Chapter 854
Chapter 853:
Arthur and Milton will never truly see Wanda as one of their own. Your engagement to Wanda won’t heal old wounds—it will rip them open and make them worse p>
His gaze locked with Cole’s. “I fear the fragile peace we bought with Eva’s exile will shatter in your generation. If our family and the Campbell family clash, both will fall. There will be no winners p>
Cole met his eyes calmly. “You have nothing to worry about, Grandpa. My engagement to Wanda is over p>
Ruben froze. “You’ve broken it off p>
Cole nodded. “Mom insisted I marry the real Campbell heiress, not an adopted girl. The engagement was never valid p>
“They have a real daughter?” Ruben asked sharply, leaning forward.
“I only just found out myself.” And with that, Cole laid out the whole story for his grandfather.
Ruben’s expression hardened with shock. “So Arthur’s first wife didn’t die… she ran away pregnant?” He shook his head slowly. “But even if there’s a true heiress, she could be anywhere—if she’s still alive. How would you find her, much less marry her p>
Lilah’s face flickered in Cole’s mind. A slow, knowing smile curved his lips. “I’ve already found her, Grandpa p>
Ruben’s eyes widened. “You have? Where is she? Who is she? What’s she like p>
“I can’t say yet,” Cole said, his tone firm but apologetic. The Campbells hadn’t announced her return. He couldn’t blurt out such a thing. He owed it to them to respect their family’s secrets.
Ruben didn’t seem upset—if anything, relief washed over his face. “Good. That’s good. As long as it’s not Wanda. And if you can truly marry the Campbell family’s real daughter, then p>
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He stopped mid-sentence, his joy giving way to a thoughtful look. No matter who Cole married, Elliana’s shadow would always linger. But he couldn’t expect Cole to remain single forever. With Elliana gone, maybe it was a blessing that Cole remembered nothing of her. Marrying the true Campbell heiress could be the perfect answer—a union to finally heal the damage Eva had done. At least, in theory. Yet, the question was… would the long-lost Campbell daughter even agree to marry Cole?
The Evans and Campbell families had once shared an unbreakable bond, their alliance forged through decades of mutual respect. Without Eva’s actions years before, their peaceful relationship would have endured indefinitely.
Yet, Eva’s reckless actions had poisoned everything. Arthur, who now commanded the Campbell family with iron authority, nursed a bitter hatred toward the Evans name that burned deeper with each passing year. The possibility of another marriage alliance between their houses seemed as distant as reconciling fire with ice.
When Cole had proposed to Wanda, Arthur and Milton had deliberately kept their silence. Their indifference stemmed from a cruel truth—they had never acknowledged Wanda as legitimate Campbell blood. Her romantic entanglements held no significance for them whatsoever.
However, if Cole dared propose to the biological heiress of the Campbell dynasty, both Arthur and Milton would unleash their fury without restraint.
Ruben’s mind raced through countless scenarios in those tense seconds. He lifted his gaze to meet Cole’s determined stare and spoke with careful hesitation. “Cole, I understand your desire to claim the real Campbell heiress as your bride, but have you considered whether she wants to marry you p>