"What an atmosphere…"
Nathan picked up the bottle and refilled his glass.
"Looks like your mother doesn't like me much."
Lara took the glass he held out to her.
"She's just worried about the future of our family."
She took a sip.
"And for that future, we need Cid."
Nathan sat down across from her.
"Why Cid?"
Lara looked at him.
"Actually, for me to get my inheritance, I have to marry Cid."
Nathan nodded.
"Yes, I know that. But…"
He paused.
"I still get the feeling it's more complicated than that."
Lara frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Nathan set his glass down.
"You've grown attached to him. You act like your life depends on this marriage. Yet if you don't marry Cid, you'll simply not get the full amount of assets you could have obtained. As for him, he'll get nothing, so he'll lose everything."
He smiled and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
"So why are you so obsessed with him?"
Lara looked away.
"If only it were that simple…"
She sighed.
"My uncle left everything to Cid."
Nathan sat up abruptly.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"But… Cid isn't even his biological son!"
"I know."
Lara stared at her glass.
"He simply trusted him more than he trusted us, his own family."
Nathan remained stunned.
"And does Cid know that?"
Lara shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because my uncle asked that this information be revealed to him at the moment he deemed appropriate. But so far, Cid knows nothing."
Nathan thought for a moment.
"And if he finds out?"
"He doesn't care about money."
"Really?"
"Yes. He's always only respected my uncle's last wishes. He's never tried to claim that inheritance."
Lara tightened her grip on her glass.
"But ever since Mia came into his life…"
Her expression shifted.
"I get the feeling he's starting to not care about any of it."
Nathan watched her closely.
"And you're afraid he'll break off the engagement."
Lara didn't answer right away.
Then she murmured:
"Yes."
Nathan placed a hand over hers.
"So what do you plan to do?"
Lara slowly raised her eyes.
Her gaze had turned cold.
"The priority is simple."
She paused.
"Separate Cid from Mia."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"And for that… I know exactly where to start."