One night with her CEO boss left her pregnant—she fled, but he caught her and kissed her weak.
“And voila! Claire, choose anything you like. The boutique is ours, so money doesn’t pay anything.”
“No, Grandma, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t possibly.”
“It’s her wish. Don’t let her down.”
“Well, I’ll just return everything later.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mrs. Stark, wearing our signature Eternity Necklace.”
“Do I look strange?”
“I’ve never laid eyes on anyone as stunning as you.”
“Well, I’m getting tired here. There’s no limit on that card, and no arguments, or you’ll not see me again.”
“Grandma, I can’t accept this. I’ll return everything.”
“There’s no need. It’s yours.”
“I can’t. And about the wedding…”
“This is the happiest Grandma’s been in ages. Let’s just give her that. Or I can tell her the whole wedding’s fake. Maybe have a doctor ready for when her heart gets out.”
“No, don’t say that. Look, we still have time to tell her the truth before the wedding.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Kingsley, there was a guest in there. I can’t handle her.”
“It’s okay, it’s all right. I will handle it, okay? Okay, go get a drink.”
“Sis, she’s coming.”
“Good afternoon, miss. Would you like your wine decanted?”
“Do it.”
“There you are. How fitting, serving cold wine on a snowy day.”
“I’m sorry, miss, I can have the kitchen prepare a warm one for you right away.”
“Warm it with your body? Miss Kingsley is really good at warming things, especially the heads.”
“I’m afraid that’s not part of our service.”
“Have it now!”
“Still not enough, miss? If you’re not happy with my service, I’ll have someone else assist you.”
“Wait, this wine’s already been touched by your filthy hands. Take it.”
“I’m sorry, but employees aren’t allowed to accept guest drinks.”
“Are you deaf? I said drink it. All of it!”
“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I’m pregnant. I can’t drink.”
“Pregnant? Well, that’s not my problem.”
“Please, I’ll drink it for her.”
“Who the hell are you?”
“You’ve gone too far.”
“Too far? I’ll show you too far! And believe me, this isn’t even close.”
“She’s a Blackwood. We can’t afford to cross her.”
“Who said you can leave? Who said you can leave? Neil, lick it clean.”
“What did you just say?”
“You heard her. You and your bastard child are both trash. Do as you’re told, okay? It’ll be your first parenting lesson.”
“Look, I work here, but I’m not your slave. I won’t grovel like this.”
“The customer is king! How dare you disobey me? I’ll get you fired!”
“Fine. If the hotel condones your behavior, then they can fire me.”
“Are you all right?”
“Ethan, you’re just in time. Who did this?”
“That waitress. She mouthed off to me, so I was just going to fire her. Impressive, so you think this is our hotel? Well, you’re welcome. You know, as your fiancee, managing employees is part of my duty.”
“Mr. Stark, you and Miss Blackwood are engaged?”
“How dare you even speak to Ethan, you low-life maid? Silence!”
“What’s really going on here?”
“Mr. Stark, Miss Blackwood started it. She slapped me in the face, poured wine over Claire’s head, threw the cake, and demanded she lick it from the floor.”
“Shut up, you lying bitch! Ethan, you wouldn’t take their side over mine, now would you?”
“I’d choose Claire’s side a thousand times before I’d ever choose yours. Claire is my person.”
“Huh?”
“Bullying my person in my hotel? Claire, hit her back.”
“What? I’m a Blackwood! You would never—”
“Make it triple.”
“Yes, Mr. Stark.”
“You bitch! I’m going to kill you!”
“Ethan Stark, our families are engaged.”
“That engagement does exist, but my fiancee is the real Blackwood daughter, not you, you adopted fraud.”
“You’re going to regret this! Mom, Dad, Ethan went too far. He stood up for her when everyone was bullying me. He is my fiance, how could he side with her?”
“Honey, don’t worry. No one’s going to hurt my little girl. We’ll make this right.”
“I knew you’d take my side, Dad.”
“Victoria, go to your room. Your father and I need to speak. Stop spoiling her, Richard. We adopted her because she looked like our lost daughter. After so much plastic surgery, she doesn’t even look like her anymore. 20 years. Wonder where she is now.”
“Sir, what is it?”
“We’ve tracked the kidnapper’s ring. My daughter, where is she?”
“We’re still following leads. Search every girl with a crescent-shaped birthmark. Find her.”
“Mom, look at that bitch getting out of the fancy car.”
“Yeah, that woman was right. She’s some rich man’s mistress for sure.”
“Sure. Claire Kingsley’s mother, your daughter stole my fiance.”
“What? Sluts learned their ways from their own mother.”
“Excuse me? Teach him a lesson.”
“Hey! Hey! Hey! You can’t do this now! Hey, me!”
“What’s disgusting in here?”
“You are right.”
“What you talking about? Everyone, look at her! She beat me to shut me up. And please, rich men, her own mother—that is nonsense.”
“Is that Claire Kingsley? I can’t believe it. I always thought she was so polite.”
“You look at this! See this? See this? She had thugs beat me so that she could keep that bastard child of her rich lover.”
“Oh my god, she’s a home wrecker and pregnant with his child.”
