Chapter 2
Edward walked off, and Lily followed right behind, clinging like a parasite.
I watched her walk away with a cold snort.
She'd never hesitated to use the "buddy" card to shut me up.
Now that she had Edward, why keep up the charade?
Just then, Chloe texted me: [Holy shit. Stella, the Sinclair family's stock just hit rock bottom. That move you pulled: talk about pulling the rug out from under them. Savage.]
I replied: [The real show's just getting started.]
That afternoon, a car pulled up outside my house.
It was Edward's parents, Andrew and Fiona
The atmosphere in the living room was suffocating.
Fiona forced a smile that looked more like she was about to cry, gripping my mother's hand tightly.
She said, "Emily, please don't be mad. This whole mess is on Edward. We clearly failed as parents.
"He and Lily just grew up together as good friends, that's all. There's absolutely nothing else going on, I swear.
"When he gets back, I'll make sure he learns his lesson and comes crawling over to apologize to Stella himself."
My dad sat at the head of the table, his face so dark that it could've scared off a storm, not saying a word.
I picked up my coffee and took a sip.
I said, "Mrs. Sinclair, since when do 'good friends' bawl their eyes out at an engagement party and then lock lips in the hospital?
"That's some deep friendship, huh?"
Fiona's face flushed bright red.
Andrew cleared his throat and said in a deep, serious voice, "Thomas, I'll admit, Edward was in the wrong here.
"But the marriage between him and Stella was something both our families decided on. It's tied to billions in future business deals. This is serious, and not something we can just walk away from.
"If Stella agrees, the Sinclair family is willing to give up another five percent of the profits in our partnership.
"And I promise, Lily will never be anywhere near them again."
That was quite the offer.
But if there was one thing the Grant family wasn't short on, it was money.
My dad let out a cold laugh.
He sneered, "Five percent? Mr. Sinclair, are you trying to buy us off like we're some beggars?
"You really think you can put a price on what my daughter went through?"
Right at that moment, Edward strode in.
The slap marks on his face were still fresh, but his eyes were just as defiant as ever.
"Dad, why are you begging them?" he barked.
He stared straight at me, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
He sneered, "Stella, don't get ahead of yourself. You really think I want to marry you? Get real. It's just a business deal between our families.
"Stop causing all this drama. What? You want the whole world to know you're just some rejected bride nobody wants?
"Face it, your family's the one desperate for this deal, not us.
"You'd better wipe all that crap off the internet, or I'll make sure we both go down in flames."
My dad sprang to his feet and landed a vicious slap on Edward's other cheek.
He roared, "You bastard! You think you can threaten my daughter?"
Edward clutched his face, his eyes wide with disbelief.
I stood up slowly and walked right up to him.
I said, "Edward, it seems like you're the one who's confused here.
"It's not the Grant family that needs you. It's your project that needs our investment to survive.
"Without me, your new energy project is nothing but a pile of scrap metal.
"Going down together? Do you think you're even in my league?"