Chapter 78 – A Sweet Proposal and a Sharp Severance
“The university’s centennial celebration is next week, I reminded Damien as we strolled through the quiet garden behind his family’s estate. The evening air was cool, against my skin, a welcome relief after the day’s unusual warmth. “They’re making a big deal out of it. There’s going to be speeches, exhibitions, the whole works.”
“Are you planning to go?” Damien asked, his hand brushing against mine as we walked. I still wasn’t used to calling him by his first name, but I liked how it felt–like a small, intimate secret between us. A step closer to whatever we were becoming.
“I should. Professor Lin specifically asked if I’d attend since some of my designs will be in the alumni exhibition.” I glanced at him. “Will you be there? I heard they’re unveiling a new engineering building that your family funded.”
Damien nodded. “I was planning to make an appearance. Perhaps we could go together?”
My heart skipped. Was this Damien Sterling asking me on a date? I tried to keep my voice casual. “Together?”
“I could drive you,” he offered, watching my reaction carefully. “My car has clearance to use the private entrance. It would save you from dealing with the traffic and security checks at the main gate.”
“That would be… nice,” I said, trying to contain my smile. “Thank you.”
We reached a stone bench overlooking a small pond. Damien gestured for me to sit, and I did, smoothing my skirt as he joined me, close enough that our shoulders almost touched.
“I should warn you though,” I added, thinking ahead. “If we arrive together, people will
talk.”
Damien’s lip quirked up. “Let them.”
His easy dismissal of potential gossip surprised me. “You don’t mind?”
“Do you?” he countered, turning those intense eyes on me.
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Did I mind being seen with one of the most eligible bachelors in the country? A man whose mere presence caused ripples of whispers and speculation? A week ago, I might have hesitated, still raw from Julian’s betrayal and wary of becoming fodder for more gossip. But now…
“No,” I admitted. “I don’t mind. But maybe you could drop me off before the main entrance? I don’t need to be part of whatever official welcome they have planned for
you.”
He studied me for a moment before nodding. “As you wish.”
The comfortable silence that settled between us was broken by rapid footsteps on the garden path.
“There you two are!” Chloe appeared, grinning widely. “Mom was looking for you, Damien. Something about the charity auction next month.”
Damien sighed. “I’d better go see what she needs.” He stood, hesitating for a moment before lightly touching my shoulder. “Think about what I said. About the centennial.”
“I will,” I promised, watching as he walked back toward the house.
The moment he was out of earshot, Chloe plopped down beside me with a conspiratorial smile. “So… you and my brother, huh?”
I felt my cheeks warm. “We’re just friends.”
“Right,” Chloe drawled, clearly unconvinced. “Friends who stare at each other when the other isn’t looking. Friends who find any excuse to be alone together.”
“It’s not like that,” I protested weakly.
“No?” Chloe raised an eyebrow. “Then why are you blushing?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re as bad as Victoria.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Your friend has excellent judgment.” Chloe nudged me with her shoulder. “Seriously though, I haven’t seen Damien like this… ever. He’s different around you.”
A small, hopeful flutter rose in my chest. “Different how?”
“Lighter. More present.” She shrugged. “Usually he’s all business, all the time. With you,
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he’s just… Damien.”
I thought about that on the drive home, replaying every Interaction with Damien in my mind. The way his eyes softened when he looked at me. The subtle protectiveness in his gestures. The careful distance he maintained, always letting me set the pace.
Was I ready for this? To risk my heart again so soon after Julian had shattered it? The sensible answer was no. But every time I was near Damien, sensible thoughts flew straight out the window.
My phone rang early the next morning, jolting me from sleep. I fumbled for it on my nightstand, squinting at the screen. Aunt Lisa. I almost let it go to voicemail, but curiosity got the better of me.
“Hello?” I answered, voice still husky with sleep.
“Hazel, we need to talk about the Oceanic Trading shares,” she said without preamble. “I’ve been going over the company books, and I think we need to reconsider our earlier discussions.”
I sat up straighter, instantly alert. “What do you mean?”
“The company’s prospects aren’t as promising as we initially thought,” she said, her voice slick with false concern. “I’m afraid I can’t offer the full amount we discussed. Fifty million would be more reasonable.”
I almost laughed. Did she really think I was that naive? “Aunt Lisa, we both know the company is worth far more than what we originally discussed. If anything, I should be raising my price, not lowering it.”
“Be reasonable, Hazel. The market is unstable-
“The market is fine,” I cut in. “And we both know Dad’s arrest has actually increased the company’s value now that investors aren’t worried about his mismanagement anymore.”
A long pause. “Fifty–five million, then. That’s my final offer.”
I hardened my voice. “The price is sixty million. All shares, clean transfer, no contingencies. And I want the money transferred before I sign anything.”
“That’s outrageous! No one does business that way.
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“I do. Especially with family who’ve proven they can’t be trusted. I let that sink in. “Take it or leave it, Aunt Lisa. I have other interested buyers.”
That was a bluff, but she didn’t need to know that.
“Fine,” she finally snapped. “Sixty million. We’ll meet tomorrow at the company offices to finalize everything.”
I hung up and fell back against my pillows with a satisfied smile. One more tie to my toxic family, about to be severed forever.
The next day, I arrived at Oceanic Trading dressed to kill in a black tailored pantsuit that I’d designed myself. The receptionist led me straight to the main conference room where my aunt and uncle were waiting with their lawyer.
“Hazel,” Uncle Robert greeted me stiffly. “We have the papers ready”
I nodded to my own lawyer, Victoria’s recommendation, who carefully reviewed every page of the agreement. Once he gave me the okay, I signed where indicated.
“The transfer has been completed,” my aunt said, showing me the bank confirmation on her phone.
I checked my own banking app, verification that sixty million had indeed been deposited into my account. A strange sense of lightness washed over me. The last of my father’s
Good riddance.
.pone.
“Well,” I said, standing up and smoothing my suit, “I believe our business is concluded.”
My aunt’s smile turned smug as she looked at my uncle. “Robert, shall we celebrate? I think the boardroom could use some redecorating now that we’ve taken full control.”
Uncle Robert puffed up his chest, eyes gleaming with triumph. I was thinking we should rename the company. “Thorne Enterprises‘ has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
They were already acting like they’d won some grand victory. Little did they know what was coming next.
“Go ahead,” I said with a thin smile. “Make all the changes you want. Just rer that pride comes before a fall.”
ber
My aunt narrowed her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
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Before I could answer, the conference room door flew open with such force that it slammed against the wall, making everyone jump. A group of stern–faced men in dark suits strode in, led by someone I recognized instantly from the financial news.
“What is the meaning of this?” my uncle spluttered, half–rising from his chair.
The lead man stepped forward, his expression grim. “Robert Thorne and Lisa Thorne? I’m Wei Zhang, representing the Securities and Exchange Commission. We have some questions about Oceanic Trading’s financial practices over the past five years.
My aunt’s face drained of all color. “This–this is a mistake,” she stammered.
“No mistake,” Mr. Zhang replied coolly. “We have evidence of significant tax fraud, money laundering, and securities violations. I suggest you cooperate fully.”
As their moment of triumph crumbled around them, my aunt turned to me, eyes wild with realization and fury. “You,” she hissed. “You knew about this. You set us up!”
I simply gathered my purse and nodded to my lawyer that we were leaving. I hadn’t known the SEC would arrive today specifically–but I’d made sure they received all the evidence I’d been quietly gathering for months. Perfect timing, really.
“Goodbye, Aunt Lisa,” I said, walking past the investigators toward the door. “Uncle Robert. I hope prison food agrees with you both.”
The sweet taste of vengeance followed me into the hallway, where I found myself face–to–face with the last person I expected to see.
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