My Accidental Husband is a Billionaire?

Chapter 852

852  Chapter 851

Keira twitched her lips slightly, eventually standing up alongside Lewis. The two of them completely ignored the knocking at the door, each heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. Once they were dressed, Lewis finally opened the door.

Erin was still persistently knocking. The moment the door swung open, she tried to push her way in.

Keira grabbed her arm without hesitation. "We'll talk in your room."

"What? Why my room?" Erin asked, though she let herself be dragged away.

Keira stopped in front of Charles's room instead, opened the door, and stepped inside.

The black-and-white-themed room was offset by a pink wardrobe and stuffed animals scattered here and there. Erin clutched a rabbit plushie as she sat down on the couch. Keira wasted no time getting to the point. "What is it you want to say?"

Erin got straight to it. "My mom told me the South family's succession contest has to wrap up by March this year. Looks like the current successor's health is failing, and they're desperate to choose the next one. You've heard about this, right?"

Keira froze. She hadn't heard a thing.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, there was another knock at the door. Lewis went to open it, and Jenkins stepped inside without so much as a hello.

Jenkins had just returned to the South family, traveling back from Country A. After taking a few days to settle in, she'd finally come to Clance.

As soon as the door opened, she burst out, "Did you hear? My mom says the succession contest has to be finalized by March!"

Keira frowned.

Jessica hadn't said anything to her. But if Erin and Jenkins's mothers both had this information, how could Jessica not know?

Keira's frown deepened.

If Jessica deliberately kept this from her, did it mean she didn't trust her? Or did she simply not care about her daughter?

But if Jessica didn't know either, that would imply… even among the defeated successors, there was a hierarchy of influence.

Keira tightened her jaw, a realization dawning on her. She turned to Jenkins. "I heard from Lewis that Erin's mom has over a dozen boyfriends. What about your mom?"

Jenkins coughed awkwardly. "Eighteen."

Keira stared at her, speechless.

Could it be that these families sent men to these women as a form of investment? Betting on their future influence in the family?

After all, last time, Lewis had received information through one of his family's networks…

So for the South family's failed successors, marrying multiple men might be a strategy to consolidate power, while also building alliances for their daughters.

Jessica's refusal to take any boyfriends meant she held little sway in the South family. And worse, it left Keira without a strong foundation to rely on.

The more Keira thought about it, the clearer it became. She looked back at Erin and Jenkins. "And then?"

Erin continued, "This time, nine of the successors have returned to Clance. That includes the one from Country M, the so-called Eagle. It's clear she's ready to challenge us!"

Jenkins rested her chin on her hand. "The question is, how is she planning to do it?"

Keira frowned, an unsettling sense of urgency creeping over her.

Until now, the succession contest had seemed like a distant problem. But suddenly, it felt like everything was speeding up. It was even possible that the Eagle from Country M would come to Crera herself.

Who exactly was this Eagle?

As Keira mulled it over, Erin spoke up again. "The Eagle's the type to strike first. She'll definitely come to Crera. Let's set a trap here and take her down!"

But Keira shook her head. "I don't think she'll come."

"Why not?"

"Because eagles fly high. She won't put herself in danger. I think she'll send her people first to test the waters."

Jenkins tilted her head thoughtfully. "Her people… that would be Cobra, Cockroach, and Pig, right? Those names are ridiculous. Who do you think they are?"

Keira's voice was steady. "I think they're already among us."