Chapter 7
“Its them–especially them!” Davian. leaned his head on one hand, his smile sharp and mocking as he studied me.
“You don’t seem to be in a position to make demands of me.”
After a pause, he shrugged his tone light but layered with menace. “Fine. Seeing as you’re already at rock bottom, I’ll grant you a bit of mercy. But there’s something you seem to have overlooked–the deadline on our agreement was midnight. That
means after midnight, you belong to me.”
His voice hardened as he added, “And the Hartley Family, after hurting what’s mine, shouldn’t I go and demand an explanation?”
Without waiting for my reply, he reached into his pocket and took out the ten million dollar pink diamond necklace, glittering and impossibly valuable. He fastened it
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Chapter 7
“It’s them–especially them!” Davian leaned his head on one hand, his smile sharp and mocking as he studied me.
“You don’t seem to be in a position to make demands of me.”
After a pause, he shrugged his tone light but layered with menace. “Fine. Seeing as you‘ re already at rock bottom, I’ll grant you a bit of mercy. But there’s something you seem to have overlooked–the deadline
on our agreement was midnight. That means after midnight, you belong to me.”
His voice hardened as he added, “And the Hartley Family, after hurting what’s mine, shouldn‘ t I go and demand an explanation?”
Without waiting for my reply, he reached into his pocket and took out the ten million dollar pink diamond necklace, glittering and impossibly valuable. He fastened it
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Chapter 7
around my neck with a decisive click as if a mysterious contract had been completed between us.
` I instinctively looked up at him, searching his expression, but he had already turned his gaze toward the window.
“Lauren, just wait and see,” he murmured coldly. “I’ll make it clear to the world that no one touches what‘ s mine.”
I had no interest in what Davian planned to do to the Hartley Family. They had severed our ties the moment they kicked me out of the house. To me, the Hartley Family and Radford family were now irrelevant. My only goal was to recover and fulfill my three–year contract with Davian. After that, I would leave everything behind and start a life that was indeed my own.
Despite his sharp tongue, Davian never mistreated me. He brought me to his
private estate, where he had assembled the best medical team to care for my injuries.
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What surprised me most was the estate itself. It was filled with blooming jasmine flowers, their fragrance wafting gently through the air. The lush plants clearly had been tended to with meticulous care for a long time.
I spent my days quietly recovering in the serene environment of the jasmine–scented estate. But no matter how peaceful the setting, Davian had a way of shattering the tranquility, especially during my
medication time.
It’s just that every time I take my medicine, Davian will deliberately pinch my
face.
“Lauren,” he teased one day, pinching my cheek as I reluctantly swallowed my pills. “You‘ re so pathetic right now that I can’t even find you interesting. Hurry up and get better–you’ll need strength to fulfill our agreement.
This time, I didn’t wait for him to provoke me. I took my medicine without resistance, earning a curious glance from him. After a
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moment, his lips curled into a mischievous
grin.
“I’ve got something fun to show you. Interested?”
Before I could respond, he gestured to his staff, who quickly set up a screen and began playing a video he had prepared. I recognized it as the Hartley Family’s villa with just one glance, which I recorded after I left them.
The scene was almost surreal. My brother and Noah were lugging bags full of gifts as they returned home with Fiona in tow. Then, Noah dropped to one knee in the middle of the living room.
“Fiona,” he said, holding out a ring. “This may have been bought with Lauren’s dowry money, but it’s a token of my love. I’m officially proposing to you here. When you‘ re done dealing with Davian, I’ll marry you in a grand ceremony.”
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My mother and brother nodded
approvingly.
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“By then, the Hartley Family will have regained its former glory,” my brother declared. “We‘ 11 prepare a dowry for you that’s even more lavish than the one we set aside for Lauren.”
Fiona beamed, brimming with happiness.
But just as Noah moved to slide the ring onto her finger, Davian’s assistant appeared at the door, carrying a briefcase and an envelope. He came with money and a piece of paper to break the marriage agreement.
“This is the money for selling your daughter,” the assistant sneered. “Please, accept it graciously.”
The mood in the room shifted instantly. Fiona‘ s smile faltered and she ducked
behind Noah, refusing to step forward. My
brother’s hands clenched into fists, but after a moment‘ s hesitation, he
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reluctantly accepted the envelope.
“Fiona,” he said firmly, “don’t worry. We’ll always have your back. If Davian `mistreats you, come back to us. We‘ 11
make sure you get justice!”
The assistant laughed a cold and mocking sound. “Mr. Hartley, you‘ re mistaken. Mr.Sinclair doesn‘ t just accept anyone.”
He straightened, his voice laced with finality. “Mr. Sinclair has already taken in Miss Lauren Hartley. She even had a lawyer draft a formal severance agreement. Her message is clear: from this day forward, all ties with the Hartley and Radford Families are severed.”
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