Chapter 4 Heiress
1086 Words
Lynne's POV:
When I arrived at my grandfather David Beverley's manor, the front gates were ablaze with light, and he was waiting for me there.
He was a billionaire with two sons and my mother as his only daughter.
Ten years ago, my mother and I were in a car accident. I was saved by Warren, but my mother tragically passed away.
Afterward, my father remarried in secret. His betrayal devastated me, and I severed ties with him, never returning home.
As I stepped out of my cousin Willy Beverley's car, David opened his arms and hugged me tightly, his voice choked with emotion. "My little princess, you've finally come to your senses. I can finally stop worrying about you."
"Grandpa!" I clung to him, tears streaming down my face. "I'm sorry for causing you pain. I promised to give myself three years to try to make Warren fall in love with me. Now, I've failed, so I kept my word and came back."
"It's okay, sweetheart. It's all in the past now," David said, gently stroking my hair. "You're ready to take over the businesses I've set aside for you, along with a portion of my shares. From this day forward, you are the princess of the Beverley family."
"Lynne!" A bright voice rang out as my cousin Lacey Beverley approached. "Darling, welcome home!"
"Lacey!" I pulled away from Grandfather and threw myself into her arms, wrapping my arms around her neck. "I've missed you so much! I'm so happy to see you again!"
"And you finally decided to come back!" Lacey teased, pinching my cheek affectionately. "I told you Warren wasn't worth it. Do you believe me now?"
"I do." I nodded firmly, holding back tears. "I was so blind, thinking I should marry him because he saved my life."
"Sweetheart, are you sure you didn't mistake someone else for your savior?" Lacey asked, holding me close and gently patting my back. "You always said your savior had a scar on the back of his left hand. Warren doesn't have one, does he?"
Her words stirred a long-buried doubt. I had wondered about this before. Ten years ago, I'd clearly seen a scar on the back of his hand. But when I reunited with him, it was gone.
Yet I still remembered what he looked like, so I'd convinced myself that he was indeed my savior, that the scar must have faded over time.
Now, free from my blind infatuation, the suspicion resurfaced.
"Hey, don't space out on me." Lacey waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me back to reality. "Honestly, I hope you did get the wrong person. But let's not dwell on that. Look at your clothes! That's no way for a Beverley princess to dress!"
She lifted the hem of my plain dress, prompting me to look down. She was right. My outfit—worn while I was still at Warren's house—was humble and unremarkable.
"Lacey, take Lynne shopping tomorrow," David said, handing me a card. "Buy whatever you want—clothes, jewelry, anything that catches your eye. If it's not enough, I'll add more."
"Thank you, Grandpa! This is more than enough." I kissed his cheek and hugged him tightly.
*****
The next morning, Lacey took me to a shopping mall.
We had barely stepped into a boutique when her phone rang.
"Darling, I need to handle something for work. Look around, and I'll be right back," she said apologetically, pointing to her phone.
I nodded. As a famous actress, Lacey was always packed with all kinds of jobs, and I understood how busy she was.
For three years, I'd been trapped in Warren's house, managing his life and household. Though money had never been an issue, I rarely indulged myself, let alone stepped into high-end stores like this. As I browsed the elegant dresses and dazzling jewelry, a bitter laugh escaped me. Why did I have to endure that humiliation?
I tried on a few outfits and decided to buy them. While chatting with the sales associate about the season's latest trends, an all-too-familiar voice interrupted me.
"Lynne? What are you doing here?"
I turned around and froze. Of all people, it had to be Warren's mother, Fiona Sterling, and his sister, Esther.
Esther stormed over and snatched the card from my hand, screeching, "What are you doing in a place like this? Where did you get the money, you damned witch? How much has my brother given you?"
"That's my card!" I said coldly. "It has nothing to do with your brother."
"As if!" Esther sneered. "If not for Warren, where would you get this kind of money?"
"She's right!" Fiona chimed in. "Without my son supporting you, you'd still be in the countryside starving to death!"
"I'll say it one more time," I said, my tone icy. "This card is mine. It has nothing to do with your family!"
Esther's eyes darted to the neatly arranged shopping bags beside me, and she let out a shrill laugh. "Lynne, there's no way you'd have this much money. You must have stolen it from Warren!"
"Is that why you haven't been cleaning my house?" Fiona snapped. "You're off squandering my son's money instead!"
"I didn't steal anything!" I growled, my voice trembling with fury. "Warren and I are divorced. What I do now is none of your business!"
"Divorced?" Fiona gasped, like she'd just heard the world's biggest joke. "You clung to my son so desperately, and now you expect me to believe you divorced him?"
"This can't be true," Esther snorted. "You probably stole his money and ran off to enjoy yourself. I'm calling Warren."
I didn't want to see Warren, but it seemed the situation called for his involvement.
I sat on the sofa in the lounge area, crossed my legs, and nodded coolly. "Go ahead. Let's get this over with."
Esther dialed Warren, and within minutes, he stumbled into the shop.
His tie was loosened, his shirt unbuttoned. He looked flustered, like he'd come in a rush.
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. He wasn't at the hospital with Shirley? That was... unexpected.
Seeing me, Warren became a bit nervous. His eyes locked on mine as he asked, "Lynne, where were you last night?"
"Does it matter?" I said with a sneer. "I only need you to tell your family one thing, Warren. We're divorced. I haven't taken a cent from you. Now, tell them to give my card back!"
- Writer
