The Jilted Heiress' Return to the High Life - Chapter 520

Chapter 520:

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Corrine’s attention drifted to the small box on the table.

Something about it seemed familiar. Then, recognition struck—Evelyn had given this very box to Nate when they left her home last time.

But what did it have to do with the Ford family?

As the thought crossed her mind, Nate spoke.

“Since it has already been presented, there’s no reason to take it back.”

With that, he straightened.

“I have other matters to tend to. If you’ll excuse me.”

“Take care, Mr. Hopkins,” Carl said, rising slightly in his seat as a courtesy. Once Nate was gone, he settled back down.

Corrine studied her grandfather before letting her gaze drift to the box again. She reached for the coffee pot and refilled Carl’s mug.

“Is what’s inside really that important?”

Carl didn’t respond right away. Instead, he simply held her in a steady gaze.

“Corrine.”

“Yes?” She instinctively turned toward him, meeting his eyes.

Carl’s gaze, typically warm and kind, sharpened with rare intensity. The usual gentleness in his eyes was absent as he regarded her with quiet solemnity.

“It’s been a while since you last visited your mother’s grave, hasn’t it? Find time to go. If there was anyone she cherished most in this world, it was you.”

Corrine lowered her gaze, her lips pressing into a thin line as her hands curled into fists on her lap.

𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮: gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫸ⅽ𝗼𝗺

After a brief pause, she took a steadying breath and forced a faint smile.

“I understand, Grandpa.”

“Would you like to open the box and see what’s inside?” Carl asked, taking a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze flicking toward her.

“It’s just some jade pendant, isn’t it?” Corrine replied without thinking.

The second the words left her mouth, she tensed, instantly regretting it.

She had slipped—there was no way she could keep her connection to Nate a secret now.

Yet, Carl didn’t press her. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his eyes. His voice carried a trace of intrigue.

“Aren’t you even the slightest bit curious about where this marriage arrangement came from?”

Corrine had plenty of questions about the sudden arrangement. Suppressing the storm of thoughts racing through her mind, she met Carl’s gaze with unguarded honesty.

“Why am I only hearing about this now?”

“The details of this arrangement… even I don’t fully know them.” Carl sighed, his voice laced with quiet melancholy.

“To be honest, I never expected the Hopkins family to bring out the token after all these years. For so long, with no word from them, I had assumed they had long abandoned the agreement.”

Carl’s usual warmth gave way to solemn determination as his sharp gaze settled on her.

“Corrine, if you don’t want this, even if it costs the entire Ford family, I will see to it that this arrangement is canceled.” His words carried an unwavering resolve.

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