Chapter 6
Given my condition, the car moved at a careful pace. But Davian‘ s presence turned the atmosphere inside the vehicle. ice–cold. His eyes scanned me. One by one, his gaze crossed my injured forehead, sprained ankle and hand that had already been re–bandaged many times.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“Lauren, did the Hartley Family
deliberately send me a defective product to insult me? Do you even realize… if I‘ d been a moment later, you might not have. survived your life.”
I let out a bitter laugh. Unfortunately, the unfinished scarf I’d worked on had been
left behind at the Hartley Family home. And now, with my disheveled appearance, I had nothing left to appease Davian.
“It doesn’t matter. The agreement has been signed. Regret won’t change a
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the great heir of the Sinclair Family
wouldn’t stoop to targeting another man‘ s wife.”
Davian scoffed.
“Her? Worthy of being Mrs. Radford? That wild chicken, thinking a few feathers can turn her into a phoenix.”
Then, his tone sharpened.
“But I must admit, I didn’t expect the Hartley Family to fall to such depths. No wonder the once–proud eldest daughter of the Hartley Family would rather endure my humiliation than stay with them.”
Pride? What pride did I have left? After my father passed away, the Hartley Family crumbled. My mother, a woman who had spent her life shopping and sipping tea, couldn’t handle the change. She clung to my father’s portrait, crying daily, unable to do anything else. My brother had vowed
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to support the family. But he and Noah, blinded by arrogance, ignored the advice of seasoned employees. Their failed ventures , nearly depleted the family’s entire
savings.
Those who once admired me or sought connections with the Hartley Family either distanced themselves or seized the chance to kick us while we were down.
I could have handled the fall from grace, from paradise to hell, as long as we stayed united. With time, we could have rebuilt. But every time I offered a suggestion, Fiona would be the first to oppose me.
Once, she said, “How could we let Mom move to a small house in the suburbs? Do you want her to become a laughingstock in her social circle? Lauren, how unfilial can you be?”
Another she argued, “Jason and Noah can’t be wrong. How will we know if it works if we don‘ t try? Besides, it’s not even the money they‘ re spending. Why
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are you so upset? Or are you just bitter because you can’t buy more luxury goods?”
Also, she stated, “Even a starving camel is bigger than a horse. Even if the Hartley Family isn’t what it used to be, we must maintain appearances so no one looks down on us!”
With her sweet words, she fooled everyone. She pushed me, the rightful Hartley Family daughter and eldest Miss Hartley, out of my own home. Blood ties, childhood bonds— all of it crumbled under Fiona‘ s manipulative schemes. They gave me life and raised me for over twenty years. I repaid them by selling myself to settle the Hartley Family‘ s debts.
Birth and nurture–no matter how you calculate it, I owe them nothing now.
“Mr. Sinclair, I’d like to ask you for a favor,” I said.
He didn’t bother to look at me, his tone
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indifferent.
“What is it? Do you want me to seek justice for you? That’s not my-”
“For the next three years, I will follow your orders without question,” I interrupted. “But when the agreement ends, I want to study in France. I ask that you keep my whereabouts a secret from everyone.”
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