Chapter 1
Natalie's POV:
While my brother's funeral was underway, Ethan Whitmore spent a fortune renting a private island and putting on a fireworks display, all to welcome back his first love, Chloe Bennett.
Comments flooded the livestream chat.
A: [Mr. Whitmore, isn't your brother-in-law's funeral today?]
Ethan pulled Chloe into his arms, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Talk about bad luck. He's already dead. Does everyone else have to sit around crying over him?"
The large memorial hall sat nearly empty.
My mother-in-law, Patricia Monroe, sat off to the side sipping coffee and rolled her eyes.
"Enough. Stop crying. No matter how much Ethan dotes on that woman, you're still entitled to half the marital property. You should know when you've got it good."
They seemed to have forgotten.
Years ago, when the Whitmore family nearly went bankrupt in a boardroom power grab, Owen stepped in. He saved Ethan's life and kept the Whitmore family from collapsing.
Before he died, he gave me every debt guarantee document tied to the Whitmore family.
'Know when I've got it good? I'll make all of you pay.'
A thud broke the silence.
Patricia put her mug on the memorial table, right in front of Owen's portrait.
She shot me a sidelong look.
"Natalie, I'm only telling you this for your own good. Now that Owen is gone, the Parker family is finished. From now on, you'd better get used to depending on Ethan for everything. And stop walking around with that long face like someone owes you millions of dollars."
Owen had died so suddenly.
He hadn't even had time to leave any final words.
'No. He did leave me something.'
The last thing he left me was a confidential authorization document bearing my signature.
It was tucked away inside my purse.
When I stayed silent, Patricia grew even bolder.
She walked over and gave me a shove on the shoulder.
"What, are you deaf? Show some respect when I'm talking to you! Your brother just died today, so don't go getting on Ethan's bad side. Chloe suffered so much abroad for him back then. It's only right that Ethan makes it up to her. Tomorrow morning, bring me Parker Group's corporate seal. And sign a share transfer agreement for the shares your brother left you. Hand them over to Ethan so he can manage them. The Whitmore family isn't going to support a daughter-in-law who does nothing but live off us."
Several Whitmore relatives nearby immediately chimed in.
"Exactly, Natalie. Look at how successful Ethan is. Parker Group is safest in his hands."
"What do you know about running a company? Don't ruin everything Owen worked so hard to build."
Patricia straightened at their praise, lifting her chin until it nearly pointed at the ceiling.
"Did you hear that? What's your brother's safe combination? Write it down and give it to me. I'll keep it safe for Ethan."
I turned to Patricia. Greed was written all over her face.
"Fine. If you want Parker Group's corporate seal, tell Ethan to come get it himself."
Patricia froze, clearly not expecting me to talk back.
But the smug look quickly returned.
"At least you know your place. A fortune-teller told us years ago that you were a jinx. First your parents died because of your bad luck, and now your own brother is dead too. We're lucky Ethan is tough enough that your bad luck can't touch him. He married you anyway. You should be thanking Chloe. If she weren't generous enough to tolerate you, you'd have been thrown out long ago."
With that, Patricia strutted out of the memorial hall, her body swaying as though she'd just won a battle.
I watched her leave, then pulled out my phone.
I texted my lawyer, Daniel Hayes.
Natalie: Spring the trap. Make sure Ethan receives his bankruptcy notice personally—on that island.
