Chapter 834: Chapter 833
Editor: Henyee Translations
Keira hesitated briefly when she heard that. âThe Guardian will deliver it?â
Her sisterâs Guardian was apparently Matthew.
But ever since she exposed his identity last time, the two of them hadnât really been in contactâŠ
Keira tapped her chin thoughtfully and nodded.
Well, that worked out.
Matthew was definitely in the same boat as herâor at least he should be willing to help her, right?
âHave you all gotten your tickets yet?â she asked.
Erin immediately nodded. âI got mine ages ago! My Guardian sent it to me a month back!â
Jenkins chimed in as well. âIâve been here in Crera for a while, but my Guardian sent mine too!â
Hearing this, Keira froze for a second before pulling out her phone and dialing Matthew.
The phone barely rang before he picked up.
His voice was calm, almost soothing. âKeira, whatâs wrong?â
Keira got straight to the point. âSo, about the South familyâs ticketâwhen were you planning to give it to me?â
What she didnât expect was Matthewâs blunt response: âI wasnât planning to give it to you.â
Keira was stunned. âWhat did you just say?â
âIâm not giving it to you,â he repeated evenly. âYouâre not ready to go to the South family.â
Her tone sharpened. âMatthew, you donât get to decide that for me!â
Matthew sighed on the other end of the line. âYouâre right, I donât. But I do get to decide for KeeraâIâm her Guardian.â
Keira frowned. âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â
âKeera has never set foot in the South family home. Do you know why?â
âNo,â Keira said flatly.
Matthewâs voice grew heavier. âBecause that house isnât hers.â
Keiraâs frown deepened. âWhat does that mean?â
âIt means,â he said carefully, âthat her adoptive mother doesnât like her. If you go back and they find out youâre not her, that woman might very well expose your identity. The only reason she ever tolerated Keera was because the South family needed a daughter to serve as the next heir. Otherwise, that woman wouldnât have kept her at all.â
Keira took a deep breath. âThat doesnât matter to me. I need to go back to find my mom.â
âI know,â Matthew said quietly.
âAnd thatâs exactly why Iâm telling you that you canât go back. Do you realize that once you enter that house, you wonât be allowed to leave? And you will leave. I know you, Keira. Youâll slip out, and when they find out, both you and your mom will be in danger.â
Keira lowered her gaze, her voice cold. âThere are probably only a handful of people in that family who know Iâm my momâs daughter. Even if something happens to me, it wonât affect her.â
The fact that Keera was Jodie Southâs daughter was a tightly kept secret, known only to Keeraâs adoptive mother, the very person who had orchestrated this arrangement. No one else in the family had any clue about her connection to Jodie.
Matthew was playing this angleâthat if Keira got caught, Jodie would be dragged into itâto scare her into backing off.
But he knew Keira too well.
If it were only about her own safety, she wouldnât care at all.
It was only when he brought her mom into the picture that sheâd hesitate.
Unfortunately for him, thanks to Erin and Jenkinsâs stories, Keira wasnât buying his excuses this time. She had her own judgment now.
Matthew clearly didnât expect this. After a long pause, he asked, âDo you have to go?â
âI do.â
His voice was quieter now. âEven if it means you might not come back?â
âYes.â
Matthew sighed heavily. âFine. Iâll deliver the ticket to you myself tomorrow. But, Keira⊠you need to understand something. The South family isnât as good as you think it is. Nor is it as bad. Itâs just⊠mysterious.â
Keiraâs gaze fell on the reflection in the glass window ahead.
It was nighttime, and she could see her silhouette faintly superimposed on the dark sky outside.
For a moment, she felt as though she was staring at Keera herself, a strange and unexplainable feeling.
âThatâs exactly why I have to go,â she said softly. âI need to see it for myself.â
She needed to see this South family that had everyone so intrigued.
BesidesâŠ
If she wanted any chance of winning in the end, she had to use this time back at the South family to locate the other four heirs.
After hanging up, Keira turned to Erin. âAlright. Now, can you tell me about the nine heirs of this generation in the South family?â
Erin started without hesitation. âI donât know their real names, but I can tell you the codenames weâve figured out so far. You already know a few. Vera saded with me, and her codename is Cat. Clownfish is Sean Church. Jenkins is Lion, Iâm Fox, and youâre Rabbit. As for the remaining four, we only know their codenames. Eagle is in the U.S., Cobra is in Country D, Cockroach is in Country PâŠâ
Keira almost choked on her drink. âExcuse meâCockroach?â
Erin rolled her eyes. âItâs a codename. Whatâs wrong with that?â
âCockroach was gross,â Erin muttered. âI remember her from preschool. She was always filthy, like she lived in the shadows. Honestly, it suits her.â
Keira nodded slowly. âAnd what about the last one?â
The moment she asked, Jenkins couldnât help but stifle a laugh.