I Changed My Name and My Fate Chapter 08

I Changed My Name and My Fate Chapter 08

Days later, the Vance family hosted a charity gala. The invitations alone sent shock waves through every social circle in the city.

I was the long-lost granddaughter of the Vance family. I was the wife of the man who ran Sterling Corporation.

Either title alone would have turned heads. Together, they rewrote the entire social hierarchy.

I walked in wearing a gown Alexander’s mother had picked out herself.

Grandpa held my hand as we crossed the red carpet. The cameras were on us when he stopped and turned

to face the room.

“This is Eleanor, my granddaughter. And from this day forward, anyone who comes for her comes for the

entire Vance family.”

Applause filled the room. That was when I noticed the Thornes, hovering at the edge of the crowd.

Chloe’s dad was drowning in a cheap suit. No amount of makeup could hide how hollowed out Chloe’s mom

looked. Julian had lost weight.

They’d borrowed from loan sharks just to buy the cheapest tickets to get in.

The second Chloe’s mom spotted me, she tried to push through.

“Eleanor!” Security caught her before she got close.

She was sobbing, fighting against the hands holding her back. “I’m her mother! Let me see my daughter!”

Every head in the room turned.

Chloe’s dad grabbed a microphone and planted himself in the middle of the floor.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to use this moment to publicly apologize to my biological daughter.”

The room went still. Wine glasses hovered mid-sip.

“Years ago, Chloe deceived us, and we turned on Eleanor because of it.”

“We owe her everything. And as of today, I’m publicly cutting Chloe off from the Thorne family. Every

remaining share I hold in Thorne Enterprises goes to Eleanor.”

Chloe’s mom was nodding through her tears.

“Eleanor, I was wrong. Come home, baby. From now on, you’re the only one. I swear”

How touching.

I might’ve believed it, if I hadn’t spent a night slumped by the front door in the rain watching her fuss over

Chloe’s blankets through the window.

The whispers started immediately.

“Thorne Enterprises is basically bankrupt. Those shares aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on ”

“Trading a dumpster fire for a pardon? That’s bold math.”

“These people are shameless.”

I picked up my wine glass and walked toward him.

Chloe’s dad saw me coming, and hope flashed across his face. “Eleanor-”

I tipped my glass over his head. The wine ran down through his hair and dripped onto the lapels of his

borrowed suit.

The room gasped. I handed the empty glass to a passing waiter.

“Sober up yet, Mr. Thorne?” He stood there dripping and didn’t say a word.

Chloe’s mom shrieked. “How dare you do that to your own father?”

I looked at her. “Want a glass too?”

She shut her mouth.

“I wouldn’t touch what’s left of Thorne Enterprises with a ten-foot pole. And I don’t want your apology. Love

that shows up years late isn’t love. It’s not even worth the breath.”

Somewhere in the crowd, someone laughed.

Alexander stepped up beside me and looked at Chloe’s dad.

“Since you’re so fond of public announcements, let me make one of my own. Sterling Corporation and the Vance family are jointly acquiring Thorne Enterprises.” He let that land. “The purchase price is one dollar.”

The room erupted. Chloe’s dad went gray.

“You’re destroying us!”

Alexander’s voice didn’t waver. “I’m just taking out the trash.”

Security moved in and escorted the Thornes out.

Chloe’s mom fought them every step, screaming over her shoulder. “Eleanor, I mean it this time! I was

wrong!”