Oops! Keep the Fiancé… I’m Taking the Fake Heiress Chapter 07

Oops! Keep the Fiancé… I’m Taking the Fake Heiress Chapter 07

Mr. Grant’s first reaction wasn’t reluctance.

He was already calculating.

Ending the engagement would offend the Ford family.

But the Fords had never been as wealthy or powerful as the Shaws.

Offending them was a manageable loss.

The important part was that agreeing to my request could earn him my favor.

I had the entire Shaw empire behind me.

His reasoning was obvious.

Even if I seemed to have no affection for the Grants now, blood was unpredictable.

If I ever softened and Shaw Industries casually sent a few projects their way, it could mean hundreds of

millions in profit.

He was probably considering another angle too.

If he convinced himself that I wanted Ethan, and the Shaw and Ford families formed an alliance someday,

then he, as my biological father, might gain even more resources.

He probably thought his calculations were brilliant.

So he pulled out his phone in front of all of us and called Ethan’s father.

“Robert, it’s Grant.”

His tone was perfectly measured.

Polite enough to sound reasonable.

Firm enough to leave little room for argument.

“I’ve reconsidered the arrangement between Vera and Ethan.”

“Their personalities clearly don’t suit each other.”

“There’s no point forcing a marriage that neither of them wants.”

“The Grant family is formally withdrawing from the engagement.”

“If your family has incurred any contractual expenses because of the announcement or the planned wedding,

send me the figure.”

“We’ll reimburse everything tomorrow.”

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then Mr. Ford answered.

“Honestly, Grant, I’m relieved you called.”

“I’ve been considering the same thing.”

“I just didn’t want to damage the relationship between our families.”

“Then let’s end it cleanly.”

“There’s no need for reimbursement.”

“A clean separation is best for everyone.”

The Ford family agreed far more readily than I’d expected.

I later learned that they had investigated the Shaws that very night.

Once they confirmed I was the Shaws’ adopted daughter and a designated heir, Mr. Ford called an emergency family meeting to discuss whether they should end the engagement first.

They didn’t dare offend the Shaws.

They were also terrified I would remember how Ethan had treated me.

They had been desperate for a graceful way out.

Mr. Grant’s call gave them one.

After hanging up, Mr. Grant was in an excellent mood.

He even patted my shoulder with a laugh.

“Tessa, no wonder you’ve always disliked Ethan being with Vera.”

“You wanted him for yourself.”

“Don’t worry.”

“I’ll make sure the transition is handled properly.”

“If the Ford family says anything later, I’ll deal with them personally.”

I nearly choked on my own saliva.

What was going on inside his head?

I had gone after Ethan because I wanted him?

I couldn’t be bothered to correct such an absurd misunderstanding.

Instead, I pulled out the agreement lan’s legal team had drafted in advance and slid it across the table.

“This is a family settlement and release concerning Vera.”

“Once it’s signed, the Grant family will return every personal document belonging to her.”

“You’ll have no claim over her income, career, residence, name, or future relationships.”

“You may not present her publicly as a representative of the Grant family without her written consent.”

“In return, Vera waives any claim to the Grant estate and any expectation of future financial support.”

Mr. Grant picked up the agreement and flipped through it.

His movements were slow.

He read every page carefully.

He said nothing.

Then he picked up the pen and signed.

Afterward, he even smiled, his tone as affectionate as a real father’s.

“Tessa, you can come back to the Grant house whenever you want.”

“There will always be a room here for you.”

Martin quickly nodded along.

“That’s right, Tessa.”

“You’re welcome to come back and stay anytime.”

I put away the signed agreement and nodded.

I didn’t respond to the invitation.

Then I turned to Vera.

She sat in her chair, gripping the edge of the table so tightly that her knuckles had gone white.

I held out my hand.

“Vera, let’s go.”

She lifted her head and looked at me.

Her eyes were red, but she nodded firmly and placed her hand in mine.

As we left, Mr. Grant and Martin escorted us all the way to the door.

The town car slowly passed through the wrought-iron gates of the Grant estate.

In the rearview mirror, I saw Martin standing beneath the portico, typing furiously on his phone.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed.

Ethan had sent a request to contact me.

The note read:

[Tessa, I have something important to discuss with you.]

I stared at the message for three full seconds.

Then I laughed coldly and turned my phone facedown on my knee.

Beside me, Vera leaned her head gently against my shoulder.

“Tessa,” she said softly.

“Thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

I wrapped my arm around her.

“You’re my sister.”

She didn’t speak.

She only nestled deeper into the curve of my shoulder.

The car passed beneath a pool of lamplight.

For one brief moment, I saw a tear slide from the corner of her eye.

I lowered the window slightly and let the night air pour in.

“Vera,” I said.

“From now on, you can do whatever you want.”

“No one will ever force you again.”