Ann was positively brimming with satisfaction as she grinned. "Mom, are you sure Caitlin really signed that bet-on-success deal with the board?"

Amanda nodded confidently. "Of course it's true. I saw the contract with my own eyes."

Things had unfolded exactly as Amanda predicted. The board had never really considered Ann a viable successor, but ever since Keira brought Caitlin into the picture, the directors suddenly decided Ann was the ideal heir for Gonzales Holdings.

Relief washed over Ann's face.

A sly gleam flickered in Amanda's eyes. "Ann, all you need to do now is sit tight and wait for Caitlin to get kicked out of Gonzales Holdings."

The following morning.

Old Mrs. Ryan and Carla paid a visit to the Gonzales family estate.

The two elderly ladies hadn't seen each other in decades. As soon as they met, they fell into each other's arms, overcome with emotion.

Keira's eyes were rimmed red. "Twenty years-it's been twenty years since we last saw each other."

Old Mrs. Ryan dabbed at her tears. "You're telling me. The last time I visited the Gonzales family, Freya was just a month old. In the blink of an eye, she's already twenty. Where is she, by the way?"

She glanced around the room in search of a young girl, but didn't spot anyone fitting the description.

Carla, equally curious, peered inside as well. She'd been dying to know what the long-lost Gonzales granddaughter looked like.

"Freya's inside," Keira said. “Come on, let's go in." As she spoke, she finally noticed Carla standing to one side and hesitated. "Wait, are you... Carla?"

Twenty years ago, Carla had been a striking young woman. Now, nearly fifty, she had changed so much that Keira barely recognized her.

Carla smiled warmly. "Yes, ma'am, it's me."

Keira reached out and squeezed Carla's hand, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Where's Farrell? Why didn't he come with you?"

Carla couldn't very well admit that Farrell was afraid of being pestered by Caitlin, so she simply replied with a smile, "He's busy with work. He said he'd stop by to visit another day."

Keira nodded with understanding. "Young folks are always so busy these days." She took both Old Mrs. Ryan and Carla by the hand. “Let's talk inside, shall we?" They all made their way to the living room.

Barely had they stepped in when Carla caught sight of an astonishingly beautiful young woman.

She looked about eighteen or nineteen, her features delicate and striking, a natural, unadorned beauty that seemed to glow without a hint of artificiality. Even just standing. there in silence, she radiated an air of grace and quiet distinction.

Carla had never seen a girl so lovely, and she was taken aback.

Who was this? Judging by the situation, she must be the Gonzales family's granddaughter, Ann.

After all, Caitlin was from the

countryside. Girls from rural backgrounds were usually sallow and thin, nothing like the pale, luminous beauty before her. This girl was practically glowing-she didn't look like someone who'd grown up in hardship.

So, this couldn't be Caitlin.

And Carla had heard plenty about Ann, the famously beautiful granddaughter of the Gonzales family.

Just then, Keira waved the girl over. "Freya, come here, darling."

"Grandma," Caitlin called, smiling as she walked over.

The word "Grandma" made Carla freeze in her tracks.

Wait-could this be Freya, the granddaughter they just found?

Good heavens.

Carla was floored. She'd never imagined that the supposedly unpresentable granddaughter of the Gonzales family would be so breathtaking.

Keira looped her arm through Caitlin's, her face soft with affection. "Freya, let me introduce you. This is Grandma Ryart who I've told you so much about, and this is Mrs Ryan

Caitlin greeted them politely. "It's lovely to meet you, Grandma Ryan. Mrs. Ryan."

Old Mrs. Ryan could only stare at Caitlin in shock, her face a mirror of Carla's disbelief.