That warmth was something she had never possessed in her first twenty years. Though their time together was short, the love they gave was enough to sustain her through her darkest days. Clara wiped away her tears, a faint smile touching her lips:

"Thank you, Mom and Dad."

"I’ll take good care of Grandmother and live a good life. You can rest easy."

The wind blew gently, rustling the fallen leaves as if in response. She sat in the cemetery for a long time, only standing to bow deeply to the tombstone after Grandmother called. She walked away, looking back with every few steps.

...

Just as Clara parked her car in front of her house, several dark shadows darted out, quickly surrounding her. Her heart tightened; she gripped her phone and stared warily at the men in black:

"Who are you? What do you want?"

With a "click," the door of a black Bentley opened. Elder Miller, dressed in a black tunic suit and leaning on a dragon-headed cane, walked over slowly. He sized Clara up and let out a cold laugh:

"Clara Miller, it's only been a few months, but you've certainly grown bold. You actually dare to touch Miller family property!"

Clara’s heart sank. She hadn't expected Elder Miller to come knocking so soon. But she quickly suppressed her panic, straightened her back, and spoke calmly:

"I didn't realize Elder Miller would visit in person. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Something?" Elder Miller slammed his cane heavily against the ground. "By what right did you transfer the Miller Group shares to Julian Moore?"

"You know perfectly well the Moore family is watching us like hawks, and Ethan even crippled Julian’s brother’s hand for your sake. You ungrateful wolf—are you trying to push the Miller family into a fire pit?"

He took a step forward, his tone threatening:

"Go and get those shares back for me right now. Otherwise, you won't get a single cent of the inheritance your parents left behind!"

As he spoke, his gaze was like a poisoned blade, as if he wanted to swallow Clara alive. When she first started dating Ethan, Elder Miller had been the most vocal opponent. Therefore, even after she had been married into the family for years, he still viewed her as a thorn in his side.

In the past, for Ethan's sake, she had to lower herself to please him. But now, that was no longer necessary. Clara met his gaze, neither humble nor arrogant:

"Elder Miller must be getting senile. Years ago, when the Miller family was plotted against and on the verge of bankruptcy, it was I who brought out all my parents' assets to help you weather the storm. How did that become Miller family property?"

"As for the shares, Ethan gave them to me. I can dispose of them however I wish; you have no right to interfere with my decision."

"Instead of asking me, why don't you ask the other shareholders of the group why they are no longer willing to risk their lives for you!"

Elder Miller was greedy, and many people had long been dissatisfied with him in private. Furthermore, she held quite a bit of evidence in her hands.

"You!"

Flushed with rage, Elder Miller raised his cane to strike Clara. "I see you've truly lost all sense of propriety, daring to speak to me like this!"

Just as the cane was about to fall, a figure suddenly rushed over and shielded her. The cane landed heavily on Ethan’s back. He shuddered, letting out a stifled groan as fine beads of cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.

Elder Miller was beyond furious, pointing his cane at Ethan’s nose:

"Ethan Miller, you actually dare to defy me for a woman like this! Do you still have any respect for me as your grandfather?!"

"Grandfather, you promised me you wouldn't hurt Clara." Ethan gritted his teeth, enduring the piercing pain in his back, his voice hoarse. "How can you go back on your word?"

Elder Miller’s anger intensified:

"Ethan Miller, are you determined to provoke me until I drop dead?"

"What kind of spell has this woman cast on you to make you willingly endure ninety-nine lashes of family discipline and kneel in the ancestral hall for half a month?"

"She has already sold you out, yet you're still protecting her and speaking up for her!"

Looking at his hunched back, Clara’s heart suddenly constricted. So, that was how Ethan’s injuries had come about.

Clara shoved him aside:

"Elder Miller, I'll tell you the truth. It’s not that Ethan is unwilling to give it to you—it’s that the family assets are in my hands!"

Chapter 20

"What?!"

Elder Miller and Ethan both stared with wide eyes. Clara smiled:

"Naturally, Ethan cannot give you something he doesn't have. And I will never give it to you."

"You ungrateful girl!" Elder Miller’s cane shook with rage as he shouted to his men, "Hold her down and take her back to teach her a proper lesson!"

The men in black moved forward immediately. Clara turned to run, but within a few steps, she was cornered against a wall with nowhere to retreat. Just as a man reached out to grab her arm, a sharp, cold male voice rang out:

"Who dares to touch her?!"

Felix Sullivan pushed through the crowd and shielded her.

"If any of you touches a hair on her head, you are making an enemy of the Sullivan family. If you have the guts, come and try."

"The... Sullivan family?"

The faces of the men in black turned pale instantly, and they dared not step forward. Clara was also shocked by this news. She had heard Ethan mention that the Sullivans were a top-tier elite family in the city. The head of the family was ruthless and extremely protective of his own. They were not only fabulously wealthy but also possessed immense power in both the legal and underground worlds. No one dared to offend even a distant relative of the Sullivan family.

Back in school, she only thought Felix came from a well-to-do background; she never imagined he was a member of the Sullivans!

The air seemed to freeze. Elder Miller walked over with his cane, but when he saw Felix’s face clearly, his pupils contracted. "Retreat at once!"

He stepped forward quickly, his attitude softening instantly:

"So it is the eldest young master of the Sullivan family. Why are you here? Could it be... you know this granddaughter-in-law of mine?"

He had long heard that Felix was the "maverick" of the Sullivan family. Despite being the rightful heir, he insisted on making his own way. In truth, Elder Miller actually admired this Sullivan heir whom he had only seen in photos. But with Felix appearing so suddenly, he couldn't tell if the man was simply acting as a Good Samaritan or had come specifically for Clara.

Felix’s face remained cold:

"I haven't been back for a few years, and I didn't realize the Miller family had become so tyrannical. Daring to kidnap someone in broad daylight?"

The warning in his words was clear. Elder Miller’s lip twitched:

"Master Sullivan must be joking. I am a law-abiding citizen."

Realizing he couldn't take Clara away today no matter what, he said with a forced smile, "It's all a misunderstanding. I'll take my men back now."

But just as he took a step, Felix called out: "Wait."

"Clara Miller is my person now. Don't let me find out you're troubling her again. Otherwise, there will be no need for the Miller family to exist."

This blatant threat caused Elder Miller’s face to darken completely, yet he dared not argue. He could not afford to offend the Sullivans.

At this point, Ethan still wanted to step forward to pull Clara, but Elder Miller grabbed him firmly. "You wretched obstacle! Can't you see the situation? This is no time for impulsiveness. Let's go!"

Ethan looked back at Clara unwillingly one last time, but in the end, he was dragged away by Elder Miller.

After the crowd dispersed, Felix’s tense body finally relaxed. He let out a long breath and turned to Clara, his gaze instantly softening:

"They're finally gone. Clara, are you alright? Were you frightened?"

Clara shook her head, her heart full of gratitude:

"How did you know I was in danger?"

Felix scratched his head, his tone carrying a hint of lingering fear:

"Grandmother told me to come over for dinner after work. I waited a long time and didn't see you return, so I felt uneasy and came out to find you."

"When I saw those men surrounding you, I rushed over. Thank goodness you're alright, otherwise I..."

He stopped himself before finishing. But the concern in his eyes was impossible to hide. Clara looked at him, her eyes becoming slightly misty. "Felix, thank you. Sincerely."

The first time, Felix had rescued her from the car accident. The second time, Felix had helped her protect Grandmother and allowed her to recover so quickly. The third time, to help her escape a predicament, he had publicly acknowledged the Sullivan heir identity he was so unwilling to accept. Clara felt she owed him far too much and had no idea how she could ever repay him.