She couldn’t part with the money.
Looking at her now, Lucas suddenly found her pathetic.
The more he once cherished her, the more he loathed her now.
Five years ago, his biological sister had been bullied into jumping off a school building.
Then he met Clarissa–crying, claiming she was bullied, excluded, and humiliated by Claire.
She resembled his sister, just enough to soften his heart.
He protected her, pampered her, even developed feelings.
But Clarissa took the breakup money and left the country without looking back.
When she returned, she put on a pitiful face and begged him for help.
Maybe wounded pride made him let her close again.
That night, he was drunk. She seized the moment, brought him to a hotel, whispering in his ear that she was “Cece,” tricking him into believing she was Claire.
He kissed her.
But when he sobered up and looked at her deceitful face, all he felt was disgust.
She was nothing like Cece.
The real Cece–Claire–had flipped through countless books and ruined several pots of soup just
to cook for his bad stomach.
She loved him not for his wealth, nor his identity as heir of the Reed family.
She was the only woman he could drop his guard for after brutal days in the business world.
Quirky, sincere, pure–hearted–her presence always took the weight off his shoulders.
That was the Claire he loved.
And yet, he had betrayed that very innocence with his own hands.
Fortunately, she didn’t know–yet.
Lucas stared into Clarissa’s eyes and declared with icy authority:
“Not a word about our marriage certificate is to be leaked.”
Beads of sweat formed on Clarissa’s forehead.
She remembered the trending topics she had fabricated to slander Claire as a homewrecker, and murmured something incoherent.
Lucas turned away and called his assistant.
“Activate every contact. I want Claire found, even if we have to turn Silvergate upside down.‘
“Yes, sir. But… you really intend to mortgage all Reed assets to acquire Mr. Whitmore’s shares?
If the capital chain breaks, we’ll be in serious danger.”
Lucas wasn’t pleased to have his strength questioned.
But for Claire’s sake, he held back his temper.
“Don’t worry. No one can rival my power in Silvergate.
Even if there are outsiders bidding, she’ll make the choice- and I know who she’ll pick.”
The assistant fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
“Understood, sir. I’ll arrange it.”
Three days later–at the Whitmore Corporation’s shareholder divestment meeting.
“Claire, you’re here?”
My father waved at me with a smile, still wearing his benevolent father mask.
“Daddy’s getting old and frail.
The shares your mom left behind… they’re being squandered in my hands.”
I looked at him silently.
He sighed and shook his head as if helpless.
“I’ve decided to hand these shares over to someone more capable.
Grace and I… we plan to retire peacefully in Andara.”
Grace wore a victor’s smirk, triumph gleaming in her eyes.
Clarissa, frustrated after being cold–shouldered by Lucas for days, snapped:
Chapter 7
22.70%
“Claire, don’t delude yourself–our emigration application includes only the four of us. You were never part of the plan!”
Chapte
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.

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