Chapter 27
Keith’s jaw tightened. Humiliation twisted in his chest like a knife. He had always looked down on others–how could he possibly stomach being humiliated like this?
The next day, still burning with resentment, Keith made a call. He pulled some strings through his connections and arranged a meeting with Carol.
444
After bringing Sloan home, Tristan handed her a warm towel and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“If your mom see you like this, she’d be heartbroken.”
Breathing in the familiar scent of pinewood on Tristan’s clothes, Sloan’s emotions gradually steadied. She looked at him gratefully.
“Tristan, thank you for being by my side all these years. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Tristan playfully flicked her nose, a tender smile spreading across his face. “No, meeting you was my greatest luck. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been in love with you? Over a decade. I thought I’d never get the chance to marry you. But thank God, I didn’t miss my shot.”
Their eyes met and the warmth in his gaze melted the last of her defenses. Sloan leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
The golden afternoon light poured through the window, casting a soft glow over them. The atmosphere between them grew heavy with unspoken desire. Tristan didn’t hesitate – he scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.
After Sloan fell asleep, Tristan immediately got out of bed and started working against the Tanner Family.
There was no way he’d let anyone hurt the woman he had waited so long to have in his life.
Seeing Sloan so broken and helpless earlier had shattered his heart into pieces.
He couldn’t stand it. He wouldn’t stand it.
Tristan launched a series of strategic attacks, targeting every company with ties to the Tanner Family. One by one, their business partners backed out. Stock prices for the Tanner Corporation plummeted overnight. Investors were in a frenzy and shareholders were panicking.
Then, bombshell after bombshell dropped in the media.
The details were damning. Keith’s younger sister, Flora, had bullied classmates, forcing poor students to write her papers and even making one girl drink from a toilet. There were even photos of her blackmailing classmates with nude photos.
And Keith? He wasn’t any better. He’d been caught on camera harassing women on the street, even beating a man so severely that the victim was left paralyzed before Keith
dumnad him into a river attempting to cover un the crime
n’s Betrayal Left Me Broken and Exposed
1/2 96.9%
Tanner Family. One by one, their business partners backed out. Stock prices for the Tanner Corporation plummeted overnight. Investors were in a frenzy and shareholders were panicking
Then, bombshell after bombshell dropped in the media.
The details were damning. Keith’s younger sister, Flora, had bullied classmates, forcing poor students to write her papers and even making one girl drink from a toilet. There were even photos of her blackmailing classmates with nude photos.
And Keith? He wasn’t any better. He’d been caught on camera harassing women on the street, even beating a man so severely that the victim was left paralyzed before Keith dumped him into a river, attempting to cover up the crime.
The police opened an investigation. Flora and Keith were both arrested. Flora was sentenced to juvenile detention, while Keith faced multiple felony charges.
Mr. Tanner was left trying to hold the company together, but with angry investors pulling out and constant lawsuits piling up, the Tanner Corporation’s collapse was only a matter of time.
Sloan knelt in front of her mother’s grave, placing a small box of lemon tarts her mom’s favorite – on the tombstone.
“Mom,” Sloan whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks, “I’ve avenged you. The people who hurt you… they’ve finally paid for what they did.”
Her phone suddenly buzzed. She pulled it from her pocket and saw a picture of a black box
on the screen.
Her blood ran cold.
She opened the message. A voice memo followed. Carol’s voice, dark and full of venom, filled the air:
“Sloan, don’t think you’ve won. If you want this precious little box intact, come to the house on East Ridge – alone. If you bring anyone else… well, I can’t promise your mother’s ashes will stay in one piece.”
The call ended.
Sloan’s heart raced. She scrambled to her feet.
“I have to go,” she muttered.
Tristan grabbed her wrist. “I’m coming with you.”
Sloan shook her head frantically. “No! Carol said I have to go alone. It’s my mother’s ashes -I can’t take that risk. This is my fault. I can’t even let her rest in peace after death.” Tristan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he followed her at a distance, keeping
to the shadows.
Carol glanced around, scanning the area. Once she was sure Sloan hadn’t brought anyone with her, a slow smile curved across her lips.
טופ
09.0%
07:58 Sun, 30 Mar
She opened the message. A voice memo followed. Carol’s voice, dark and full of venom, filled the air:
“Sloan, don’t think you’ve won. If you want this precious little box intact, come to the house on East Ridge – alone. If you bring anyone else…. well, I can’t promise your mother’s ashes will stay in one piece.”
The call ended.
Sloan’s heart raced. She scrambled to her feet.
“I have to go,” she muttered.
Tristan grabbed her wrist. “I’m coming with you.”
Sloan shook her head frantically. “No! Carol said I have to go alone. It’s my mother’s ashes -I can’t take that risk. This is my fault. I can’t even let her rest in peace after death.” Tristan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he followed her at a distance, keeping to the shadows.
Carol glanced around, scanning the area. Once she was sure Sloan hadn’t brought anyone with her, a slow smile curved across her lips.
“Well, well… Looks like I was right. That urn means a lot to you, huh?” Carol’s eyes gleamed with malice. “Too bad I can’t get your daughter to join the fun.”
