Building Her Throne Burying My Heart (Claire) novel Chapter 28

Back then, he pulled every string he could to bring me back. I was so sure I’d finally get to be with my real parents, so full of hope, waiting for my new life to begin. Instead, I got hit with the news that Halley’s kidneys were failing, and I was the only one who could help. Not even Garrison was a match.

I thought I’d found my family at last, but what I really walked into was a nightmare. I was just a kid, desperate for a family, and I honestly believed that if I saved him, we’d all finally live in peace. Looking back, that was just wishful thinking.

Halley’s face turned stormy when he heard what I said. He knew he owed me his life, and even if there was no real bond between us, he couldn’t ignore that.

He was quiet for a long time before he finally asked, “You didn’t just come back for a visit, did you?”

By then, Garrison had already filled him in—I was back, flat broke, scraping by with odd jobs, even mooching drinks from rich women at bars. Garrison made sure Halley heard every rumor, painting me as a gambling addict who ran off with a pile of money three years ago, only to come crawling back for more.

Since Halley was so direct, I didn’t bother sugarcoating it. “I need money.”

There was no point pretending we had any kind of father-son bond. My answer just confirmed what he already suspected. He slammed his hand on the table, his voice rising. “Is money all you ever want from me? Is that the only thing this family means to you?”

All I could see on his face was anger, nothing else but pure resentment.

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