he felt that what Old Master Carson did so far was to suck out as much blood as possible from the family members around him. He never treated them as a person and more like a tool.

So this story about making the family thrive so that they could have a solid backing…

It sounded ridiculous in Stephen's ears.

At the same time, he had no doubt that if there was someone who tried to break away from the Carson Family, the others will definitely rush over to stop them or take advantage of the situation and destroy them before they could get out.

Because only if they were thoroughly crushed would it be possible for them not to affect their interest.

"No one can shine far too brightly and one can't be too bad either because it'll be trash." Stephen turned around without looking at his father. "Isn't this the way it has always been in the Carson Family?"

If they were too good, the others would be jealous and would do whatever they could to drag him or her down. Because they didn't want someone who was too good and possibly overshadow everyone else.

Old Master Carson also didn't like having a descendant who was too good because it would be hard to control the other party.

But if they were useless, it would be even worse.

Unless there was someone who protected them, the Carson Family would not even be willing to let them grow up and would rather throw them away like trash. That was what had happened to some people who ended up unable to do anything back then.

Stephen's father's face turned pale.

He looked at his son's departing back and silently lowered his head.

There was nothing that he could do.

This is the cruel reality of someone who had lived in this cruel and cold family for decades.

…

While Stephen and Sophia were still living well in the Carson Family, the stiff atmosphere made Sophia realized that the family was different from before.

She didn't need her brother to explain it to her.

From the very beginning, Sophia knew very well that it was impossible for the Carson Family to place their bets on her and her brother all the time.

With so many people greedy to advance and take the dominant position in the family, how could it be possible for them to stay quiet and watch as Stephen and Sophia were advancing step by step?

They should have their own plans.

But Sophia didn't think that it was strange and chose not to care about it. The resources from the Carson Family was very scarce and she herself knew that she would be too naive if she thought that she could rely on it for the rest of her life.