Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Last night, Malcolm had ditched Arya–his supposed fiancée for that same woman without a second thought.
A sharp smirk curled Arya’s lips. “Now this father daughter duo thinks they can sweet talk me into groveling to Malcolm? Total joke
In the living room, Jared caught the flicker of doubt on Maria’s face and leaned in. “Maria, if Arys just sucks it up and says sorry, the Barnetts me up on the Kellers. Keller Group’s mess could be history in no time.”
“No way I’m saying sorry to anyonel Arya’s cool, cutting voice rang out, snapping Jared and Eloise’s heads up,
They watched her glide down the stairs, tall and confident, like she owned the room.
Her skin practically sparkled, flawless and unreal. Those sharp brows arched over eyes that could hook one in and hold one tight. Her face! Gorgeous didn’t do it justice.
Eloise’s mouth practically hung open. She’d been abroad for three years, only hearing bits about Arya from her dad.
She’d rushed back to stop Malcolm’s engagement to her.
Last night’s dim lighting hid Arya’s face, but now, in broad daylight, it hit her: Arya was drop–dead gorgeous, outshining her completely.
Jared froze for a second, caught off guard.
He remembered Arya as the poised girl the Kellers brought home five years ago–cool, maybe, but always respectful. Never one to snap back at family. Yet here she was, throwing his words in his face.
And those sharp, fiery eyes? They hit him like a warning radiating a vibe he couldn’t shake
This wasn’t the sweet, obedient Arya he knew.
“Look, Arya,” Jared said, slipping into his wise–uncle act, voice warm but firm, like she didn’t have a choice. “Even if you don’t care about yourself, think about Keller Group. Think about your dad
“Keep poking the Barnetts, and Keller Group’s done for. Even if your brother quits his band and dumps every dime he’s got, it won’t touch those millions in debt. You wanna see your dad’s life’s work crash and burn?”
Arya tilted her head, one brow arched, her tone lazy but sharp. “Se, Uncle Jared, you’re saying if I kiss up to the Barnetts, Keller Group’s gonna magically bounce back?”
Her words were tossed out carelessly, but Jared’s face split into a sleazy grin, like he’d just won the lottery, “Arya, if you’d just play nice with the Barnetts, I’ll pull some strings, sweet–talk them a bit. Maybe they’ll
“Maybe they’ll jump to marry your darling daughter, huh?” Arya cut in, a sharp smirk on her lips.
Her eyes, though? Cold as ice. “Think I’m blind to your little plan, Uncle Jared?”
Five years she’d watched Jared’s slimy moves. The guy clung to his thin connection as her mom’s cousin, bleeding Keller Group dry every chance he got.
Her dad, too kind for his own good, never called him out–just kept propping him up, dumping cash into Jared’s two–bit company.
That was the only reason a nobody like him had any cloutin Flodes City.
Now, with the Keller family bankrupt and drowning in debt, Jared had ditched them the second the ship started sinking.
Help her? Yeah, right. She’d believe that when hell froze over.
“Arya,” Eloise chimed in, her voice soft and delicate, like she might shatter if you breathed too hard. “Malcolm’s always loved me.
1/2
Chapter 9
“That engagement with you? Just to keep Eleanor off his back, He’s never been into you.”
Her tone was sugary, but every word was a stugjab.
To Eloise, Arya’s looks were just a pretty shell–nothing inside, But she was Malcolm’s first love, the one no one could replace.
Malcolm saving her–arid only her–from those kidnappers last night? That was all the proof the needed,
A smug smile tugged at Eloise’s lips.
Arya barely glanced at Eloise, her eyes skimming over her.
Eloise was all dolled up in a lacy white dress, her long hair flowing down her back, face glowing with that soft, natural makeup vibe.
She looked delicate, sweet–the kind of girl who’d have guys eating out of her hand,
As for Malcolm… Arya’s eyes turned to steel.
Six months ago, when her dad suggested a marriage deal with the Barnett family, she’d met Malcolm just to keep the peace. Big mistake.
The guy wouldn’t quit, chasing her with all that charming, lovesick nonsense. Her parents kept nudging, so Arya thought, ‘Fine, I’ll bite
She’d hoped he was a good one. Nope. Malcolm was a straight–up tool.
Snapping out of it, Arya raised an eyebrow, her face pure disgust. “I don’t want some jerk’s lake love. You’re into him? Go for it–he’s yours.”
She looked like she’d just chucked a moldy sandwich.
Eloise’s smile froze, her eyes flashing with barely–hidden rage. ‘Did Arya just call Malcolm a creep? PIT, A clear case of sour grapes.”
Flashing a fake grin, Eloise leaned in. “Hey, Arya, my dad mentioned… five years back, you were out there, right? Like, barely getting by. Then Aunt Maria and Uncle Stephan brought you into this posh life. Don’t you wanna, like, do something for them?”
Sweet words, sharp edge–poking right at Arya’s rough past.
“Thinks she’s hot stuff after a few years in a mansion? Please, Eloise thought.
Arya’s mind drifted to five years ago.
She’d been in Flodes City, on a risky job, and got messed up bad. Passed out in an alley, only to be found–by dumb luck–by her real parents.
She didn’t trust them at first, kept her guard up. But her mom, dad, and big bro? They didn’t push. They just loved her, gave her a home. Bit by bit, she let go of the chaos and sank into this loud, warm family.
Then fate decided to screw with her.
“Aw, so worried about my folks!” Arya said, a sly smirk, curling her lips. “How about you cover Keller Group’s million–dollar debt first?
