Chapter 26
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MRS. Harlow had barely dropped the phone when her voice tore through the house, sharp and thunderous.
“This girl! Claire! You won’t kill me the way you killed your father. You made me a widow, and now you want me to join my husband in the grave, it will not happen p>
Her heels clattered on the staircase as she ascended with rage, her voice echoing against the walls. By the time she reached Claire’s room, she twisted the knob and barged in without a thought.
Claire, seated upright at her dressing table with her laptop open, jolted to her feet.
“Mom, what happened to knocking?” she asked, brows furrowed.
“You must be out of your senses for saying that to your mother!” Mrs. Harlow snapped. Her eyes blazed as she advanced into the room. “Claire, what have you done this time p>
Claire blinked, utterly taken aback.
“What is it again, this time, Mom p>
“Seriously? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Aren’t you? As if being late on everything isn’t enough embarrassment, now you are dragging mischief and misfortune into this family again p>
Claire sighed heavily and turned away from her desk, bracing her palms on its edge.
“Okay, Mother, please don’t start today again. Just go ahead and tell me what it is p>
Mrs. Harlow’s nostrils flared.
“Do you even know what you have done? That reckless investment stunt you pulled, plunging half of the company’s liquid funds into a fake partnership deal. Do you realize you nearly drove this family into bankruptcy?” She clutched her chest as though the memory alone threatened to choke her. “It was Adrian, Adrian!— who saved this family from shame the moment Amelia told him. If not for him, Claire, do you know where we would be right now? Ruined! Destroyed! The Harlow name dragged through mud p>
Claire’s lips parted, but no words came out at first. Then, with a weary exhale, she finally managed, “I thought it was a legitimate deal, Mom. I didn’t mean for it to spiral out of hand p>
“You thought? You thought?” Mrs. Harlow’s voice cracked. “Your thoughts will bury us all one day p>
Claire straightened her shoulders, her face calm though her insides twisted.
“Fine. I made a mistake. But at least it was handled. The company didn’t crash. We didn’t go bankrupt p>
Mrs. Harlow jabbed a finger at her.
“Don’t you dare minimize this, Claire. Don’t you dare. You are a curse to everything you touch. Late at everything, and now reckless at the only thing you were supposed to manage. If not for Adrian–
“Then thank him,” Claire cut in sharply, her eyes meeting her mother’s at last. “Thank him all you want, but don’t stand here and act like I planned this. I’m tired of being your punching bag every time something goes wrong p>
Mrs. Harlow froze, stunned at the boldness of her daughter’s words. The air between them hung thick with
tension.
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Adrian sat at the dining table, his tablet propped open in front of him as he sliced into his toast, dipping it in his tea before taking a bite. That was how he loved eating his toast, dipped in tea. His concentration was glued to the screen until he felt a pair of warm arms wrap around him from behind.
He chuckled, tilting his head slightly.
“Thank you, babe p>
Amelia leaned down, placing a glass of water beside his plate before hugging him tighter from behind.
“What are you working on?” she asked, her gaze flicking to the glowing tablet screen.
He chewed, answering mid-bite.
“I’m just trying to wrap this up before I get to the office p>
“This?” she asked, curious, her eyes still on the tablet.
“Yeah,” he mumbled, his mouth full.
Satisfied, she left his back and slid into the chair closest to him.
“Okay p>
“You good?” Adrian asked, sparing her a quick glance as he reached for his teacup.
“Mm mm.” She shook her head, sitting upright.
“Babe,” she called softly.
“Yes, honey p>
“I really want to thank you again… for what you did p>
Adrian groaned, leaning back in his chair with exaggerated weariness.
“Ahh, baby. You have been over this for a while now. I was just helping out my in-laws p>
She smiled faintly, her eyes soft.
“Still, I thank you. If you hadn’t come to the rescue, Claire would have rendered the only company my dad left behind, my dad’s legacy completely ruined. I don’t even know what to say p>
He took a measured sip of tea before setting the cup down with a soft clink.
“Baby, it is okay. I do all I can to help. But hey…” He raised a brow. “Claire should really watch it. Mum always calls to complain one thing or the other about her p>
Amelia rolled her eyes, playful.
“She is still a baby sis, Adrian p>
“There you go,” he teased, grinning. “Always having her back, always taking her side. Tell me, how can you call a 28-year-old lady a baby, huh p>
They both laughed.
“Please, she is my baby sis. It is expected of her to make such silly mistakes p>
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“Okay,” Adrian leaned in, smirking. “Did you make such mistakes when you were that age, huh p>
Amelia gasped, tossing him a look.
“Oh God! Don’t talk like Mum now p>
He laughed heartily, tapping his tablet screen.
“Well, baby…” she digressed, brushing her hair back.
“Yes, honey p>
“Um, Hazel’s school sent an email p>
“Okay,” Adrian sipped again. “What about p>
“They said they are hosting an award presentation next week. And guess who is the best student in her class p>
Adrian immediately set his teacup down with a dramatic thud, his eyes widening with mock suspicion. He began tapping the table in rhythm.
“My one and only daughter!” he sang proudly.
Amelia burst into laughter.
“Of course p>
Adrian pointed to himself, smug.
“I knew it! Brains! She got it from me p>
Amelia raised her brows.
“Excuse me? She clearly got it from me. Do you remember who topped her class every year in high school? That was me. Brains run in the family, babe, and she got them from her mother p>
He scoffed, leaning back.
“Please, Hazel’s brilliance comes straight from me. Do you know how sharp I was as a kid? Top of my class, baby. I used to win all the math quizzes p>
“Math quizzes?” Amelia laughed so hard her shoulders shook. “Adrian, you struggled to calculate change at the grocery store last week. Don’t even start p>
“That was one time,” he argued, grinning. “One time, Ame! And besides, I was distracted. You can’t count that against me p>
She smirked, folding her arms.
“Mm hmm, keep telling yourself that p>
He laughed.
“Anyway,” she said, changing the subject with a smile, “the school wants you to give a speech about Hazel. Just a short something… a proud father moment, you know p>
“Mmmm,” Adrian mouthed, suddenly spurred, rubbing his chin.
“Just a short something,” she repeated.
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“Okay, no problem. Very cool, fine.” He straightened his shoulders like a man preparing for battle. “Speaker Adrian is very active. I’m going to give them something very memorable, you know, something that will remain indelible in their minds for weeks… no, months p>
She laughed, almost choking on air.
“Speaker Adrian, it is not a campaign rally, okay? Just a short speech, please p>
“Right, right. Okay. Short. To be precise, two to three minutes max. Cool p>
She nodded, smiling.
“She is going to be really happy p>
He softened, a proud smile breaking across his face.
“Right p>
She nodded.
“Yeah. You are her hero p>
He reached across the table, touching her arm.
“And you are mine,” he said softly.
She caressed his arm back, warmth spreading in her chest.
“My crown…
He smiled.
“Hmm, my speech…” He leaned back dramatically. “You guys should be ready. It is gonna be so powerful, Trump wouldn’t even come close p>
Amelia froze for half a second before bursting out laughing.
“Trump? Really p>
“Mm mm,” Adrian said with conviction.
She shook her head, laughing harder.
“You see? And you said Hazel got her brains from you? You don’t even know who gives a better speech. Trump or Obama p>
“Obama, obviously,” Amelia answered for him. “Obama gives a better speech. Please p>
Adrian shrugged with a grin.
“Well, I don’t care. They both give speeches. All I’m saying is, once I get on that stage, everyone is so gonna feel
it p>
She laughed again, her voice echoing around the dining room.
“It is just a speech about your daughter,” she kept reminding him, shaking her head.
Adrian winked at her, picking up his tablet.
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“Just wait and see.
P
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Olivia Harris
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.