Chapter 3

I laughed, this time out of sheer anger.

"If your brain's broken, Ethan, go see a doctor. She's a few months older than I am. Does she seriously think she's a baby?"

"Even I couldn't give birth to a child that shameless."

"A few years of being spoiled, and she thinks she's an heiress entitled to anything she wants."

"If you've got the money, buy your own. Why are you always after my things?"

"A little self-awareness wouldn't hurt."

At my words, Sophie's tears started falling on command.

"If you don't want to lend it to me, just say so! Why humiliate me?"

"You haven't even married Ethan yet. What right do you have to wear the Whitmore family heirloom? Have you no shame?"

After Sophie's father saved Ethan, the Whitmores had paid for her education to repay his sacrifice.

They'd also promised her a job at one of their companies.

Before she even graduated, she had joined the company as an intern.

Somehow, she'd managed to hook Ethan there.

But no matter how she spun it, she was still just an intern the Whitmores had sponsored.

When Sophie complained that she'd grown up without a father, Ethan had actually asked his grandfather to adopt her.

She was already an adult.

Arthur saw what she was after.

He refused outright.

Ethan, however, felt terribly guilty.

From then on, he treated Sophie like she was made of glass.

He frowned.

"Sophie isn't like you. She lost her father, and I'm the only one she can count on. Grandpa refused to give her a place in the family trust. That's why she feels so insecure"

I interrupted with a suggestion.

"You want Sophie added to the trust? That's easy."

"If you want to look after her for the rest of her life, marry her."

"What are you talking about? Sophie is just just an intern I sponsor. You're the one I want to spend my life with!"

"She's family. You're the woman I love. If you keep talking like this, I'm really going to get angry."

I felt sick listening to him.

I wasn't wasting another second. I turned and walked away.

I wasn't going to wait for a flight that hadn't even landed. I texted Adrian that I'd meet him at the estate and stepped outside. A discreet Maybach pulled up, and Leo got out to open the door.

"Mrs. Whitmore, Mr. Whitmore asked me to pick him up later. Would you like me to take you home first?"

Adrian had closed a major deal on his trip. Knowing he was coming home today, Arthur had specifically asked us to have dinner at the family estate.

Suddenly, someone shoved past me and climbed into the car.

Once Sophie had settled in, she sneered.

"Aren't you married? Why are you still trying to catch a ride in a Whitmore car? Go ride in your husband's."

Sophie recognized the Maybach. It belonged to Ethan's brother.

Ethan clearly recognized it, too. He seemed flattered. His brother barely acknowledged him, much less sent a driver to pick him up.

He sat beside Sophie, fastened her seat belt, and turned to me.

"You can sit in the front. Sophie's used to sitting next to me. I'll have the driver take you back to the Bennett house first."

"No need. I have my own car. Leo, take them to the estate. I've got other plans."

I took out my key and pressed the unlock button. Nearby, the lights of a Lamborghini Veneno flashed twice.

I caught the flash of jealousy in Sophie's eyes before I drove away.

Ethan sighed. "There she goes, getting upset again. She really needs to work on that temper"

Then he asked Leo:

"Did my brother send you to pick me up?"

Leo answered honestly.

"No. I'm here to pick up Mr. Whitmore."

There were two seconds of silence before Ethan spoke.

"What a coincidence. Where is he?"

"His flight was delayed."

I went to a spa and enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing treatment. When dinnertime approached, I drove back to the estate.

The moment I got out, I saw the two of them waiting outside the front entrance.

Apparently, when Leo brought them back, Arthur had thrown down his cane as soon as he heard who it was. He hadn't even let them inside.

"Get out! Why bother coming back? You might as well have stayed gone for good!"

Ethan and Sophie had stayed on the front steps, hoping Arthur would come out and let them explain.

When he saw me arrive, Ethan rose and blocked my path. His dejected expression vanished, replaced by excitement.

"I knew you loved me, Claire! You heard Grandpa wouldn't let me in, so you came running!"

"Perfect timing. He adores you. Go in and talk to him for me."

Sophie appeared beside him and jabbed a finger at my face.

"You're still holding a grudge because Ethan left the wedding for me, aren't you?"

"Is that why you made Arthur punish us?"

She lunged forward to grab me. I stepped aside, and she landed face-first on the ground.

Her knee started bleeding. Tears immediately streamed down her face.

Ethan pressed his lips together and rushed to examine her injury.

With practiced ease, he gathered her into his arms and soothed her until she finally smiled through her tears.

Only then did he remember me. He sighed.

"Claire, I don't even recognize you anymore."

"Sophie never means any harm. If you want to marry me, you need to learn to be more understanding."

"Apologize to her, and we'll forget about it this time. But I expect you to work on your attitude."

I laughed in disbelief.

"Should I pay her damages, too? For wounding her fragile little heart?"

Greed flashed in Sophie's eyes.

"I still need a car. The one you were driving today looked pretty nice."

A Lamborghini Veneno. One of only three in the world. Worth more than twenty million dollars.

Sophie certainly wasn't shy about her greed.

Once again, Ethan made a decision on my behalf.

"It's not often Sophie likes something this much. Give her the car. Consider it compensation for hurting her."

I looked at him calmly. "Keep dreaming." When Sophie reached for my brooch again, I unpinned it and held it out of reach. "Marry him first. Then we can talk about a wedding present." Ethan snatched it from my hand before I could pin it back on.

I shoved past him and headed straight for the house.

"Stop!"

Realizing I had no intention of playing along, Ethan's face darkened. His voice turned threatening.

"Let me make this clear, Claire. Unless you apologize to Sophie, you can forget about marrying me. You'll never set foot in this house!"

Thud!

A cane suddenly came flying out and struck him squarely on the head.

From several yards away, Arthur's powerful voice rang out for everyone to hear.

"You idiot! Show your brother's wife some respect!"