Chapter 874 - 873

Chapter 874: Chapter 873

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Henyee Translations

Scarlet stared at Keira like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, brows scrunching up. "Is love really that important? Girl, wake up. Men are the last thing you should count on!"

Keira didn’t even flinch. "Solomon’s different."

Scarlet shot her a look like she’d completely lost it. "I swear, I’m this close to tossing you into the ocean and letting the sharks handle it."

Keira raised a brow but didn’t respond. Before she could, Scarlet’s assistant jumped in.

"Hey, do you even know who Miss South is around here? Lemme give you a little crash course."

Keira had been dying to know more about the South family, and now someone had just offered it up on a silver platter. She nodded right away. "Please, go ahead."

The assistant puffed up proudly. "This whole island—our home base—has over twenty million people. We’re more than just a family; we’re a sovereign state. The South family? We’re the uncrowned rulers of South Country."

Keira nodded. That part she already knew. She turned to Scarlet, eyeing her curiously. "So... you’re a South too?"

Scarlet tilted her chin up, like it should’ve been obvious.

Keira added, "Direct bloodline?"

Scarlet coughed. "Not exactly."

The assistant scoffed. "Do you think you can just bump into a direct descendant on the street? Get real. But don’t get it twisted—Miss South might not be one of the nine heiresses, but among the extended family? She’s top-tier. Her dad’s a South through and through. Practically siblings with the mothers of those nine heirs. Got it now?"

Keira nodded slowly. "Got it."

In this country, women held the highest power. The current leader and all nine official heirs were women. But of course, that didn’t mean men didn’t exist—they just didn’t hold succession rights. When the sons married out, they kept the South name, but their kids? Not considered part of the core bloodline.

Keira hesitated. "So... who exactly is Miss South’s father related to?"

The South family didn’t pass power down to sons, but that didn’t mean men weren’t involved. A man could father dozens of children, but a woman? She only had so many chances. So in the end, "direct line" just meant daughters.

Even the mothers of the nine heirs—Keira was sure—they couldn’t all be sisters by blood.

Her question clearly hit a nerve.

Scarlet’s face turned red, and she snapped, "You wouldn’t know her. Her name’s Jodie South... she’s not one of the nine heiresses’ moms. She—she lost out in the last round of succession. But don’t look down on her! She was amazing! If she hadn’t disappeared, her daughter would’ve been a top contender this round, no question. I mean, my aunt was this close to becoming the last family head."

The assistant nodded firmly. "That’s right. Over twenty years ago, she was leading the race. Then something happened, and—well, let’s just say it didn’t end how we thought it would."

Scarlet pouted, clearly annoyed.

But Keira? She froze.

Wait—what?

Her mom wasn’t her grandmother’s only child?

Her grandmother had a son?

Just as she was trying to wrap her head around it, a sharp, mocking voice cut through.

"Bragging about the past now? Girl, give it a rest."

The voice came from behind her. Keira turned to see a girl walking over, her face sharp, her tone even sharper.

She had that smug, mean-girl smirk. "Your aunt might’ve had her moment back then, but my aunt is the one running the show now. Scarlet, seriously, flexing in front of some drifter? Aren’t you embarrassed?"

Scarlet’s expression stiffened. "Lena, what are you even doing here?"

Lena grinned. "What am I doing? Oh, I heard you had your eye on some cute little boy toy, so I came to see the drama unfold. But what do I walk into? You, blowing smoke."

Then she turned to Keira, her smile turning syrupy and cruel. "Don’t believe a word she says. Her aunt’s a traitor. She just got dragged back recently and now spends her days livestreaming public apologies."

Keira’s fists clenched.

Lena kept going. "Honestly, Scarlet, have you no shame? With an aunt like that? She ditched the South family during the last succession battle and never came back. What’s there to be proud of? My aunt won. And her daughter? She’s gonna win this time too. But your aunt, Jodie South? Doesn’t even have a daughter. Oh wait—rumor has it she did, but the kid’s dead, right? Which means your whole branch? Officially out of the running forever."

Scarlet snapped. "Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare talk about my aunt like that!"