He Thought I Loved Him—Dating My Childhood Sweetheart Was Work Chapter 02

He Thought I Loved Him—Dating My Childhood Sweetheart Was Work Chapter 02

It wasn’t just an arrangement, though.

My grandfather, the founder of Anderson Corp, had started out as Asher’s grandfather’s secretary.

He’d saved his boss in an accident and got his first big break.

With the Voss family’s backing, he built Anderson Corp.

Decades later, it was one of the biggest companies in Aurora Hills.

To show gratitude and to turn the alliance into something permanent, my grandfather came up with the idea of an arranged marriage.

But he’d been sick for years, only having one son late in life.

On his deathbed, my older sister Liora was born.

He begged my father over and over to make the marriage happen.

Dad agreed, tears in his eyes.

He raised Liora to be a bright, sunny girl, and had her grow up with Silas Voss.

Silas was quiet and reserved. Liora was his opposite.

They fell in love over time. Married happily.

That gave Dad even more confidence.

He did the same with me—sent me straight to Asher.

Asher was the youngest Voss. He never bothered with the family business, but Grandma Voss doted on him.

Stocks, houses—she gave him everything.

He was the second heir, got just as much as Silas. Did nothing, and still had fame and fortune.

Dad told me to build a relationship with Asher.

But Asher wanted nothing to do with it. He only cared about some other girl. Followed her around everywhere.

When they were teens, her family moved abroad.

Asher was heartbroken.

I happened to bring him lunch that day. He knocked it straight off the table, annoyed.

“Elowen, can you just leave me alone?”

“Do you have no life outside of me?”

I was sad for exactly three seconds. Then I thought about it.

The next day, I made new friends. I didn’t see Asher for a week.

Dad rushed to my school, panicking. He said Asher had lost weight. Grandma Voss was worried sick. Had I stopped bringing him meals?

I mumbled that I’d asked his housekeeper to do it.

Dad was furious. Said Asher was just being a kid—why was I throwing a fit?

I whined, “I’m a kid too.”

Dad pointed at me, frustrated, then walked away. Cut off my allowance that day.

I couldn’t handle it. I caved the next day.

That’s when I knew—I could negotiate with Dad. I’d stay by Asher’s side…for more money.

My regular allowance wasn’t enough.

Dad would pay whatever it took for Asher.

I saved a fortune.

Over the years with Asher, I learned the rules.

He could be as mean as he wanted. If I stayed soft and sweet, he couldn’t say a thing.

If I fought back, he’d run straight to Grandma.

From high school to college, my savings kept growing.

The day I graduated, I found out the truth.

I was the Anderson’s fake heiress.

The real one, Maren Anderson, was living in the small town, refusing to come home.

Dad—well, Mr. Anderson—wanted the biological daughter to take her rightful place.

He wanted the real Anderson daughter to marry into the Voss family.

He told me to stay by Asher’s side for two more years.

He knew Asher didn’t like me. Knew Asher was in love with someone else.

But that unattainable crush never cared about Asher.

He’d never have a chance with her.

The Voss rule: get engaged at twenty-five.

So who Asher married didn’t matter.

He didn’t care anyway.

Didn’t care about me.

He’d said it a hundred times—he’d never like me.

Mr. Anderson’s exact words:”Elowen, don’t hate me for being harsh. I wanted you to marry Asher too, but he doesn’t love you. Just stay two more years. Keep other women away from him. After two years, Maren will come home. She’ll get engaged to Asher, and you can do whatever you want.”

He sounded sincere. Even wiped fake tears for effect.

I held up five fingers.

Mr. Anderson knew what I meant. He smiled, relieved.

“Five hundred thousand? That’s fine. You’ve earned it. After all, you’re still my daugh—”

I cut him off.

“7. 5 million dollars.”

Mr. Anderson’s expression darkened instantly.