Chapter 12
The Hartwells proposed completing the engagement with the Sterling family.
The Sterlings refused: “The engagement was for the real daughter, not this fake.”
With Hartwell Industries facing another crisis, Mr. Hartwell had no choice but to push Willow into an arranged marriage.
Problem was, nobody wanted damaged goods like Willow anymore.
Finally, the Walsh family agreed to take her.
But Willow wasn’t having it.
The Walsh heir was notorious for being a player–dude wasn’t even married yet but had enough illegitimate kids to form a soccer team.
No way Willow was jumping into that shitshow.
Jaxon was avoiding her like the plague too.
So Willow went completely off the rails and crawled into Camden’s bed in the middle of the night.
The whole Hartwell house fucking exploded.
Mrs. Hartwell might’ve favored Willow, but she loved her biological son more.
She went ballistic on Willow–scratching, screaming, all class gone.
Camden was horrified. He might’ve been stupid, but he wasn’t a pervert.
He packed his bags and fled that same night.
Two weeks later, Willow snuck into Mr. Hartwell’s study trying to steal business intel to sell.
The housekeeper caught her red–handed.
Mr. Hartwell was done. He threw her out on her ass.
Ryder told me all this like it was comedy gold. When he finished, he said: “Man, talk about karma coming full circle, right?”
I just smiled and didn’t comment.
The Hartwells might’ve felt some guilt about me.
But that guilt meant jack shit compared to their selfish, cold–hearted nature.
When problems hit, they only thought about covering up, shifting blame–never actually facing their mistakes.
So that tiny bit of guilt they felt? It became a weapon they used against me instead.
I should be grateful I saw through their bullshit early.
Never wasted time hoping for their cheap, twisted version of love.
When Elena had her daughter, Mr. Hartwell called me up:
“Skylar, the Sinclairs have a real heir now. You think you still have a shot? You’ll always be an outsider to them.”
“Come back and help your brother. I’ll make you a manager.”
Chapter 12
I didn’t feel like arguing and just hung up.
Mr. Hartwell was having a rough time lately.
Camden had seen Willow working as a hostess when he was out with the Walsh heir.
Thinking she was being forced into it, Camden tried to “rescue” her and got his legs broken for his trouble. Hartwell Industries got blacklisted
too.
Camden was completely fucked now.
Meanwhile, I’d built a research team in college focused on Al development.
Fresh out of graduation, my company’s valuation was skyrocketing. I was the hot new tech mogul everyone wanted to work with.
Fuck that.
Mr. Hartwell just wanted to steal my success.
I turned around and bought out several of Hartwell Industries‘ key projects.
Mr. Hartwell was scrambling. Since I’d blocked his number, he had to get Mrs. Hartwell to call.
She was bawling on the phone: “Sky, baby, don’t you miss Mommy and Daddy?”
I didn’t say anything.
Mrs. Hartwell kept rambling about childhood memories, how excited she and Mr. Hartwell had been when I was born, all their hopes and
dreams for me.
I could hear two people breathing heavily nearby–Mr. Hartwell and Camden were listening in.
I smiled and said softly: “Actually, the amnesia thing? I was faking it the whole time.”
Dead silence on the other end.
A few seconds later, Mrs. Hartwell’s voice turned shrill: “Skylar, you’re killing us here! You want everyone to think you’re some heartless bitch?”
I wasn’t afraid.
But I backed off anyway.
For the twelve years they raised me, I owed them that much.
But that’s it. Nothing more.
As for Mr. Hartwell’s comment about the Sinclair family–they definitely wanted me involved in the family business.
Grandpa had been personally training me, obviously grooming me to take over.
Elena supported it too.
But I declined: “I can manage things for my little sister until she’s ready.”
I’d gotten this far thanks to the Sinclairs‘ support.
I remembered that debt.
But inheriting the Sinclair fortune?
Not necessary.
na Dad
Chapter 12
My future was in my own hands.
I didn’t need anyone’s “inheritance” to define me.
“Skylar, what are you thinking about? Come eat some barbecue!”
I snapped back to reality.
Elena was standing in the yard, waving me over with a smile.
Her speech had been restored through treatment.
Nathan was next to her, focused on grilling.
I felt warm inside and started walking over.
But someone beat me to it.
“Mom, let me handle this.”
Ryder bounced over to Elena with his usual cocky grin.
I glared at him: “That’s MY mom!”
Ryder raised an eyebrow: “Our mom. Deal with it.”
This familiar exchange made us both freeze for a second.
Then we both burst out laughing.
Elena’s eyes crinkled with amusement too.
As fireworks lit up the sky, I heard Ryder’s voice clearly: “Skylar, when are you gonna give me a chance?”
I paused, then grinned: “When you’re better than me.”
“Fuck that–you’re on!”
The fireworks exploded overhead in brilliant colors.
Just like my future was gonna be.
