Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

"What's that supposed to mean?”

Grant didn't answer, his tone steely. "Taylor, come with me."

She shook her head. "No, big brother. I'm not leaving."

Grant's voice was calm, but there was a pressure behind it that made the air feel heavier. "If you don't come now, then from this day forward, you're no longer my sister."

Taylor froze, genuinely shocked.

She'd grown up trailing after Grant, always looking to him for everything. Sure, she had a father, but he was barely around-Grant was the one who raised her. He was her brother, but also the closest thing she had to a dad. He spoiled her, protected her, always made her feel safe. To the outside world, Grant was cold and unapproachable, but with her, he was gentle and patient.

He had never said anything so harsh to her before.

Taylor felt completely lost, like she didn't recognize him at all. Still, she got up.

Isaac reached for her hand, holding it tight.

Taylor leaned in and whispered, "I'll talk to him. I'll make him see reason."

In the end, she followed Grant out.

As they left, Grant shot one last look at Chloe-sharp and unreadable.

The whole dinner, which had been so warm and cheerful just moments before, suddenly turned icy. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.

Isaac looked especially down, pouring himself drink after drink, his mood sinking lower with every sip.

Chloe's mind raced. She'd only picked up fragments of what was going on, but that was enough to realize how serious this was.

She broke the silence. "That emerald pendant-Mr. Grant wants it, doesn't he? The family heirloom. I have it, right?"

Isaac shook his head. "He's just making up excuses, Chloe. This isn't about the emerald pendant. Don't stress about it."

Chloe sighed. "It's just a pendant. If that's all it takes to cause problems between your families, it's not worth it. If he wants it, just give it to him."

She turned to Connor. "Honestly, I don't even remember where I put it. We were married-maybe you know?"

Connor shook his head. "I have no idea. Maybe when your memory comes back, you'll remember."

The truth was, after Chloe disappeared, Connor had spent countless nights going through all her things, searching for any trace of her. Sometimes, when the loneliness got too heavy, he'd stay for days at the Greenpeace Estate in

Riverbrook, just to feel close to her.

He'd searched every corner-nothing. He'd never seen the emerald pendant.noveldrama

It wasn't just that pendant, either. There was the one Marian had given her, and

the dragon medallion from Suzanne-Connor had handed all of them to Chloe for safekeeping. Now, they were all missing.

Ever since Grant brought up the emerald pendant, Connor had a bad feeling brewing in his chest.

Maybe Isaac's generation didn't

know, but Connor did: the Shaw family's emerald pendant, the Sartori family's emerald pendant, the Gilbert family's dragon medallion, and the Nagel family's peace amulete these four were rumored to be the keys to a legendary treasure hidden by the four great families.

It was supposed to be nothing more than an old story.

But clearly, Grant believed it.

The Ballard family was now one of the fastest-rising powers among the Eldridge Elites. They'd already crushed and absorbed most of the Nagel family, and the Gilbert family had barely survived—if not for the Sartori family stepping in, they might have been wiped out too?

Now, Pax was at the helm of the Gilberts, and their alliance with the Sartori family was stronger than ever. They'd even merged several businesses. The Shaw and Sartori families were as close as ever.

The Ballard family had tried to expand like crazy these past two years, but Connor had managed to beat them back every time. Their losses had started to pile up.

But Connor knew Grant wasn't the type to give up. He was ambitious— dangerously so.

There was only one way for the Ballard family to leapfrog all the others in a single night, maybe even crush all four families at once: find the legendary Four Families' treasure.