Chapter 69 The Golden Child’s Request.
Finished
I turned to look at Queena. Did she think I’d left the door slightly ajar on purpose, just so she could walk in and witness the spectacle?
Oops, talk about backfiring–unintentionally, I had struck a nerve on her.
It felt so good!
“My mistake. It won’t happen again. Ms. Tackman, you should also learn some basic knocking etiquette.” With that, I tilted my chin up slightly and returned to my office.
Queena must’ve been seething by now, probably convinced I was some scheming, manipulative viper.
But in my past life, I’d lived without an ounce of cunning–and where had that gotten me?
This time around, what’s wrong with having more tricks up my sleeve?
Work wrapped up a little past six in the evening. The lights in Shawn’s office were off–he was heading home.
I pretended to still be busy. Tonight, I’d decided to eat alone outside, leaving him and his daughter to enjoy their dinner in peace,
A knock sounded at the door. Shawn stood there and said, “Come eat at my mother’s place. My sister’s back, and Yuna’s already there.”
My expression froze. “I still have work to finish. Maybe.”
“Tiffany, it’s a family dinner. He didn’t leave room for refusal.
I packed up and walked over. “Let’s go.”
I insisted on driving myself there. Shawn didn’t argue, though his expression darkened as he got into his
car.
As for my sister–in–law? If she didn’t have a thousand schemes in mind, she certainly had a few dozen backup plans. Her focus was on the company’s shares, the Hartwells money–and how to keep outsiders from getting a piece.
And me? I was the outsider in her eyes. In my past life, when Shawn filed for divorce, the lement was already drafted. But the moment my sister–in–law saw the alimony and assets allocated to me, she quietly worked her magic within the family–until the final number had two zeros lopped off.
This year, she was 23. After 3 years abroad, half–studying, half–partying, she came away with nothing worthwhile. What she did accumulate was a string of boyfriends, each quickly replaced by the next. Her grand ambition? To marry up–someone from a family even wealthier than the Hartwells. She even dabbled in chasing fame, getting subtle cosmetic tweaks and appearing on obscure reality shows, nearly breaking into entertainment–until leaked scandals sent her crashing back to reality.
Thinking about this, another realization hit me–the plot of my rebirth seems different from my previous life. Back then, I’d never met Ethan, and Melanie’s first husband hadn’t been Richard.
So, what will happen in this life? I have no idea, feeling quite confused.
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Chapter 69 The Golden Child’s Request
Finished
But no matter what lies ahead, I will stick to my own beliefs, just like how I firmly adhere to my principles.
When I arrived at my mother–in–law’s house, Shawn had already gotten there before me. The family was already gathered, chatting warmly in the living room. My father–in–law was still alive, though he and my mother–in–law had an open marriage. He only appeared for important occasions. Lately, he’d hopped on the trend of dyeing his salt–and–pepper hair bright blond. Dressed trendier than Shawn, his lean, tall frame resembled that of a young man from behind–til he turned around, revealing a face weathered by time. None of that stopped him from changing girlfriends frequently. Shawn was capable, allowing his father to retire at 50. He managed the company on his own, supported a group of relatives, and funneled hefty monthly allowances to his parents.
“Tiffany, you’re here!” Hazel flashed me a perfunctory smile. “Sorry, I rushed back this time and forgot to get you a gift.”
I smiled back. “No worries. Your brother just gave me something the other day.”
Hazel immediately lost interest, turning to cling to Shawn’s arm instead. “Shawn, about what I mentioned earlier–please say yes? My friend’s in a tough spot. Her dad just passed away, and she’s holding her whole family up. Just let her join the company, please?”
My breath hitched. A memory from my past life surfaced–Hazel had introduced her best friend to seduce Shawn, only for Queena to obliterate her, sending her fleeing in disgrace.
Well, this was about to get interesting.
In the Hartwell household, I might as well have been a ghost. All light and attention naturally flowed to Hazel – the family’s undisputed golden child. Even when Shawn was only six years older, he had pampered her since childhood.
“Shawn…” Seeing Shawn hesitate, Hazel amped up the whine in her voice. “Please?”
Shawn sighed. “Fine. Tell her to report to HR tomorrow I’ll arrange training.”
“Yay! Love you, best brother ever!” Mission accomplished, she planted a kiss on his cheek.
He pushed her away, feigning disgust. “So you’re really not going back abroad this time?”
“Nope.” Her gaze darted. “I’m thinking of launching my own clothing line here.”
Shawn nodded. “You didn’t let your studies slip while you were overseas, did you?”
