Chapter20MarriageofConvenience.
Fifteenbillion.Anditsstillclimbing.
Lukesankintothecouch.Heknewhisunclehaddonewell,buthehadntrealizedthingshadreachedthisscale.
Fifteenbillion.Thatwasntfarofffromwhatthe BoltonGroupwasworth.
TheBoltonshadspentgenerationsbuildingtheirempire,growingrichandpowerfulintherealestateworld,secondonlytoafew.
ButCarterhadbuilthisfortunefromnothing.Injustoveradecade,hehadbecomeaseriousrival.

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AndiftheirgrandfatherhandedeverythingtoCarter,hisworthwouldexplode.Hedbe one ofthewealthiestmenon theplanet,notjustinthenation Lukesfacedrainedofcolor.Howdidwegethere? Adamsvoicewascalm,steady.HewatchedLukecarefully.Youvemessedup,Luke.Againandagain.Youvemadeyourgrandfatherfurious.Andnow,hefeelslikeheowesCarter.IfCarterplayshishandright,hecouldendupowningthefamilybusiness.
Lukeshottohisfeet,panicflickeringinhiseyes.No!Grandpawouldntgivethefamilytohim.
Adamslipstwistedintoasmirk.Maybenotallofit.ButifCartertakesthelionsshare,whatthen?Thelegitimateheirreducedtoafootnote,whileab*stardtakesover.Peoplewill talk,Luke.
Heletthosewordshangforamomentbeforespeaking again.
Sure,Carterswealthmaybegreaternow,butyoustillhavetwothingsinyourfavor.First,yourehealthy,unlikehim.Andsecond,yourgrandfatheradoresChloe.Ifyoutwohaveachildsoon,hewillbemoreinclinedtofavoryou.ForChloeandthechild,thefamilybusinesscouldstillbeyours.
Adamrosefromhischair,hisvoicesteady.Idonthavetospellitoutforyou,doI?TreatChloeright.EndthingswithAnna.Tomorrowsyourbestshot.
Lukefollowedhimtothedoor.Iunderstand,Dad.Iwontmakethesamemistakeagain.
Isatontheterrace,myhandoutstretched,catchingsnowflakesastheydrifteddown.Theymeltedagainstmyskin,slippingawayjustlikeeverythingelse.Acoldsmirkcreptontomyface.
Luke , its too late for regrets now .
Adead woman doesnt get to forgive .
Ihadacceptedmyfate,neitheralivenortrulygone.Iwasjustaspectatornow, waitingtoseeiftheworldwouldevercatchupwithLukessins.
AfterAdamleft,Lukesworrywaswrittenalloverhisface.Cartersreturnhadshakenhimtothecore.
Hekeptdialingmynumber.Againandagain,thevoiceontheotherendtoldhimmyphonewasoff.Everytimeheheardit,hisfrustrationgrewdeeper.
Inthesilenceofthenight,Icouldhearhimwhisper,Chloe,howlongareyougoingtokeepthisup? Evennow,hedidntunderstandathing.Hethoughtitwasstillmyfault.
Lukeshandgrippedtheprayerbeadstighter,rubbingthemlikeahabithecouldntshake.Asifthatcouldcalmhim.
WhathedidntknowwasthatIwastiedtothosebeadsnow.Ifelthiseverytouch,everyrestlessthought.
ButafterseeinghimgoingatitwithAnna,everymomenthespentwiththosebeadssickenedme.
Morningcame.
Lukedressedcarefully,slippingonthedarksuitIusedtoloveonhim.HechosethetieI hadgivenhimonce, years ago .Withagiftformygrandmotherinhand,hemadehiswaytotheSandersestate.
2/3 12:05PM Chapter20MarriageofConvenience O O Roy,sensinghisunease, askedgently,Mr.Bolton,hasMrs.Boltoncomehome? +5FreeCoins Lukeschesttightened,buthehiditbehindacoolmask.ShesprobablyattheSandershouse.
Shewouldntmissthis.Shealwaysputshergrandmafirst.
HeconvincedhimselfthatIhadntcalledbecauseIwasstillangry.
Thebirthdaydinnerwasntuntilthatnight.Fornow,thehousewasquiet,withnoguestsyet.
Annahadbeenwaiting.Shesawhimfromafar,andwithouthesitation,sherushed tohim.Luke,Imsogladyourehere.
WhenLukesteppedoutofthecarinhisblack suit,Anna,scrunchedhernose.Luke,whyareyouinblackagain?Itmakesyoulookso oldanddull,likeamanwaypasthisprime.Ijustgotyouthatcustomsuitlastmonth.Whynotwearit? Thesuitshementionedmatchedthedesignonherowndress.Itwasclearshehadplannedforthemtoshowupasapair.
Lukethoughtaboutwhathis fatherhadsaidthenightbefore.Withoutaword,hegentlyremovedherhandfromhisarm.
Anna,werenotkidsanymore.Weshouldstartkeepingsomedistance.Peoplemightstartgossipingaboutit.
Annastaredathim,herconfusionplain.Justtheotherday,hehadbeensosweet,alwaysmakingsureshewascomfortable.
Luke,Ionly- Imgoingtocheckonyourgrandmother.Hecutheroff,histoneflat.Withoutwaitingforherreply,hestrodeoff,leavingherstandingthere,hersmilefadingintosomethingdarker.
Lukedidntstop ashemadehiswayintothecourtyard.Hegrabbedaservantbythearm,urgencyinhisvoice.Hasyourladyreturned? Theservantnodded,thinkingLukewastalkingaboutAnna.Yes,Shearrivedearlythismorning.Didntyouseeher?Lukesheartskippedabeat.HeknewChloewouldntletherangerkeepherfromseeinghergrandmother.Withoutanotherword,herushedtowardtheinnerrooms,hisstepsquick,hopebuildingwitheverystep.