Carol finished her dinner alone, the clinking of silverware against the plate her only company. The maid, quiet as a mouse, ventured a question, "Shall I set aside sfor him?" "No need. He can dine on the cold comfort of the night air." The maid dared not utter another word and continued to wipe down the table in silence.

After dinner, Carol retreated to her bedroom for a soothing bath.

As she was about to sink into her bed, her phone buzzed with a message from her father, Abner.

It turns out Felix hadn't lied-Abner wasn't locked away from the world. He was still in touch with the outside, and now, a team of professionals was tending to his health. Carol breathed a sigh of relief.

[Carol, what are you up to?] [Heading to bed, Dad. How are you feeling?] [Not too bad. Survived the slammer without kicking the bucket, must be the old Miller family luck.] Carol, completely missing the undertone in her father's text, felt a flare of anger.

sorry. It's all my fault.] No sooner had she sent

casually placed a chess piece on the board and, without a second thought, declared to his buddy across the table, "Checkmate. You lost, my friend." His friend, cursing under his breath, put down his own piece and took a deep

snagged a fine son-in-law. Carol's your only child, and everyone in que circle has eyes on your fortune Now, Felix, with his heart of stone, has taken over, yet he didn't even dare

of the inheritance, but ingrained attitudes always favored sons as

nor he taken any mistresses, so Carol

other wealthy families, you'd find a slew of illegitimate children vying to take over

leaving the fortune to a daughter meant handing it over

the old fox was done for. He had

his negligence. They couldn't imagine the life Felix led with a sickly little girl by his side all these years, They even considered bringing extra treats for Abner when

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