I Changed My Name and My Fate Chapter 03

I Changed My Name and My Fate Chapter 03

I shut the shop early the next morning. In the cab to the airport, the driver had the radio turned all the way up.

“—breaking business news this morning: Chloe Thorne, daughter of the CEO of Thorne Enterprises, is set to announce her engagement to Preston Hayes, a newcomer to Oakhaven. Shares of Thorne Enterprises jumped at the open on the news—”

The driver whistled. “Must be nice, marrying rich.”

I pressed my forehead to the window and watched the overpasses blur past. Chloe was getting engaged.

Years ago, she faked a miscarriage and made me the villain. Now she was posing in a gown for the cameras, still the golden daughter everyone wished they could be.

Some people just fail upward.

My phone buzzed. Unknown number. I almost let it ring.

They called again. This time, I answered and put it on speaker.

Chloe’s mom’s voice sliced through the cab like a blade. “Eleanor Thorne. So you’re finally picking up?”

The driver’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. I kept my voice even.

“Who is this?” There was a brief beat of silence on the other end.

Chloe’s mom practically choked. “I’m your mother!”

“Sorry, my mom’s on a flight right now. Somewhere over the Pacific.” The driver bit down on a laugh.

Chloe’s mom’s voice climbed an octave. “After all this time, and you still have no manners. None.”

“Chloe’s engagement party is coming up, and she’s being gracious enough to let bygones be bygones. You’re coming back to the house. You’re going to be her bridesmaid.”

I had to let that one sit for a second. “You want me to be her bridesmaid?”

She said it like she was doing me a favor. “And you’ll apologize while you’re at it.”

“After what you put her through? The fact that she’s willing to let you show up at all should be enough. You should be grateful.”

So Julian went home, and the Thornes tracked me down overnight. They could’ve found me anytime.

They just hadn’t bothered when I was worthless to them. Now Chloe needed the biological daughter to stand behind her and make her shine.

“Mrs. Thorne. You threw me out of that house all those years ago.”

“You had lawyers disown me. And now you want me to come back and play maid for your adopted daughter? Tell me — did the Thornes sell off their dignity when the stock price went up, or was it always this cheap?”

The driver made a strangled noise in the front seat. Chloe’s mom was livid.

“Eleanor Vance! Don’t you dare bite the hand that’s trying to help you.”

“A little flower-shop girl like you is lucky she’s still standing. One word from this family, and you won’t be able to show your face in this city again.”

I watched the airport terminal slide into view through the window, and something in my chest loosened.

“Go ahead and try. You—”

“And for the record? The Thornes aren’t even fit to haul dirt for my flower shop.” I hung up.

I blocked the number before the screen even went dark. A moment later, another unknown number lit up.

Blocked that one too. The Thornes were panicking.

They were used to wearing people down — calling until someone answered, pounding until someone opened, pushing until someone caved. That playbook worked back then.

It wouldn’t work now.

The driver held out until we pulled up to the terminal. Then he leaned back, voice low.

“Ma’am, was that really your mom?” I couldn’t help it — I smiled.

“Legally speaking, she hasn’t been for a long time.”

He pulled up to the VIP arrivals gate and turned around with a thumbs up. “That was legendary.”

I stepped out and pulled up the flight details Alexander had sent. Someone slammed into my shoulder before I’d taken two steps.

I looked up. Chloe’s mom had Chloe by the arm. Her dad stood off to the side.

Julian trailed behind them. All four of them stared at me.

What a coincidence. The kind that made my skin crawl.

Chloe went still for a split second, then ducked behind her mom. The move was so smooth it looked rehearsed.

“Mom, I’m scared.” Chloe’s mom was already glaring at me.

“Eleanor Thorne, are you following us now?”