Just moments ago, all the criticism had been directed at Keith. He managed to shift the attention to others through his own efforts. Just then, emotions that had been simmering inside Keith began to surface. If he was going to speak, he decided he would lay everything bare—about fairness and injustice and his experiences living with the Ritter family.Keith said calmly, "Elders, it's pointless to keep certain matters hidden. Although no one says it outright, it's clear that the heir position affects many people's interests. I understand that none of you want me to be the heir."Keith spoke with unflinching honesty, showing no hesitation. Even York, who had originally intended to stop him, chose to listen quietly to what his child had to say. Keith's words were genuine. The family meeting was mired in conflicting interests. Known for his aloof and detached demeanor, Keith struggled with maintaining good relationships with the Ritters. Unlike the charming and savvy Monica, he had l
"Smile?""Yeah. You look really unhappy now." Summer noticed that Keith and James were very similar in their demeanor. Neither was fond of smiling and in many ways, they mirrored each other, which explained why they were often seen as rivals.As Keith gripped the steering wheel, he said, "I'm happy now, but there's no need to show it with a smile." He paused briefly as the wind tousled his hair, and his blue eyes glinted mysteriously under the moonlight. He added, "Heirs like us aren't supposed to smile. Isn't James the same?"This reminded Summer of what James had once told her: heirs weren't allowed to smile. Being born into elite families meant being raised in a serious and solemn environment where emotions were kept at bay. Over time, this conditioning placed reason above emotion, making feelings seem like useless things discarded into the trash.James also had another explanation: smiling can betray one's true feelings. So, maintaining a blank expression was his best d
Keith's words struck a chord with Summer. Earlier that afternoon, she had seen many elders of considerable stature at the Ritter family's ancestral hall. Despite their titles, they were merely distant relatives who collectively formed the Ritter family clan. Keith was part of the core family of the Ritter clan, also known as the central branch. They held the greatest control over the family's wealth and power.The other Ritters formed the side branches; they could only share a fraction of the family's assets. Keith's desire to become the heir was driven by his determination to avoid the fate of his relatives—living at the mercy of others, surviving on scraps, and constantly having to appease those in power. If Keith couldn't be the heir, then Monica would. When she was in ultimate control of the future, she would definitely keep Keith in check."Survival of the fittest, and the victor takes all. This is how the world works," Keith remarked casually. However, Summer couldn't accep
"Changing the terms isn't that bad, is it? I thought you weren't keen on the idea of matchmaking with my friend in the first place." Keith had initially been reluctant about Summer’s proposed matchmaking. He'd only agreed because she promised to help him secure his position as heir. Now, with the terms changing, his resistance was surprising."Keith, are you saying you'd rather go on a date with my friend than change the conditions?" Summer pressed."Exactly." He gave a slight smile that resembled that of a sly fox with an evil plan.It wasn't surprising. Comparing the two options, going on a date with Kelly was a better deal than helping Summer accomplish something. The matchmaking session was just one meeting, and whether it worked out or not was entirely up to Keith. On the other hand, agreeing to help Summer with an unspecified future task could potentially be much more demanding. After weighing the options, Keith decided it was better to stick with the original agreement ra
Summer couldn't shake the feeling that if Kelly and Keith met, something bad would happen. She decided to warn her friend when the time came. As she entered her house and turned on the lights, she saw someone sitting on the sofa—it was James. Despite it being midnight, he was still awake."James, what's up?" Summer asked."I was waiting for you. I was a bit worried since you weren’t back yet.""Oh, I see. I'm back now. I just finished helping Keith."James was aware Summer had gone to help Keith clear things up. Honesty was important in their relationship, so she had explained everything before heading to the Ritter residence.When Summer sat down on the sofa, James put his arm around her shoulders. "Are you tired, Summie?""I'm not really tired; everything went smoothly, and Keith managed to keep his place as the heir.""That's good to hear," James replied, his usually stern expression softening, giving him a tranquil appearance. He wasn't concerned about Keith's issues—h
"Well… Keith is a complicated person. He's kind of a psychopath," Summer said. She had used "psychopath" because it seemed the most fitting way to describe him.Kelly looked puzzled, her face full of disbelief. "Are you serious, Summie? You're not lying to me, right?"Summer realized Kelly might have misunderstood. She likely thought "psychopath" meant Keith had a mental illness. In reality, Keith didn't have any psychological disorders—his personality was just a bit twisted.For a moment, Summer was unsure whether to tell Kelly everything about Keith. After all, a lot had happened with him. He'd accidentally caused his brother's death, was ostracized by his family, had a dark personality, and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.Since Kelly was going for a matchmaking session with Keith, Summer felt she deserved to know what kind of person she was dealing with. Even though it was unlikely they would end up together after just one date, Summer thought it was necessary fo
"I want to go on the date. I didn't have much interest at first, but after hearing so much about Keith from you, I want to see what he's really like," Kelly said, her curiosity piqued."Are you crazy, Kelly?" Summer exclaimed in panic. She always tried to avoid Keith, and now Kelly was eager to meet him. Summer wondered if her best friend had lost her mind.Gripping Kelly's arms, Summer earnestly said, "Don't joke around, Kelly. I'm afraid you'll get into trouble. Keith isn't as simple as you think.""Summie, don't worry about me. I'm not a child anymore. It's just a meeting, not anything serious. You don't have to be so concerned." Kelly smiled brightly, her eyes filled with a longing curiosity, like a bird in a cage yearning for the sky. She was now captivated by the idea of meeting Keith and was determined not to back down until she had.Summer was amazed and worried, wondering if she was sending her friend into the lion's den."Kelly, have you really thought this through?" S
Kelly still looked cheerful and excited. "I don't think Keith is as awful as you claim he is," she said softly. "Isn't he in quite a pitiful state? It's not like he wanted to get his brother killed. He doesn't want to be shunned by his family either.""There's a reason why people ostracize him, you know?" In Summer's opinion, Keith brought everything upon himself. He was arrogant and cold—who wouldn't want to avoid him? Since he was James' good friend, she initially wanted to help him out. To her dismay, he repeatedly tried to sabotage her relationship with James. Now, she couldn't care less about him.Kelly disagreed and insisted on defending him. "His personality is shaped by society. Deep down, I believe that he yearns for human interaction and affection, too. No one wants to be alone in this world. He's probably this way because he has no other choice."Her voice was extremely soft and gentle, which was unlike her. She usually spoke in a carefree and direct manner. If