Chapter 6

That year, right after I finished my exams, Branson biked me into town so we could check our results.

We both did pretty well, and he was over the moon. He said he'd treat me to some good food.

And then, a truck ran a red light.

All I remembered was Branson pushing me aside with all his strength. I hit the ground and rolled over and over.

By the time I got up, Branson was already lying there in a pool of blood.

"Branson! Branson!" I cried out.

I threw myself at his side. He was drenched in blood, but he still managed a smile.

He said, "Don't be scared. I'll be fine."

The ambulance arrived and they put him in the back.

I got in too, never letting go of his hand.

I cried, "Branson, you can't die. You promised you'd build me a house. You promised you'd plant lilacs for me."

His hand was getting colder and colder.

When we got to the hospital, the doctors rushed him straight into the ER.

I waited outside for what felt like forever. Then a doctor came out and said, "We need a family member to sign the consent form."

"I'm his girlfriend. I'll sign it," I said.

"Sorry, you're underage. We need his parents," the doctor replied.

But Branson's parents were working far away, and there was just no way they'd make it in time.

Just then, some people from the Shelton family showed up.

I had no idea who they were at the time.

All I knew was that they spoke with the hospital staff, and then the doctor came out and said, "I'm sorry, we did everything we could."

Did everything they could?

He was only eighteen.

He just got hit by a truck. He was still breathing, his heart was still beating. How was that "doing everything"?

It wasn't until later that I realized that they never really tried to save him.

They simply abandoned him.

The Shelton family needed Branson's heart.

Maurice Montgomery, their son, was sick and needed a new heart.

The Shelton family wanted to get in good with the Montgomerys, so they pressured the hospital to stop trying to save Branson.

It took me an entire year of digging to finally uncover the truth.

That same year, the Shelton family came looking for me and claimed I was their long-lost daughter.

How ironic.

They took away the person I loved most, then turned around and told me I was their daughter.

I hated them.

But I hated myself even more for being so helpless.

So I went back to the Shelton family.

I played dumb, acted innocent, and pretended I was clueless.

When Martha gave me the cold shoulder, I just kept quiet.

When Hector and Monroe favored her over me, I didn't say a word.

When Maurice started pursuing me, I went along with it because he had Branson's heart.

I wanted to stay as close as possible to Branson's heart.

My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my memories.

Freya texted me: [I found him. The doctor from back then is running a clinic in his hometown now. I'll send you the address.]

I stared at the screen and replied: [Got it.]

Then I opened my phone's gallery and found a screenshot.

It was the Shelton Group's financial statements from over the years—something I'd painstakingly compiled, piece by piece, over three years.

It showed tax evasion, commercial bribery, and illegal fundraising.

Each one alone was enough to make Hector pay dearly.

And I had the surveillance footage from the accident, the records of the Shelton family's deal with the hospital, and proof of the Montgomery family's bribes.

I had it all.

All that was left was the final step.

I picked up my phone and dialed a number. "It's Adelaide."

A deep, amused laugh came from the other end. "Is everything set?"

"All set," I replied. "Time to reel them in."

"Perfect," Jamarion said. "I've been waiting for this moment forever."

*****

The next morning, I arrived right on time at the Shelton Group headquarters, dressed in a black skirt suit and high heels.

The receptionist did a double-take. "Hello, who are you here to see?"

"I'm Adelaide Shelton," I said. "The new vice president."

The receptionist blinked, clearly hadn't heard of me.

I didn't blame her. The Shelton family only ever acknowledged Martha as their daughter. I'd been back for six years, but never once appeared in public.

"Just a moment, let me check," the receptionist said, dialing a number. After a few words, her face changed. "Ms. Shelton, I'm so sorry, I had no idea you were..."

"It's fine," I said with a smile, heading for the elevator.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand reached in to stop them.

"Wait," a voice called out.

A man in his early thirties walked in, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a tailored suit, exuding an unmistakable air of expensive taste.

He glanced at me, his eyes lingering on my face for a couple seconds. "Who are you?"

"Adelaide Shelton," I replied.

He raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Shelton's daughter?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Jamarion Bolton," he said, offering his hand. "Marketing director."

I shook his hand. "I've heard a lot about you."

I meant it.

Jamarion was the eldest son of the Bolton family, and the Shelton Group lured him over three years ago with a hefty paycheck.

The Boltons were in real estate, and they'd always been in business with the Shelton Group.

Of course, that was just what everyone saw on the surface.

But in reality, Jamarion was on my side.

"Mr. Shelton knows you're starting today, right?" he asked.

"He does," I said.