Chapter 552
Keira made a special visit today to complete her third task.

….
Her Guardian wanted her to enter into a matrimonial alliance with Scott, essentially to win over the support of the Martin family.

So, her reason for coming today was to see if there were any opportunities to cooperate with the Martin family.

To her surprise, old Mr. Martin rejected her outright with just a sentence.

Keira’s expression grew tense.

Erin then said, “Grandpa, things don’t have to be so absolute! Engaged by tomorrow? That’s too soon! And my brother really doesn’t like Vera!”

Even when Erin had said so much, Vera still remained composed and casually leaned back as if she were watching someone else’s joke unfold.

It was as if not being liked by Scott didn’t affect her at all.

Keira truly admired how tough she was.

Old Mr. Martin looked directly at Erin. “This has nothing to do with you. Shut your mouth!”

“I won’t!”

Erin huffed. “How does this have nothing to do with me? Keira is Charles’ cousin, which makes her my cousin too!”

Old Mr. Martin didn’t know what to say.

He was confused for a moment. “What are you talking about?”

Erin replied, “I meant that I’ve taken a liking to that guy Charles. Grandpa, can you take me to make a betrothal offer for him?”

As Erin spoke, she leaned in close to old Mr. Martin, batting her big eyes, leaving the old man speechless. “You’ve only known him for a few days!”

Erin said, “Isn’t it our family tradition to arrange marriages? Otherwise, you wouldn’t treat my brother this way, right? So, just arrange mine too! Charles is handsome, smart, and most importantly, he’s adorably clueless and very obedient!”

Stars seemed to sparkle in Erin’s eyes. “So, will you go make the betrothal offer, please?”

Old Mr. Martin twitched the corner of his mouth. “In Crera, only men make betrothal offers to women, not the other way around!”

Erin then said, “Then have him come and propose to me.”

Old Mr. Martin was speechless.

Fed up with Erin’s persistence, he pushed her aside. “Today, we’re talking about your brother’s situation! If he doesn’t get married, you can’t either!”

Erin was momentarily stupefied, then pouted. “Grandpa, that’s just unreasonable! My brother can’t make up his mind about his feelings, but I can. Why should there be such a rule?”

Old Mr. Martin didn’t know what to say.

Too weary to even glance at his granddaughter again, he turned his attention to Keira. “Miss Olsen, make your choice! Don’t say later that I didn’t give you a choice.”

Keira was baffled.

What kind of choice was that?

She said, “Mr. Martin, I think there can be a win-win solution.”

“I don’t need it.”

Old Mr. Martin stared at her intently. “In my view, the most reliable arrangement is a marriage alliance, and you should bear a child as soon as possible after that. As for the rest, no matter what kind of profits you can bring me, I’m not interested.”

His demeanor grew somewhat mysterious. “The Martin family doesn’t lack money.”

Keira clenched her jaw.

She had researched the Martin family’s international status and knew that they were akin to the nobility of some small country; indeed, they weren’t short of money.

Keira frowned.

Old Mr. Martin asked once more, “So, what will you choose, love or career?”

Keira gripped her fists tightly, remaining silent for a moment.

Lewis’s jaw tensed at this moment, too; he was filled with uncertainty, and he felt extremely insecure.

He had witnessed how much Keira cared for Jodie South.

After being reunited with her mother, Keira became a doting daughter, content with having her mother by her side. But even before that, every time she faced Jodie South, she was incredibly forbearing.

The Olsen family had bullied Keira, especially Isla, who had repeatedly tested her limits. Yet Keira, with all her capability, never retaliated harshly against them. It was all because of Jodie South.

Lewis didn’t dare gamble.

He didn’t know who was more important to Keira, he or Jodie South. He even knew that there was no comparison between himself and Jodie…

Jodie was Keira’s salvation, the mother she had longed for since childhood…

Therefore, if Keira chose to give up on him to save Jodie, he wouldn’t complain or get angry and would maybe give her his best wishes…

He was unsure.

The mere thought of losing Keira again made Lewis feel like he was going mad.

He clenched his fists tightly.

Keira also glanced his way, her eyes filled with resolution. She had never once thought of giving up Lewis.

Just as she was about to speak, her phone suddenly vibrated.

Keira immediately picked it up, only to see that the unfamiliar number had sent another message. “If you don’t want your mother to die, choose Scott.”

As the message was delivered, the sender also sent a video.

In the video, Jodie was tied up with a cloth stuffed in her mouth, rendering her unable to speak, and beside her, someone held a knife to her chest.

Keira’s pupils shrank.