Chapter 9
He was shocked to see a table full of dishes.
“Miss Hartley, didn’t Miss Hartley grow up pampered and actually know how to cook? Or did you poison the food?” he teased, though his actions betrayed him–he immediately took a big bite.
“I’ll warn you now. With that contract in place, even if I die from this meal, you’ll have to stay a widow for three years, added, smirking.
59
he
I served him a bowl of rice, my tone calm. “After my father passed away, I learned everything I needed to survive.”
When the person who loved me the most was gone, I had no choice but to grow up.
I remembered the first time I ever cooked when I was a child–a simple egg fried rice. I didn’t know what I was doing back then, so I dumped half a bag of salt into it. My brother and Noah however, were so moved
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that they scrambled to finish the rice.
Later, I continued to practice my cooking and became more mature; their attitudes changed and they began to pick on me. They complained that the dishes I made. didn’t suit Fiona‘ s taste or accused me of intentionally including peanuts to trigger her allergy. Eventually, the family dining table became lonely, where I sat alone, staring at the meals I’d painstakingly prepared.
Looking at the constantly fussy Davian to my dishes to feast, I realized my skills weren’t as terrible as they had led me to believe.
As I recounted this, Davian‘ s chopsticks paused midair. His gaze grew complicated as he looked at me.
“There’s something I wasn’t planning to tell you,” he said after a moment of silence. “But on second thought, you should know.”
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“What is it?” I asked.
“Tomorrow, I’ve arranged for you to
meet with your family one last time. Be prepared, your mind.”
His tone left no room for argument. Though I found it odd, I didn’t press him further and agreed to his plan.
I followed Davian‘ s arrangement to meet them in the reception hall the next day.
My brother and Noah were already seated, anxiety written all over their faces. Despite the downfall of the Hartley Family, they had always maintained a veneer of sophistication in public. Yet now, they sat unkempt, their beards scruffy and their faces haggard. Gone was their former confidence and charisma.
Only Fiona seemed untouched, draped in jewels and flaunting the Chanel outfit they had recently gifted her. Around her neck hung my pearl necklace and her eyes burned with jealousy as they landed on the
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pink diamond resting on my collarbone.
“Lauren, how have you been?”
brother asked cautiously.
my
“We’re here to bring you home. Lauren, we had no idea how much you sacrificed for the Hartley Family. Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“Mom’s been crying so much she’s gone half–blind, waiting for you to come back,” Noah added, his voice thick with emotion as wanting to come and pull my hand.
“It’s okay, Lauren. I don‘ t care about what’s happened in the past. Let’s go home, okay? We’ll start fresh. I’ll forgive everything as long as we can be together…”
Before he could touch me, Davian’s cold gaze made him freeze. The sheer intensity in Davian’s eyes forced Noah to retreat.
“I didn’t bring her here so you could lay a hand on my woman,” Davian said icily,
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his voice cutting through the room. “I have something to tell you about an incident six months ago.”
Hearing this, Fiona‘ s face immediately paled. Although she tried her best to stay calm, her hands kept trembling, which revealed the fear in her heart.
Davian leaned back leisurely, pulling out a security camera recording.
“The late Mr. Hartley’s death wasn’t an accident,” he said, his tone casual yet sharp.
The air grew heavy as the words sank in. “It happened because your family’s driver was distracted–on the phone while driving. As for who made the call, I’ll let you take a guess.
His gaze turned to Fiona.
Fiona shrieked, suddenly darting behind my brother and Noah as if they could shield her from the accusation. “No! It
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wasn‘ t me! I had nothing to do with it!”
“Mr. Hartley’s death was an accident! It has nothing to do with me at all! My father died too! I’m an orphan! I’m already so pitiful. Why are you all bullying me?” she wailed, her voice cracking.
