They Wanted Family Drama And I Wanted A Property Deed Chapter 08
I went back to the Harts’ for dinner that night. The atmosphere was strangely peaceful.
Sophia put food on my plate. “Lena, try this. I made sure the chef went light on the sugar.”
Bennett handed me my drink. “Got your hot latte. Half sweet. Oat milk.”
Richard cleared his throat. “Lena, the company has a supply chain meeting next week. You want to
sit in?”
Catherine shot him a death glare. “She just got here, and you’re already putting her to work?”
Richard mumbled, “I was just asking.”
I took a sip of my soup. “Sure. Billable hours.”
Richard went silent.
Sophia muttered under her breath, “You really never take a loss, do you?”
I smiled.
“Suburban princesses like me? We’re sweet, but we always do the math.”
The first time I met the Hart relatives was at Catherine’s birthday party.
The event was huge. A lot of people showed up.
I wasn’t going to go. Then Catherine texted me:
[Lena, I want you there. Not for appearances. I want to introduce you properly.]
I stared at that message for a long time.
Finally, I changed into a light blue silk dress and went.
At the party, Catherine held my arm and announced to everyone, seriously:
“This is my daughter, Lena Hart.”
This time, she didn’t say “biological.” And she didn’t put Sophia first.
Sophia stood nearby. Her expression was a little dim, but she didn’t pull any stunts.
I glanced at her. She said quietly, “I’m okay.”
I nodded. “Good. Your emotional management is improving.”
Her lip twitched. “Thanks… I think.”
Right then, a woman dripping in jewelry walked over and linked her arm through Catherine’s.
“Catherine, so this is the real daughter? Pretty face: But I hear she was raised outside the family Probably a little rough around the edges.”
Catherine’s face changed. “Marla, knock it off.”
I looked at the woman. “And you are?”
She smiled. “I’m your aunt. Marla Sloane.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “Was that your welcome gift? Kind of low-rent.”
Marla’s face went stiff.
Bennett nearly cracked up.
Marla recovered quickly. “Sharp tongue. I hear your adoptive parents are loaded. Since you’re back
with the Harts now, you should help out family, don’t you think? Your cousin is starting a business. Needs startup capital. Nothing crazy. Eight hundred thousand.”
I blinked. “Come again?”
She smiled. “Eight hundred thousand. Your parents are rolling in it. Your adoptive parents do too.
We’re all family. Don’t be so stingy.”
I turned to Catherine. “Has she always borrowed like this?”
Catherine stayed silent.
Richard’s face darkened.
Marla jumped in. “Borrow? What kind of word is that? We’re family. Talking about money ruins the
relationship.”
I smiled. “Not talking about it ruins my wallet.”
Marla frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means if you want to borrow money, fine. Sign a contract. Market interest rate. Put up collateral. Miss a payment, we go to court. If that’s too much trouble, don’t borrow.”
Marla laughed bitterly. “I’m your elder!”
“Being an elder isn’t a zero-interest loan.” I said slowly. “If you really need money, go to a bank. If
the bank won’t tend to you, that means you don’t qualify. If the Harts lent to you before, that means the Harts weren’t thinking clearly:”
Marla’s face went purple. “Catherine, you’re just going to let her talk to me like this?”
Catherine took a deep breath.
I thought she’d play peacemaker like she always did.
But she squeezed my hand. Her voice was shaking a little, but firm.
“Marla, Lena’s right. You need to pay back what you borrowed.”
Marla froze.
Richard spoke up. “That’s thirty-six million, two hundred thousand. I had accounting draw up a
statement. If you don’t pay it back, we’ll follow the contract.”
Marla’s face twisted. “Have you lost your minds?”
Then Sophia stepped forward and copied my tone. “Aunt Marla, family is family. Money is money. Keep things clean.”
Bennett added, “Yeah. Stop treating relatives like ATMs.”
I looked at the two of them. My feelings were complicated.
Oh no.
The Tri-State Area boundaries were rubbing off on everyone.
