I Married The Disabled Billionaire Then My Family Begged Me To Come Back Chapter 06
The Engagement Party
The next evening, I walk into the ballroom of one of the most expensive hotels in Manhattan.
Tonight isn’t just about Julian Sterling taking over Sterling Group.
It’s a signal.
Manhattan is about to pick a new side.
The second I step inside, every eye in the room turns to me.
“Isn’t that the real Hale daughter they shipped off as the replacement bride?”
“How does she have the nerve to show up?”
“I heard Adrian tortures her at home every day.”
“She’s probably here to beg the Hales for help.”
“Help? The Hales are Julian Sterling’s people now.”
“Why would they care if an abandoned daughter lives or dies?”
Their whispers aren’t quiet. They want me to hear.
I ignore them and walk straight toward the champagne tower.
Before I can even pick up a glass, the Hale family of three and Silas surround me like they’ve been waiting all night.
Stella is wearing a seven-figure Italian couture gown.
On her wrist is the limited-edition watch Silas gave her.
She looks proud. Too proud.
Like a thief who thinks the house already belongs to her.
She stands beside Silas and raises her voice just enough for half the room to hear.
“Claire, you came alone?”
“Oh, right. I forgot.”
“Adrian can’t even get out of bed.”
“He needs help eating, drinking, bathing… everything.”
“That must be so hard for you.”
Silas looks at me with that disgusting mix of pity and superiority.
“Claire, you regret it now, don’t you?”
“If you’d just lowered your head and apologized to Stella back then, you wouldn’t be standing here alone, letting everyone laugh at you.”
Idiots.
Both of them.
I look at them coldly.
“Move.”
“I don’t waste time stepping around trash.”
Stella’s face darkens.
She turns to Henry at once.
“Dad, look at her. She still hates me this much…”
Henry’s face hardens.
He takes a thick stack of papers from his assistant and slaps it onto the table in front of me.
“Claire Hale, drop the attitude.”
“Mr. Julian Sterling is about to take control of Sterling Group.”
“Adrian is finished.”
“Mr. Sterling has already made it clear.”
“Anyone connected to Adrian will be dealt with.”
Evelyn jumps in beside him, her face full of disgust.
“Exactly. If you want to die, that’s your problem.”
“But the Hale family still wants to live.”
“Sign this severance agreement right now.”
“Cut all ties with us.”
“And hand back the fifteen percent of Hale Holdings.”
“If you sign, Mr. Sterling might spare you, for Stella and Silas’s sake.”
I lower my eyes and scan the agreement.
It’s written clearly in black and white.
I, Claire Hale, voluntarily sever all familial ties with Henry and Evelyn Hale.
I voluntarily give up my fifteen percent stake in Hale Holdings.
From this day forward, my life, death, fortune, or misfortune has nothing to do with the Hale family.
They’re afraid Julian will come after them once Adrian falls.
So they want to cut me off completely.
And while they’re at it, steal my shares back too.
What a perfect little plan.
Silas lets out a fake sigh beside me.
“Claire, just sign it.”
“This is your last chance.”
“Don’t gamble with your future.”
I look at these four greedy, fake faces.
Then I suddenly smile. Brightly.
“Sure. I’ll sign.”
For one second, they all look shocked.
Then joy flashes across their faces.
I take a pen from my clutch, flip to the last page, and sign my name, clean and quick.
Then I initial every page.
Two copies.
Done.
I press one copy against Henry’s chest and keep the other for myself.
Then I lift my eyes, sharp and calm.
“Everyone here, listen carefully.”
“From this moment on, I, Claire Hale, have nothing to do with the Hale family.”
“We are strangers.”
“My life and death are none of your business.”
“As for the shares? I already cashed out that fifteen percent and donated every dollar to charity.”
“The Hale family won’t get a cent.”