Chapter 114: You are not my granddaughter

Tino dropped the pistol in his hand onto the floor. The weapon bounced once before finally coming to a stop.

He sat back down on the sofa, staring at Tango, who was now looking at him with a pale face and an expression of disbelief.

Tango’s wife and Laila both flinched. Neither of them could utter a single word, as though they had only just realized how terrible their situation had become.

Tino turned toward his secretary.

"Take care of the body. Dispose of it as far away from Continent Melvin as possible. I don’t want to hear anything about its whereabouts ever again."

His secretary nodded before immediately ordering several subordinates to carry Tango’s lifeless body out of the room.

Tino then glanced at Tango’s wife.

"You won’t get away either. Even if you weren’t deeply involved in this matter, you still dared to pretend to be my daughter-in-law for twenty years."

His gaze grew colder.

"I will send you to the Melvin Continent Supervisory Council’s prison under strict security. Without my permission, you will never be able to leave that place, even if you die and rot inside."

He waved his hand, ordering his subordinates to take the woman away immediately.

Tango’s wife shook her head. With her mouth still gagged, she struggled and tried to free herself from the guards’ grip.

Tino’s expression remained unchanged.

Once the room had quieted down again, he shifted his gaze toward Laila. The woman was still kneeling of her own accord, even though Tino’s subordinates were no longer restraining or forcing her to do so.

Tino stared at her for quite some time, his expression heavy.

His affection for her had never been an act. He had genuinely regarded Laila as his granddaughter, the only heir he had chosen over the past twenty years.

He looked at his still-trembling hands before taking a deep breath.

"Laila Sen," he called.

Laila raised her head. Her expression showed clear rejection, as though she was still unable to accept everything that had just happened to her and her parents.

She had never liked her parents. All this time, she had grown up by Tino Nair’s side and been raised directly under his supervision. Her stubborn nature and habit of refusing to obey without question were even remarkably similar to Tino’s.

Her tears finally spilled over. She no longer cared about Brandon, who was now merely watching her with a calm expression.

Laila grabbed Tino’s leg.

"Grandfather, I... Are you going to throw me away just like my biological parents? Do you no longer want me?"

She shook her head, trying to hold back her tears.

"You were the one who raised me all this time. I grew up under your direct care."

Laila looked up, hoping to find even the slightest trace of compassion on the old man’s face. However, Tino’s expression did not change at all.

His eyes trembled several times before he finally swallowed with difficulty and released Tino’s leg.

She knew Tino’s nature very well. Once he made a decision, he would never change it easily. He also only granted tolerance to those who shared his blood.

Now, Laila no longer had the qualifications to demand or beg him to reconsider his decision.

"Grandfather... What am I supposed to do now? Are you going to send me to prison or kill me? I’ve occupied the position of your granddaughter for twenty years. Please forgive me," she pleaded in a trembling voice.

Tino took several deep breaths.

"Laila, I have never treated you unfairly throughout these twenty years. You were my granddaughter, the only successor I acknowledged all this time."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"Although you weren’t directly involved in all of this, you no longer have the rights I was supposed to grant you."

Tino looked straight at her.

"You are not my granddaughter."

Laila slowly nodded.

"Grandfather... I understand."

"Leave. Stay as far away from the center of Melvin’s capital as possible. Don’t let me see your face again. I’m giving you one week to leave this place."

His voice grew slightly firmer.

"Once everything is settled, never again consider the Nair family your family. The Nair family cannot accept outsiders who don’t share our bloodline, especially someone connected to the people who orchestrated all of this right under my supervision."

Laila closed her eyes for a few moments before finally nodding.

She bowed respectfully before Tino, maintaining a perfectly straight posture. The gesture reflected the rigorous training she had undergone for many years.

"Grandfather, I owe you so much. I know I’ve done wrong, and I promise to follow all your orders. However, I beg you, please don’t treat me like a stranger even after I leave. Is that still possible?"

Tino shook his head.

"No. Perhaps you yourself aren’t guilty, but your family certainly is. I cannot do that."

He sighed before continuing.

"Besides, my biological granddaughter has already suffered so much because of my actions while defending you. Laila Nair, I cannot do this. You must disappear without leaving a trace. Don’t harbor any more hopes or feelings toward this family. Your relationship with the Nair family ends here."

Laila froze.

For several moments, she didn’t even blink. She stared at Tino in growing shock.

"Grandfather, wait... What do you mean? You hurt your biological granddaughter because of me?"

Laila shook her head, refusing to accept reality.

"Grandfather, she’s not dead?"

She could accept being forced to leave and disappear from the Nair family’s life. However, the thought of someone else sitting beside Tino as his granddaughter, taking over the position she had held all these years, was something she simply couldn’t bear.

That position was supposed to belong to her alone.

Even if she could no longer sit in that place, she would rather leave it empty forever than see Tino shower someone else with the affection he had once given her.

Tino caught the flash of hatred in Laila’s eyes. He let out a quiet sigh.

His guess had been right. The decision to drive Laila away was indeed the right one.

Regardless of the consequences, he couldn’t allow someone who had made him hurt his biological granddaughter to remain in the same city, let alone in the same residence as him.

"Laila, you already know exactly what I mean. Stop thinking about unnecessary things. You no longer have the right to harbor such hatred."

Tino shook his head.

"You have no right to do so."

Laila flinched.

"Grandfather, I..."

Tino raised his hand, signaling her to stop speaking.

"My secretary will take you to your original residence. Your belongings will be packed by my people shortly. You are no longer allowed to stay here."

Laila clenched her fingers tightly.

"Grandfather, tell me just once. Tell me, who is your biological granddaughter? Is she really not dead?"

Tino exhaled sharply. "She’s not dead. You’ve even known that for some time."

"Who?" she asked.