Chapter 8
Finn’s tone was low, icy, like he was tossing out some random trivia nobody asked for.
But that jab? It hit like a sucker punch. Faces around the room froze some went ghost white, others turned beet red.
The Kellers and the Barnetts were the kind of families who owned the society pages, old money dripping from every chandelier.
Six months ago, they’d thrown a big, flashy engagement party for their kids, all for the headlines.
Then, out of nowhere, the Kellers crashed and burned. Stephen Keller, the head of the family, took a leap off a skyscraper and was now barely hanging on at home.
The Keller Group? Buried under a mountain of debt, millions deep.
The Bametts were itching to call off the engagement faster than one could say “bad optics,” but they hold off to keep up appearances.
When Arya and Eloise got nabbed last night, it was like the universe handed them a golden ticket.
If the kidnappers took Arya out, no need for a messy breakup.
If she came back? Well, she’d be “tainted,” and they could dump her second thought.
Except nobody saw this coming, Arya didn’t just survive–sho waltzed into the gala, dumped Malcolm in front of everyone, and had him begging her like a fool.
Eleanor’s face was a storm cloud now, her eyes blazing. “The Kellers are done, Finn! We didn’t owe her a dime to get her back. You’re a Barnett, for Pete’s sake! Why are you tossing your own family to the wolves for some has–been? Do you even give a damn about us?”
Truth was, it was Eleanor’s grand plan to have Malcolm save only Eloise. With the Kellers down and out, she’d already moved on to her next chess move pairing Malcolm with the Sutton family.
Eloise being his old high–school sweetheart sealed the deal–he was all in, no questions asked.
“She’s no has–been, Finn said, his voice cool but sharp enough to slice through steel,
He flicked his eyes toward Eleanor, those brooding pools glinting with a dangerous edge. “She’s my f
vancée.”
His words weren’t loud, but they landed like a thunderclap, rippling through the room, The air felt thick, like the whole place was holding its breath.
Every head in the room snapped up, eyes bugging out at Finn.
No one could wrap their heads around it–Finn, the guy who’d rather eat nails than get tangled up with a woman, was set on marrying Arya, the down and–out Keller heiress.
Colin finally growled, his voice low. “Finn, you wanna shack up with some girl? Whatever. But Arya? Hell no.”
Arya’s casino takedown of Malcolm was already blowing up online. No way Colin was letting her crash the Barnett family and trash their rep.
Finn just leveled him with those razor–sharp eyes, cold as steel. “I marry who I want. You don’t get a vote.”
Pure, cocky swagger.
He spun on his heel and strutted out, leaving jaws on the floor.
Eleanor glared at his icy back, spitting mad Look at that, honey That’s the snake you raised.”
1/2
Chapter 8
Arya ducked out of the Norrian Club and hit the mall, grabbing a new phone and sliding her old SIM in.
The second it powered on, her mom’s call caine through, voice cracking “Baby, get home fast. Your dad’s worse.”
Arya’s stomach dropped, her eyes dimming.
A month back, the Keller family’s company, Keller Group, went bust when their funds dried The shock sent her dad spiraling–he tried to end it by jumping off a roof.
Thank God Arya got there in time, doing emergency brain surgery in their living room to pull him through
He was hanging on, but his brain was shot. Only one thing could save him: Miracle Pill K, a wonder drug from the late Professor Jeff Ashton, said to work
literal miracles.
Problem was, some mystery buyer snagged it, and it vanished.
For weeks, Arya had people hunting it down, but it was like chasing a ghost.
She floored it back to Keller Villa.
Her mom, Maria, ran to her, eyes red and swollen. “Sweetie, you’re the best at Flodes Med University. You saved him before. You can do it again, right?”
Arya was a star at Flodes, a wizard with brain surgery. She’d saved countless lives. But now, with her dad, she was stuck.
That one pill, his only hope, was still MIA,
Seeing her mom’s pleading eyes, Arya squeezed her hand, voice steady. “Mom, hang on Let me check Dad first, okay?”
Sunlight flooded the airy room, but it couldn’t chase away the chill in Arya’s heart.
Stephen Keller lay motionless on the bed, his rugged, once–handsome face now deathly pale
Arya’s throat tightened as she saw how trail her dad looked. She gently pressed her slim fingers to his wrist.
His pulse was barely a whisper, his skin cold as ice. She knew–they were out of time.
Downstairs, a man’s voice rumbled, thick with worry. “Maria, Arya’s poking the bear going against the Barnetts. You gotta talk her down, maybe get her to swing by their place and eat some humble pie.”
Then came a sickly sweet voice, all fake innocence. “Auntie Maria, I totally get why Arya’s acting out. She’s jealous because I’m Malcom’s first love. She’s terrified we’ll get back together, so she’s got it out for him. But Malcom and me? We’re the real deal.”
Arya slipped out of the room and crept to the staircase. Her gaze locked onto the living room below.
There, facing her mom, stood a man and a woman.
Her uncle, Jared Sutton.
