They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 473: What Family Means to Me

If his grandchildren were thrown out, he would never be offended.

Stephanie felt her throat go dry. In that moment, she finally understood, she had overestimated her place in Carl’s life by miles.

The one person who fully understood what was happening was Elder Knox.

He knew Carl better than almost anyone alive.

People often said Carl was a man who valued loyalty and friendship, and that was true. But what many failed to realize was that he valued family even more, sometimes to a degree that bordered on unshakable devotion.

Elder Knox had quietly kept tabs on Carl over the years. He had been sworn brothers with Carl’s grandfather and had watched the boy grow from a remarkable child into the formidable young man before them.

When Carl’s parents died so suddenly, Elder Knox had worried he might never recover. That kind of loss could hollow a person out.

But not Carl.

Not only had he survived, but he had carved his name deeper into the annals of power and had been steadily reclaiming control over his kingdom with an almost frightening steadiness.

And every year, without fail, on the anniversary of his parents’ deaths, Carl would leave whatever matters he was handling, no matter how important, and return to Riverum Castle.

No one knew exactly what he did there during those twenty four hours. He never spoke of it.

But the next day, he would reappear, composed as ever, and resume his duties as though nothing had happened.

His personality never wavered. His focus never slipped.

It was this unyielding steadiness, and that quiet, hidden grief, that made Elder Knox realize just how much the simple word family meant to Carl.

And from what Elder Knox had observed over the years, Carl wasn’t faking it or putting on some flawless act. He was genuinely kind, patient, gentle, and caring, a man with a rare depth of emotional intelligence.

Till today, Elder Knox still couldn’t understand how someone who had walked through so much tragedy could come out of it all...undamaged. Yet, somehow, Carl had.

This mystery only made Elder Knox respect him more, fueling his curiosity and admiration. Again and again, he found himself drawn to Carl’s side, choosing to work alongside him just to stay close and learn from this remarkable young man.

After years of collaboration, Elder Knox was certain of one thing, Carl didn’t just say he valued someone; he proved it through every action, every small detail.

man had learned, it was this: the people Carl accepted as

his family. And now that he had openly acknowledged a little sister, something he had never done before, it was obvious he already placed her above

Carl doted on this sister of his very much. The way he defended her, without hesitation or care for appearances,

his granddaughter looked far less pleasing to the eye. She lacked the level of discernment he always believed she had. Clearly, she was less refined and far more arrogant than

praised her too much...so much

coldly, that he was here today

the list in his mind. The opportunity he had planned to give her, he would never waste it now, even if she

and trying to persuade

on someone who couldn’t even read the

too much arguing and wasted energy later, Elder Knox decided he would have a long talk with his son and daughter in law. They needed to hear the truth, how they had failed in raising

wasn’t too late to correct them, to humble them before their

to himself, a deep wave of

I was actually planning to recommend her to Carl...even

the thought. She had always liked Arthur ever since she was a little girl, but even a blind fool could see she would never get anywhere with

one person

and uncertainty, not

Unmoving.

Loyal to a fault.

that made Stephanie’s shallow scheming look

a sinking feeling that Arthur was simply destined to be alone. And if he kept clinging to memories of that girl, refusing to look forward,

parents were alive, they would have returned long ago. Elder Knox had accepted that

better choice for his granddaughter. Carl

if Stephanie married Carl, she

But now...

realized with cold clarity that

down, he thought, a trace of shame flickering in his chest. Even mentioning her name to him

that tragedy didn’t have to break a person’s spirit. Only

other hand, was only now truly realizing how serious the situation had become. A chill spread through her chest, her confident calculations unraveling one

her eyes to her grandfather, silently pleading for help, for some kind of rescue. But Elder Knox only looked away, his expression distant and

create opportunities for her to get close to

with all her heart that if she could just stay close enough, she could make Arthur forget his first love. She was certain

control Carl, her father and mother had

than once to smooth her path. And it had been so much more than enough, so much privilege and