Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The Saxon estate sprawled across Mandino City’s swankiest villa district, tucked away at BlueMoon Haven.
Aria glided her car through the manicured garden, parked, and headed toward the imposing manor that stood like a sentinel.
Crossing the front door, her mind churned, already betting on who’d be inside, ready to give her the third degree.
The Saxons were one of Mandino City’s elite four families, and her grandfather, Joseph, ruled the roost with an old–school iron fist.
Terrified of the family scattering, he kept everyone–her dad Logan, her uncle Luke, and their kids–under the massive roof of the Saxon manor. Everyone, that was, except his eldest daughter, who’d married and bolted.
71%
+20
Then there was Aria’s free–spirit uncle, Nathan, a painter with a decent rep, always chasing his next masterpiece and dodging home, much to Joseph’s
constant headache.
Aria stepped into the living room, and sure enough, there they were–the Saxons, draped over plush sofas like they owned the world.
As expected, Luke’s clan was all present, except their high schooler. Luke himself lounged among them.
The air felt thick, like a storm was brewing, and Aria stood there, their eyes slicing through her like she was on trial.
She stayed quiet, her gaze catching Silvia, snuggled in Zoe’s lap. A quick, weird pang hit her chest–sharp, fleeting, and gone before she could pin it
down.
Joseph’s face was hard as stone, his sharp eyes burning with barely leashed fury. “Aria, you got any clue why we hauled everyone here for this sit–down?”
His lean face and intense stare screamed control. Joseph was obsessed with the family’s rep, always dishing out orders and expecting the younger crowd to snap to it.
Cross him? They were basically dead to him. And Aria? She wasn’t exactly the “yes, Grandpa” type he craved.
Aria met his glare, cool as a cucumber. “Yeah, I know. I’m getting a divorce.”
Boom!
Joseph’s hand crashed onto the coffee table, rattling teacups and splashing coffee everywhere. “You were so hell–bent on marrying Liam that Silvia stepped back for you.
“Two years later, you’re stirring up a divorce? You’re making the Saxons look like a damn joke!”
Logan’s face darkened, his jaw tight. “Dad, Silvia wasn’t into Ljam. You can’t say she gave him up.”
Joseph’s lips flattened into a grim line. “We coughed up that prime Northside plot to the Coles to nix the engagement. But Aria? She practically raced to the altar with Liam, sneaking in a prenup behind our backs. You hear what people are whispering? Airhead, lovesick, fool. The Saxon name’s getting dragged through the dirt.”
His voice spiked, and he slapped the table again, his temper red–hot.
“Grandpa, take a breather,” Caleb said, sliding a glass of water toward Joseph. “Liam’s the one who screwed around with that Gibson girl. Aria’s the one who got burned here–not her fault.”
Caleb, Arta’s older brother and the Saxon family’s eldest heir, had been her anchor over the past two years. He’d schooled her in the ways of the corporate jungle, passing down half his tricks to help her thrive.
They got on well enough, always able to talk without sparks flying-
Luke, toying with the oversized gold chain dangling from his neck, flashed a crooked grin. “Hang on, Caleb, I’m not buying that. Mr. Cole let slip that Aria
1/2
15:07 Mon, 26 May • M
Chapter 7
funneled 150 million into Cole Group. Didn’t think Logan had that kinda bank tucked away for his real daughter. Bet Silvia’s wondering if she’ll get the same fat stack when she walks down the aisle.”
He leaned hard into “real daughter,” his voice tart with shade.
+20)
Luke was the spitting image of his late grandma Nora, with a bold, almost too gorgeous look that had charmed everyone since he was a kid. As an adult, he’d leaned into his playboy rep full tilt.
His dad, Joseph, wasn’t having it and dragged him to the altar.
After Luke and his wife welcomed a son, he finally dialed back the wild life. He’d always wanted a sweet, doe–eyed daughter, but his wife, Abigail, was married to her career and shot down the idea.
22
DA
AD
Comment
