Chapter 12
“Dad, come on. Everyone in Evercrest knows I’m not,” she said
calmly.
“So what? We’ve always treated you like you are.”
Adelaide almost laughed.
She had to admit that the Pierce family had a real talent for
putting on a show.
Finley didn’t push it. Amanda might be his biological daughter,
but Adelaide was the one he had shaped from the beginning. To
him, she was worth more than Amanda.
He took a slow breath. “Look, I get that this isn’t fair to you. But
Mandy’s been struggling for a while. Her psychiatrist says
Garrett’s the only thing keeping her steady right now.
“You’re still his wife. That’s not changing. We just need you to
let her lean on him for a bit. You two were childhood
sweethearts. No one can come between a love like that. Once
she’s stable, I’ll remember this and make sure Garrett gets more
support moving forward.”
Adelaide dug her nails into her palm, holding herself together.
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She knew this dinner wouldn’t be easy. None of this was a
surprise.
Still, for a moment, she almost wavered.
“They must think that just because I’ve always listened, I’m easy
to push around,” she thought with spite.
After a long silence, she finally spoke. “Dad, ever since I was a kid, you told me to be honest, to have principles. You said that as your daughter, I had to protect my name, to never bring shame
to the family.”
Finley’s face shifted. He knew where this was going.
But it was too late. Her next words nearly drained the color
from his face.
“And now you want me to let Amanda be with my husband? That’s supposed to be okay? Dad, depression isn’t a free pass.”
“You!” His voice turned cold. “Is that what Garrett thinks too?”
It was a slap in the face. Adelaide knew it wasn’t because
Garrett had already betrayed her.
“If he’s okay with it, I’ll take back what I said and go along with
- it. But I have one condition,” she said.
Finley’s expression softened as he thought this might make
Chapter 12
things simpler.
“I knew you’d come around. Alright, what’s the condition?”
“I’ll let Garrett go to Amanda. But in return, I’m cutting ties with
the Pierce family!”
He shot up from his seat before she even finished. “Are you
threatening me?”
Adelaide didn’t flinch. “I’m negotiating.”
“You think Garrett won’t lose it when he finds out you’re
treating him like a bargaining chip?”
Adelaide gave a half–smile. “Amanda tried to kill herself last
night, just because Garrett and I got married. If she does it again, are you and Mom ready to deal with that?”
For the first time, Finley looked at the girl he had raised and
barely recognized her.
He had never taught Adelaide to handle things this way.
He steadied himself and forced a warm smile. “Adele, we’re not
blood, but I’ve always treated you like my own. I’ve cared for
you, given you everything.”
“I’ll never forget that.”
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Finley narrowed his eyes, keeping his voice calm. “I know you’ve always felt insecure. Spencer and I have been talking about giving you some shares in the company. I think we can make that happen. And that thing you just said? I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear it. Tomorrow, you’ll sign the transfer
papers.”
“Like father, like son. Making decisions for me again,” Adelaide
thought.
“Dad, I need a devoted husband.”
“You’ve always been a good girl. Why are you acting like this
now?”
“I’m not a kid anymore.”
Finley’s eye twitched. Her stubbornness was frustrating, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Chapter 13
Chapter 13
