“Send the Poor, Ugly Girl—He’ll Reject Her!” They Laughed… Until the Millionaire Stood Up
Chapter 7
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
Claire felt her heart sink.
“So there is something.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
He sat down.
“My father called me the night your father died.”
She stared.
“What did he say?”
“He told me to stay away from your family.”
“Why?”
“He said there had been an accident.”
“And?”
“I didn’t believe him.”
“Did you see my father?”
“No.”
Claire looked away.
“Then what do you know?”
Adrian’s voice became quieter.
“I knew something was wrong.”
“But you did nothing?”
“I was twenty-five.”
She shook her head.
“That isn’t an excuse.”
“No.”
He accepted that.
“I should have investigated.”
“You didn’t.”
“No.”
“And now you are.”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at the floor.
“Maybe this was all your fault.”
Adrian didn’t defend himself.
“Maybe.”
She turned toward him.
“You’re not even angry.”
“I am.”
“At me?”
“At myself.”
That stopped her.
Then he said something unexpected.
“If you want to walk away from me, I won’t stop you.”
Claire looked at him.
“You’d let me?”
“Yes.”
“Even now?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because caring about you means wanting you free to choose.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
She had expected control.
Instead, he gave her choice.
Claire stayed.
They continued investigating.
The next clue came from Adrian’s father’s old secretary.
She revealed that on the night Claire’s father died, Adrian’s father had ordered a private payment to someone.
A huge one.
The recipient?
Vanessa’s father.
Adrian’s father hadn’t murdered Claire’s father.
He had paid someone to hide the evidence.
Adrian looked sick.
“My father knew.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The secretary handed him a letter.
It explained everything.
Adrian’s father had discovered that a criminal group was using both families’ companies.
Claire’s father wanted to expose them.
Vanessa’s father threatened Claire’s family.
Adrian’s father intervened.
But instead of going to the police, he tried to control the situation himself.
He paid people to bury the evidence.
Claire’s father was killed anyway.
And the truth disappeared.
Then another twist emerged.
Adrian’s father had left one final instruction.
The twelve-million-dollar property was supposed to be transferred to Claire when she turned thirty.
But Claire’s twenty-seventh birthday was the last one before the legal deadline.
Vanessa was trying to force her to sign away the property before it became fully hers.
Claire stared at the document.
“She knew.”
Adrian nodded.
“And the dinner?”
“A setup.”
“She wanted you to reject me.”
“Yes.”
“So I’d be desperate.”
“Yes.”
Claire slowly stood.
“She thought if nobody loved me, I’d take anything.”
Adrian reached for her hand.
Claire looked at it.
Then took it.
“No more running.”
He nodded.
“No more.”
She stared at the property document.
“Let’s take everything back.”
Adrian smiled.
“Together?”
Claire squeezed his hand.
“Together.”
