BuzzNoveleana’s arms hung limp at her sides, her gaze growing vacant.
At spoint, Larkin Yardley had appeared behind Cole, offering him a sanitizing wipe. Cole stood up and wiped
his hands with deliberate care, a far cry from the eager, puppy-like demeanor he displayed in front of Alessia.
“Tell the Tate family that if they want this partnership to continue smoothly, | don’t want to see this person
around again.”
“Yes, sir,” Larkin replied, nodding as he watched Cole leave.
“What's that supposed to mean? Don’t you dare walk away! You're just Alessia’s lapdog! Do you really think your
words scare me? You think the Tate family will actually listen to you?”
Ileana shouted after him, her voice ragged and nearly gone. She tried to go after Cole, but her body wouldn't
obey.
Frustration settled over her like a heavy blanket. All she could do was glare viciously at Larkin, not realizing just
how pathetic she looked.
Larkin dialed a number. “Mr. Dawson, yes, she’s in the gymnasium. Our CEO's instructions are clear: if you want
the partnership to continue, someone here
needs to leave.”
There was a pause on the other end. “Understood. I'll pass along the message.”
Larkin tucked away his phone and looked down at her, not a trace of sympathy in his eyes.
“If | were you, | wouldn't go picking fights with Alessia. You fought so hard to get your Miss Tate status back, but
now? Looks like that seat isn’t as secure as you thought.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
lleana’s face went even paler. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She was supposed to be in control. If she wanted
to stay with the Morton family, she could. If she wanted to return to the Tates, it was hers for the taking. How had
things turned out
like this?
While she waited for Mr. Dawson to cfetch her, she went over everything in her mind, but no matter how
she replayed it, she couldn't figure out where she’d gone
wrong.
Six years earlier
It was the start of summer break. Ileana lounged comfortably on a five-thousand-dollar sofa, cradling a bow! of
chilled watermelon and watching The house was empty except for her and two-year-old Ivan Morton.
Karen had taken Zachary to the hospital for a checkup, Brendan was at the office and Ethan and Liam were off at
their respective summer classes.
Unlike the Tate family, who believed in strict discipline, the Mortons let their children follow their own interests. If
one of them wanted to take a class-even an expensive one-they’d enroll them. If not, that was fine too. Good
character mattered far more to them than academic achievement.
Luckily, even with a house full of kids, the eldest two were so well-behaved that Karen could breathe easy. The
third child was a bit of a handful, but he loved music and was enrolled in every class he wanted. He might have
dragged his feet before regular school, but he'd happily go to back-to-back lessons all week and never seemed
to tire.
As for Ileana Morton, Karen had tried
to sign her up for various enrichment
classes, but Ileana always Quit after
two or LES) days, laining they
Wer&'too much work. She was the
only girl in the family; after a few
failed attempts to persuade her,
Karen gave up. If lleana wanted to be
a pampered princess, so be it. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
So, with summer vacation in full
swing and everyone else busy, the
only ones left athbrbe ere a bored
Ian and Ivan, who was still
babbling his first words. The content
is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Suddenly, Ivan started wailing from
the other room. Illeana Peon
popping @pgiherpiehe f watermelon
into Her mouth. Five minutes passed,
but the crying The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
didn’t stop.
Annoyed, Ileana grabbed the remote and cranked up the volume. Even at maximum, Ivan’s cries still cut through
the noise.
“Stupid brat, just cry yourself out already!”
She slammed her bowl down, scowled, and stalked toward his room.
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