My mom looked at calmly, her eyes steady and clear, without hesitation.
"Riley, I can’t let Nicholas down anymore," she said quietly. "I was too soft before. I thought I could accept being Grant’s partner, raise you well, and slowly build a peaceful life. I believed that with ti, my feelings for Nicholas would fade, and I would learn how to care for Grant properly."
She paused, then closed her eyes.
"But then I heard about Monica’s pregnancy. That was when I knew. Riley, I gave Grant a chance. A real one."
Her lashes trembled as she breathed out.
"From that mont on, my heart was already gone. This ti... I want to live for myself."
I felt a tightness in my chest, but I nodded.
"Alright, Mom. I’ll stand by whatever decision you make. Lewis has already arranged for a lawyer to gather everything we need. Just hold on a little longer. Now isn’t the right ti to separate officially."
She nodded. "Okay."
I exhaled slowly, trying to ease the weight in my chest.
That afternoon, Grant’s secretary and lawyer arrived together. They brought docunts share transfers, property deeds, and asset agreents.
As I flipped through them, even I felt stunned.
Along with the shares, there were houses, land, and investnts transferred directly into my na.
For a mont, I almost wondered if Grant had changed completely overnight.
It was clear he truly believed this was a new beginning with Lena. What he didn’t realize was that her heart had been closed for years.
Now, all that remained was moving Granny safely. Once she was free, my mom could walk away without fear.
The assistant placed the agreent in front of us.
I didn’t hesitate. I signed imdiately.
This belonged to Riley.
I wasn’t foolish. If I refused now, those two calculating won would take everything later, and I wouldn’t even have ti to regret it.
This wasn’t generosity. It was compensation.
No matter the intention behind it, I would accept every single thing.
But my mom didn’t sign.
I understood why.
She didn’t want money. She didn’t want shares. If she was leaving, she wanted a clean break no ties, no future disputes, no lingering control.
The assistant looked confused. To them, this was a blessing dropped from the sky. Who in their right mind would refuse it?
What they didn’t understand was that every gift has a price.
And the more "free" sothing looks, the more it costs in the end.
Lena had never cared about possessions.
"Mrs. Ashbourne," the assistant asked politely, "do you have any concerns?"
"No," she replied calmly.
I smiled and stepped in. "Let Mom keep the agreent for now. If she changes her mind, she’ll sign it herself."
The assistant nodded, clearly aware of the family tension. "Understood, Miss. We’ll proceed with the notarization later."
After they left, I lowered my voice. "Let’s wait. We don’t want to raise his suspicions. Moving Granny is still our priority."
My mom nodded, exhaustion catching up with her. She curled up on the sofa, and I gently covered her with a blanket.
For a mont, it felt like our roles had reversed.
Still, Grant’s actions reminded of sothing important.
I was now standing on Ashbourne ground.
I could still visit the Hales but I didn’t intend to hide there anymore. I planned to return, reclaim what belonged to Riley, and stand where I was ant to stand.
I asked Lewis to transfer my enrollnt to a university in Snowville. One more year, and I’d have my diploma.
Final-year students mostly focused on internships and projects anyway. I could manage my studies while gaining experience at the Ashbourne company.
I could live without a father.
But I couldn’t live without control over my future.
That evening, I brought it up during dinner.
Grant studied carefully. "You want to intern at the company?"
I could see it in his eyes.
He didn’t think I was capable. Not even as capable as Lincy.
I t his gaze calmly.
"Yes," I said calmly. "I won’t make things difficult for you. You can place in sales or any entry-level role. I’ll prove myself with results. Since you want to focus on the local territory, I can help with that."
Grant studied for a long mont. His gaze felt sharp, testing, like he was weighing my strength without saying it aloud.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" he asked.
I t his eyes without flinching. "Whether I can or not, we won’t know until I try. Isn’t that how it works?"
For once, he didn’t respond with sarcasm.
"Alright," he said after a pause. "I’ll forward your resu to HR next year. Whether you pass the interview and where you land will depend on your ability."
"Understood."
He added, almost as an afterthought, "And don’t dress strangely at the banquet. You represent the Ashbournes. Act like it."
"I will."
Though his tone still carried irritation, the aning had shifted. He no longer spoke to as an inconvenience. Not yet as an equal but no longer as soone invisible.
What he didn’t know was that the person standing in front of him wasn’t the broken Riley from before.
I had years of experience. Years of watching, learning, surviving.
Back then, the Morrigans believed I would eventually be bound to the Hales, so I was kept far away from real power. At the Hales, my position was awkward. Jeffrey wanted obedience, not ambition. Julian accepted my help, took my ideas, and wore the praise as if it were his own.
I used to think that was love. That sacrifice was loyalty.
Not in this life.
This ti, I would take back everything that belonged to Riley openly, unapologetically.
Snowville’s networks, its alliances, its undercurrents I knew them better than anyone. I was only adjusting my pace. Next year, Grant would understand exactly how much he had underestimated .
The next morning, Grant’s assistant personally delivered evening gowns for my mom and .
See? He knew how to charm when he wanted to.
He had been waiting for Lena to soften first, but patience was not his strongest instinct. What he couldn’t wait for before, he wouldn’t wait for much longer now.
Mom didn’t want to attend the banquet, but when she saw how excited I was, she finally agreed.
Both gowns were silver. Hers was elegant and calm, flowing with quiet grace. Mine rested off the shoulders, simple but bold, carrying a quiet confidence.
That night, I escorted her into the Ashbourne-owned five-star hotel.
The mont we stepped into the hall, heels clicking against marble, the room seed to still.
I could feel eyes turn. Feel the shift in attention.
Riley’s face had always been striking. The small red mole on her forehead only made her presence sJosy, almost unreal.
Among the many stares, I caught Julian’s.
Surprise. Regret. Guilt.
I looked away imdiately.
My gaze found Lewis.
I leaned toward my mom and whispered sothing quickly, then lifted my skirt slightly and moved toward him.
"Carl "
Before he could answer, a voice cut in sharply from behind .
"What did you just call him?"
Julian’s tone was too loud. Too eager.
The room held its breath.
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