It was the dead of night, yet the Carter family estate blazed with light.

At the entrance, Grandma Ward herself stood waiting. She had always been an open-minded woman, respecting her son’s choices, though she couldn’t deny the regret of him reaching old age with no legacy to carry forward.

But now, as she laid eyes on Francesca, with her radiant complexion, graceful demeanor, and unmistakable intellect, admiration surged within her. What a blessing. What a ...