Chapter 2 - The Shattered Engagement
I could not breathe as Clara's devastating words echoed against the tile walls.
Six years ago, I had woken up from a two-month coma following a horrific highway collision.
My family had told me Clara had taken a massive payout to walk away while I was unconscious.
I had spent years hating her for abandoning me when I needed her the most.
Now, standing in front of four miniature versions of myself, the sickening truth finally clicked into place.
My powerful, manipulative father had lied to both of us to destroy our relationship.
Clara grabbed her sons by their hands and frantically rushed out of the restaurant before I could stop her.
I sprinted out to the sidewalk, but she was already disappearing into the back of a yellow taxi.
I memorized the license plate number and immediately called my private investigator to track the vehicle.
Then, I instructed my delayed driver to take me directly to the family conservatory.
I walked into the breathtaking glass room where a string quartet was playing softly in the background.
Sloane was waiting near the exotic orchids, wearing a stunning white evening gown that cost a fortune.
My parents were standing by the champagne tower, smiling proudly at the perfect corporate merger they had orchestrated.
I marched straight up to Sloane and pulled the velvet ring box from my pocket.
Instead of kneeling, I slammed the box down onto the glass table with a deafening crack.
I loudly announced that the wedding was permanently canceled because I had just discovered I was a father.
My mother gasped in absolute horror, dramatically pressing her hand to her pearl necklace.
I expected my father to demand an explanation or feign complete ignorance about Clara.
Instead, my father casually picked up his champagne flute and took a slow, deliberate sip.
May you like
He looked directly at Sloane and let out a deeply annoyed sigh.
"I paid you five million dollars to make sure those four bastards were eliminated years ago, Sloane," my father said coldly.
