The commotion upstairs finally drew Samuel’s attention, and he sighed. “Laura, go check what’s happening upstairs. What are those two girls fighting about now?”
Laura stood up, forcing a smile. “Sure, I’ll go. Seriously, Whit just can’t help but stir the pot with Tina every time she comes home.”
Carter rarely visited the villa, despite being in a relationship with Whitney for five years. He had only set foot in the house a handful of times.
“Samuel, maybe I should go check on them,” Carter offered, concern etched on his face.
“No need. Just sit down. They always bicker; it’s nothing new,” Samuel replied dismissively.
When Laura reached the upstairs, she found Whitney hurling boxes into Tina’s room with a fierce determination.
“Whitney, what on earth are you doing?” Laura snapped, her voice sharp.
Whitney shot her a cold glare. “Tina’s graduating this year, right? She’s not a child anymore. Laura, you should really teach her how to behave. Otherwise, when she steps into the real world, people are just going to call her out for being a brat.”
“You…” Tina stammered, struggling to find her words.
“Come on, Tina’s still young and immature. I didn’t expect you to blow up just because she put some stuff in your room. Next year, I’ll talk to Samuel. Maybe we’ll just renovate the whole villa,” Laura suggested, her tone dismissive.
Whitney’s eyes turned icy at the thought. This villa was the last remnant of her childhood, the final piece of her mother she held dear. And now, Laura wanted to destroy even that.
“Forget the renovation. Why not just have Dad buy Tina a new house? Grandma probably wouldn’t agree with it,” Whitney snapped, her voice laced with anger.
Laura’s expression hardened. She shot Whitney a long, cold look before responding, “We’ll see about that when the time comes.”
Whitney felt a bitter resentment rise within her.
The place was a total mess, so Whitney asked April to come in and give it a thorough cleaning.
She resolved to change the lock on her bedroom door, planning to give April a spare key while keeping the rest for herself.
When Whitney made her way downstairs, she found Carter finishing a conversation with Samuel.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Carter just returned from a business trip and came straight here after landing. Whit, make sure Carter gets some rest when you get home,” Samuel instructed, his tone authoritative.
Whitney snorted in response, “Don’t worry. He’s got plenty of people to look after him.”
Carter seemed unfazed. “Whit, let’s go. We need to get our marriage license tomorrow, remember?”
Just then, Tina descended the stairs, and a flicker of something nasty crossed her features at the mention of the marriage license.
“Seriously, is Carter really going to marry that crazy woman?” Tina thought, a smirk forming on her lips.
Samuel burst into laughter, nodding enthusiastically. “Tomorrow is a perfect day. Getting the marriage license is fantastic!”
“Whit, I need to talk to you for a minute. Carter, can you wait in the car for a bit?” Samuel said, his voice suddenly serious.
Carter gave Whitney and Samuel a long look, then smiled politely. “Sure, I’ll wait in the car.”
As soon as Carter stepped outside, Samuel closed the door and adopted a stern expression.
“Whit, you need to be mindful of your tone with Carter. What kind of wife speaks to her husband like that?” Samuel chastised sharply.
Whitney shrugged, her demeanor unfazed. “Not happy with my attitude? Well, I’m not marrying him anyway.”
“What did you just say?” Samuel’s voice rose, incredulity etched on his face. He pointed at her, demanding, “Repeat yourself.”
“Well, another one with selective hearing,” Whitney thought bitterly.
“I said, I’m not marrying him. Is that clear now?” Whitney snapped, her patience finally wearing thin.
With a sharp crack, Samuel’s hand collided with Whitney’s cheek, the sound reverberating in the tense air between them.
“How dare you!” he barked, his voice dripping with indignation.
Whitney’s head snapped to the side, and the heat of the slap surged through her skin, a fiery reminder of the escalating conflict. Yet, as she turned her gaze back to Samuel, her eyes held a fierce determination. “Why wouldn’t I dare? What is there for me to fear?” she challenged, her voice steady despite the sting.
“He doesn’t love me, so why should I marry him? Can’t I simply say no?”
Samuel’s chest heaved with frustration, his anger palpable. “Love? What does that even matter? Have you forgotten that Dad’s company is teetering on the brink of collapse? If you marry into the Harris family, we could secure our future.
“If you refuse, we might as well prepare for bankruptcy.”
Samuel had always longed for a son, but fate had dealt him a different hand; both of his wives had given him daughters.
His younger daughter, Tina, had a knack for charming him, always knowing how to lift his spirits with her sweet words and warm laughter.
But Whitney? She was as obstinate as they came, a true force of nature.
Whitney let out a soft chuckle, defiance dancing in her eyes. “Then let it go bankrupt,” she said, her tone dismissive.
To her, the company was already gasping for air, running on empty. Bankruptcy didn’t seem like a dire consequence; it felt like a new beginning.
“Once it’s bankrupt, I can support you with my salary. You won’t need anyone else,” Whitney asserted, her voice firm, believing in her own resolve.
Samuel’s fury twisted inside him, a storm of emotions brewing. “Save it. Your paycheck wouldn’t even last me a day,” he shot back, his voice laced with scorn.
“Whitney, think carefully. If it weren’t for the engagement between our families, do you really think the Harris family would ever accept you?”
Whitney smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “Well, why not just pass the engagement on to Tina?”
Tina’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Seriously? You really think you won’t regret that?”
Whitney clicked her tongue, dismissing the question as she grabbed her bag and strode out of the room, her mind made up.
Outside, she spotted Carter leaning against his car, a cigarette dangling from his fingers.
As soon as he caught sight of her, he crushed the cigarette and tossed it into a nearby trash can, concern etching lines on his forehead.
When Whitney approached, Carter’s gaze fell on the angry red mark blooming on her cheek, stark against her pale skin.
“Did Samuel hit you?” he asked, his brows furrowing in worry.
He reached out, instinctively wanting to examine her face, but Whitney swatted his hand away, her voice icy. “None of your business.”
Carter’s expression darkened, irritation mixing with concern. Just like her father said, she was as stubborn as a mule.
“Get in the car. We’ll get our marriage license tomorrow. I missed Valentine’s Day, but I’ll make it special,” he insisted, his voice firm yet tinged with a hint of desperation.
Now he cares about making it special? Whitney thought bitterly, her heart sinking. “Too bad. It’s way too late for that.”
Her voice remained calm, but the steel behind it was unmistakable. “Carter, we don’t need to do this. I told you we’re over.”
Carter, who had only been worried for her well-being, now had a fire in his eyes. “Whitney, enough. Emily is my sister. No one could ever replace you. How many times do I have to say this?”
“But you know she’s not your biological sister. You’re not even related by blood. Can you swear you’ll never see her again?” Whitney pressed, her heart racing with the intensity of the moment.
She caught the way Carter’s gaze faltered, and a rush of understanding washed over her.
“See? You can’t do it, and neither can I. Just thinking about your relationship with her makes my skin crawl,” Whitney shot back, her voice rising with emotion.
Carter’s breath grew heavy, and in a sudden movement, he pulled her into the passenger seat.
“Feel however you want, but breaking up? That’s not happening,” he snapped, determination etched across his features.
He slammed the gas pedal, and the car surged into the night, leaving their argument behind.
Whitney shot Carter a cold glance from the corner of her eye. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his frustration palpable.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.