family mansion. It felt both familiar and alien. I walked through the grand foye

er seemed to hold memories I couldn't access but could feel the weight of. Tha

's study, the door firmly shut. I passed Brittany's room, a sliver of light visible from unde

grim familiarity, told me this was Liam's room. The door was slightly ajar. Curios

would expect for a bodyguard. The furniture was sleek and modern, made of dark, expensive wood. A high-end laptop sat on the desk,

I picked it up. It wasn't a picture of me. It was a picture of Brittany, smiling b

was open, the screen glowing. A series of financial reports were displayed, charts and figu

Indu

orld. A company run by the notorious

guard wasn't just a bodyguard. He was a tech heir, the son of my father's greatest riv

of the deception

oices from the garden just below the open window. I mov

iam and

drifted up, low and laced with contempt. "Can

was syrupy sweet, the same voice she used on my father. "S

etic. She followed me around like a lost puppy. I couldn't even br

er. Once Dad makes the announcement about our engagement, s

roat. It wasn't just a secret crush. They were planning

lear, calculating rage. The pathetic, love-sick Chloe they were talking about was dead. Drowned

dn't break down. I couldn't scream. That's what they

mantle them. I wanted to take away eve

arriage. A way to create a powerful alliance with another tech

confined to a wheelchair after a mysterious accident. A merger with his company would make Mi

my footsteps silent in the d

father's study without knocking. He

. What

said, my voice

confused.

clarified. "I'll

ace, a smile of pure, unadulterated opportunism. "Really?

over and placed my hands flat on his large mahogany desk,

tany, and her mother can never touch. I also want the prenuptial agreement with Ethan Reed to stipulate that in case of a divorce, our companies remain

y a look of shock. He was seeing a daughter he did

rageous demand

iance. The price for saving this company from vultures like Stone Industries. Take it o

e iron in my spine. He saw that I was no longer th

wly. "Alright, Chloe.

wasn't a happy one. It was the smile of a

had jus