Fortune Kensington wasn't a fool; he knew exactly what he was doing.

So what if they were related by blood?

Long ago, he'd already given up on his so-called son, daughter-in-law, and even his biological granddaughter. The disappointment ran deep-so deep, in fact, that when he signed the document severing ties with Ernest Kensington and Iliana Hadley, it was them he'd given up on, not Bonnie Hadley. For a while, he still clung to a shred of hope for Bonnie. After all, she was his granddaughter by blood. That wasn't something you could fake, and to Fortune's mind, children should never have to pay for the mistakes of adults.

But two encounters afterward shattered whatever illusions he had left. The first time, Iliana had jabbed a finger in his face, hurling insults and calling him a shameless old man. Fortune had foolishly believed that Bonnie, his own flesh and blood, would at least take his side.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

Bonnie's reaction was even crueler than Iliana's. What had she said? He remembered it word for word: "My mom's right, old man. You should take a good look at yourself. We're not even in the same league anymore, so keep your distance. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."

Hearing those words, Fortune felt an icy sorrow settle in his heart. To be called "old man" with such contempt by his own granddaughter-that kind of pain, he thought, was impossible for anyone else to understand.

From that day forward, he made a quiet decision: from now on, Caitlin Kensington was his only granddaughter.

Now, hearing Fortune's words, Bonnie's face crumpled. She was on the verge of tears. “Grandpa, it's me, Bonnie! Don't you want me anymore?" Her voice trembled with not just hurt, but fear. She was terrified that Fortune really meant to cut her off.

Without Fortune and Caitlin, how could she ever hope to climb her way into the Richards or the Gonzales family? Back when Caitlin married Julian Chandler, Bonnie had been green with envy-but even ten Chandler families couldn't compare to the Richards or the Gonzales.

And now, Fortune was casting her aside, just like that? How could she accept it? She knew this might be her one and only chance to get close to real high society.

In the past, if he'd seen Bonnie so upset, Fortune would have forgiven her in a heartbeat. But now, he saw the truth. He understood exactly why Ernest, Iliana, and Bonnie had shown up at his door. They'd heard something-some rumor or news. They hadn't come for family. They'd come to latch on, to take advantage.

As a grandfather, Fortune couldn't allow anyone to harm Caitlin. That girl had suffered enough. Now that she'd finally been found by her real family, she deserved a chance at happiness—not to be used, drained, and exploited by those who should have protected her.

In the past, his granddaughter had always stepped up to defend him, shielding him from life's storms. This time, it was his turn to stand in front, to shield her from the world.

With that thought, Fortune fixed Bonnie with a cold stare and let out a sharp huff. "Don't call me Grandpa. I have only one granddaughter, and her name is Catie."

Now, real fear flashed in Bonnie's eyes. Fortune had never spoken to her like this, not in her whole life.

Could it be that he truly didn't want her anymore?

Bonnie burst into tears. "Grandpa, but I'm your real granddaughter!"

Across the room, Iliana and Ernest exchanged a meaningful glance. Iliana quickly chimed in, her tone suddenly conciliatory. "Dad, families shouldn't hold grudges, should they? We're here to see you in person, aren't we? And you were always against Ernest taking my last name, weren't you? Well, we've talked it over, and we've decided-Bonnie will take your surname. She'll be Bonnie Kensington from now on. We'll make sure the Kensington name lives on."