Chapter 38 One Crown, No Throne
Olive bit her lip so hard it nearly bled.
Ever since the day Zayden said those words to her face, Colton’s attitude toward her had completely changed. Xavier, too, had grown distant and indifferent.
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Only Betty and Eugene still treated her the same as before–but even they couldn’t hide the admiration in their eyes every time Quinn was mentioned.
In casual conversations, they spoke openly of their regret–how they wished they’d treated Quinn better.
Just like that, Olive had gone from the shining star of the family to a speck of dust no one cared about.
She refused to accept it. She wanted to make a name for herself, do something big. But compared to Quinn’s areas of expertise, she had no advantage. She’d even messed up several projects, which only deepened Colton’s disappointment in her.
The only thing she had left to hold onto was the title–the only daughter of the Fairchild family. Their one and only princess. That, at least, no one could take from her.
What she didn’t know was that even this last shred of pride would soon slip away–and it would be no one’s fault but her own.
At dinner, Betty gently placed some food into Colton’s bowl, soothing him. “Quinn’s a good kid. We really did fail her. If she doesn’t want to come back, don’t push her. I’ll keep an eye on your father–nothing will happen to him.”
Colton knew that. But he still didn’t understand–why was Quinn so convinced they’d harm Grandpa? He was their grandfather too, wasn’t he?
Not far away, Sam was giving instructions to the other house staff. A moment later, someone whispered something into his ear.
Sam stepped over to Colton and gave a slight bow. “Sir, I just got a call from home. Something happened to my son. I need to go check on him.”
Colton, already in a foul mood, waved him off. “Yeah, yeah–go. Don’t bother me with stuff like this!”
Under the table, Sam and Olive exchanged a quick glance. Olive scarfed down a few more bites and went upstairs.
Out in the suburbs, in a rundown apartment, Sam knocked on the door carrying a bag full of medicine.
Ethan opened the door, his face pale. “Dad. You’re here.”
Sam’s heart clenched when he saw the bruises. “How’s your arm? Still hurt?”
Ethan glanced at his cast and shook his head. “It’s fine. Just needs time. We’ve already cleared out the factory. Quinn probably won’t find anything.”
But Sam wasn’t so sure. He let out a long, heavy sigh and handed Ethan a takeout box.
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Chapter 38 One Crown, No Throne
you wouldn’t be living like this.”
Finished
Ethan paused mid–bite, his frustration clear. “Dad, when are we getting out of here? You said a year ago that. once we had the money, we’d be gone. It’s been so long”
Sam rubbed his temples. “Getting out isn’t that easy. If Quinn doesn’t trace this back to us, we still have a chance. But if she keeps pushing-”
He looked his son over again, cyes narrowing. “Then we strike first”
Because Quinn wasn’t going to let this go.
He reached out, gently inspecting Ethan’s injuries. “Whoever did this to you, I’ll find them. For now, just focus on healing. Leave the rest to me.”
Ethan knew the truth–they were too far gone. A clean, normal life wasn’t in the cards anymore. The only option left was to disappear as fast as possible.
Three days later, the bid results were announced. Quinn won.
Ecstatic, she treated her entire team to dinner and called the client to personally thank them for choosing her small, up–and–coming company.
The person on the other end simply replied, “No problem.”
The voice sounded oddly familiar, but Quinn was too caught up in her joy to dwell on it.
When the project finally kicked off, she met the so–called mystery client–and was stunned to see Marcus.
Marcus had been her senior in college, and the two of them had once been incredibly close. But back then, her heart had been completely occupied by Zayden. She’d often stood Marcus up, something she’d always felt guilty about.
Marcus, however, had only ever smiled and said, “It’s okay.”
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The Disowned Heiress: Fire and Ashes
