I Changed My Name and My Fate Chapter 05

I Changed My Name and My Fate Chapter 05

Alexander stepped through the VIP gate, a dozen bodyguards in black filing out behind him.

Toby wriggled free from the wall of suits and came barreling toward me on his short little legs. “Mom!”

I crouched and scooped him up. He wrapped his arms around my neck, whining in that soft little voice of his.

“Daddy’s so slow!” Alexander reached us and passed my bag off to a bodyguard without looking.

He looked down at me. “Did they hurt you?”

I didn’t have to answer. The Thornes had already frozen solid.

Chloe’s dad recognized him first. I watched the color drain from his face.

“Mr. Mr. Sterling?” Chloe’s mom hadn’t put it together yet.

“That’s Alexander!” her husband hissed through his teeth.

Chloe’s mom’s mouth opened. Nothing came out.

Chloe stood frozen, her eyes jumping from Alexander to the little boy in my arms.

“Mom?” Toby blinked at Chloe. “That’s my mom. Were you calling her too?”

Someone in the crowd laughed.

Chloe went scarlet.

Alexander stepped in front of me, his eyes landing on Chloe’s mom’s hand – the one she’d raised to hit me.

“Who exactly was planning to slap my wife?” Chloe’s mom swayed.

“It’s a misunderstanding – just a misunderstanding. She’s my biological daughter, we were just having a little family talk-”

Before I could say a word, the sharp tap of a cane cut through the terminal. My grandpa walked out.

He was old, but in the kind of way that made people step aside.

“Family? Eleanor is a Vance. My granddaughter.”

“Your family made the disownment official years ago. Don’t come crawling back now pretending blood

means anything.”

Sweat beaded across Chloe’s dad’s forehead. He forced a smile.

“Mr. Vance, Mr. Sterling – this is all a misunderstanding. Eleanor is still a Thorne by blood, after everything.”

“We’ll be in-laws soon enough. There’s no reason to make this ugly.”

Alexander looked at him. “In-laws?” A pause. “You think you qualify?”

–

The smile died on Chloe’s dad’s face. Alexander didn’t even look at him just turned to his assistant

“Release the file on Thorne Enterprises.” The assistant nodded.

Moments later, the financial ticker on the airport terminal screens cut to breaking news.

“Thorne Enterprises faces allegations of a liquidity crisis as multiple partners freeze payments pending

review.”

“Federal regulators have opened an investigation into related tax irregularities.”

Chloe’s dad’s phone started blowing up.

He picked up, and with every passing moment, more color drained from his face. “Mr. Grant – just let me

explain-”

Alexander’s voice was perfectly level. “Effective immediately, Sterling Corporation is terminating all

partnerships with Thorne Enterprises.”

“Any company with significant ties to Thorne will also be under review.”

Chloe’s dad looked like his knees were about to give.

Real panic finally broke through Chloe’s mom’s face. She turned to me, voice dropping into something almost

gentle.

“Eleanor, please – talk to him. We’re family.”

I shifted Toby on my hip and straightened his crooked hat.

“Didn’t you just say I sold myself to the highest bidder? And now we’re family?”

Toby didn’t follow most of that. He caught one word.

He looked at Chloe’s mom, dead serious. “Mom’s family is me, and Daddy, and Great-Grandpa, and Grandpa,

and Grandma.”

“Not you guys.”

Chloe’s mom looked like she’d swallowed something rotten.

Chloe stepped forward. “Mr. Sterling, there’s something you should know.”

“I’m engaged to Preston. The Hayeses aren’t exactly nobodies in Oakhaven.”

She pulled her shoulders back. “If you keep coming after the Thornes, the Hayes family won’t stand for it.”

Alexander glanced at her. “Preston?”

He took a phone from his assistant and dialed. One sentence.

“Call off the engagement.” Chloe’s face went blank.

Her phone rang shortly after. She answered with shaking hands.

Preston’s voice was flat on the other end. “Chloe, it’s off.”

Chloe’s voice cracked. “Why?” Preston gave a short, ugly laugh.

“The Thornes are about to go under, and you think I’m going down with you?”

“And by the way – Sterling’s people sent me everything. All the dirt from years ago.”

“Fake pregnancy. Fake miscarriage. Framed your own sister. Chloe, you’re disgusting.”

The mask cracked, and something vicious flooded into Chloe’s eyes. “Eleanor!”

“What gives you the right?”