Chapter 194

For the first time in many years, the Winthrope family had a reason to truly celebrate.

The large dining hall was filled with warmth, soft music, and carefully arranged dishes. The long dining table sparkled under the golden chandelier above it. Laughter” floated in the large room, something rare in the Winthrope household.

Everything seemed perfect for them.

Rebecca Winthrope sat at the head of the table, her face glowing with happiness. Her smile was wide and proud.

Across from her sat her husband, Brian Winthrope. His posture was relaxed and his expression pleased as he watched his daughter and the man seated beside her.

Delphine Winthrope was glowing too.

Joy filled her from the inside out. Everything she had worked for-schemed for-had finally fallen into place.

Bringing a Wyndham into her family had been her dream for years. She had chased Gabriel relentlessly, but she had failed.

And yet, here she was. Life had given her a second chance.

Who would have thought that Carl’s resemblance to Gabriel was not a coincidence, but fate playing its cruel and clever game? Different man. Same blood, and same power.This time, she would not fail.

Carl Wyndham sat beside Delphine, calmly cutting his steak into neat pieces. His movements were controlled and graceful. He chewed slowly, as if he had all the time in the world.

Anyone watching closely could almost mistake him for Gabriel.

He has the same posture as his brother, Gabriel. Same quiet confidence, and the same commanding presence.

Only the difference in their eye color separated them.

Rebecca studied him closely and felt a strange shiver pass through her. For a brief moment, she could have sworn Gabriel Wyndham himself was sitting in her home.

But this was Carl.

And he was a very important guest. A Wyndham by blood.

That alone made the night worthy of celebration.

However, not everyone at the table shared the same joy.

At the far end of the table sat an old man-very old, probably in his late seventies. His presence alone changed the atmosphere of the room. Untike Delphine and her parents, whose faces were full of contentment, the old man looked unimpressed.

Stephen Winthrope. Delphine’s grandfather.Time had marked him deeply, but it had not weakened him. He was tall, unusually tall for his age, with broad shoulders that still carried strength. His back was straight, his posture rigid, like a soldier who had never truly retired from war.

His face was hard.

Deep lines carved his forehead and cheeks, not from laughter, but from years of cruelty, anger, and power. A long scar ran from the corner of his forehead down to his left brow, disappearing slightly near his eye. It looked old and violent, the kind of wound that came from bloodshed, and not from accidents.

His brown eyes were sharp and cold.

They missed nothing.

Two bulky men stood behind him, tall and muscular, dressed in dark suits. Their faces were emotionless. They did not eat. They did not speak. All they did was watch everything.

Carl didn’t need anyone to tell him that these men are dangerous.

If this were a movie, he thought, these men would be criminals. Enforcers or Mafia guards. The kind of men who could pull a gun without blinking.

The old man focused on his food, eating slowly, without interest. His face showed boredom, as if the entiregathering meant nothing to him. And the men behind him stood alert, like predators waiting for a signal to attack.

Carl knew one thing for sure. This man was dangerous.

And no one should mess with him.

“So,” the old man finally spoke.

His voice was deep and rough, Like gravel scraping against a stone. The sound cut through the room and instantly silenced everyone.

“Sorry,” he continued, lifting his eyes to Carl. “What did you say your name was again?”

His brown eyes locked onto Carl’s, sharp and heavy, as if trying to pierce into his soul.

“Grandfather,” Delphine quickly said with a polite smile, “I thought I already told you his-”

“Let the man speak for himself,” the old man said coldly, dismissing her with a small wave of his hand.

Deiphine stiffened but said nothing.

Carl remained calm. He wasn’t intimidated. If anything, he looked composed.

“My name is Carl Wyndham,” he said clearly, without blinking.

His voice was steady and strong.The old man studied him silently.

“What happened to your brother?” Stephen asked suddenly.

The question was not expected.

Carl was caught off guard. He had not expected that question. Not now. Not here. For a brief second, his heart skipped. But he was an actor, at least, a good one.

He opened his mouth to respond-

“Never mind,” the old man interrupted sharply.

He reached for a napkin, wiped his mouth slowly, then placed it back on the table with deliberate care. The moment he dropped the napkin, he turned his full attention back to Carl.

“Carl,” he said calmly, “I am a very blunt man. I do not waste time.”

The room grew tense.

“If you truly want to marry my granddaughter,” he continued, “and considering how unstable your family is at changing their heir. I demand a settlement of twenty billion dollars.”

Gasps echoed softly around the table.

“To be paid to my daughter,” he added. “That way, if anything happens in the future, she will not be thrownaway like a used rag.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Can you get your family to accept that term?”

Carl felt the weight of the question immediately. This was not about money.

This was a test.

Stephen Winthrope was testing his power. His authority.

He was testing his position in the Wyndham family.

Gabriel would never ask permission to spend such money.

That is how powerful and wealthy he is.

And the old man wanted to know if Carl could stand where Gabriel stood.

Carl lifted his head slightly and smiled. He met the old man’s eyes without fear.

“Why do I need my family’s approval to spend my money?”

Carl asked calmly.

The room froze.

“With all due respect, sir,” he continued, “I am not a puppet. And I am not a pushover.”

Delphine’s breath caught.

“But if you want assurance,” Carl added evenly, “we can settle it right here, right now. I love Delphine, and I wanther to be my wife.”

Silence felt heavy in the room. Everyone stared at Carl.

Their mouths hung open. And their hearts raced.

Stephen Winthrope remained expressionless. For a moment, he studied Carl carefully, and slowly, from head to toe.

Then, suddenly-He laughed. It was a loud, deep laugh that echoed through the room.

He stood up and stretched out his hand.

“You’re welcome to my family, Carl,” he said. “I like you.”

He smiled darkly. “You’re even better than your brother.”

Carl stood and shook the old man’s hand calmly.

“Thank you, sir,” he replied. “Shall we get to business now?”

Stephen laughed again, louder this time. “Why would I take such money from you?” he said. “That was only a test.”

He patted Carl’s shoulder. “You’ve proven you can protect my granddaughter.” He turned toward his family. “I have other business to attend to,” he said. “Start planning the wedding. I approve of this one.”

The game had just become far more dangerous now.