" I understand , " Harold said , his voice hollow . " I'll release an official internal announcement severing all ties with Charles . Effective immediately . " I nodded . " One more thing . " " If Charles and Bianca are truly in love , let them enjoy their tragic little romance without money , titles , or privilege . " Let's see how long their ' love ' lasts without luxury to cushion it . With my bag finally back in hand , I left the scene , escorted by Thomas and our security team . When I returned to the Blackwood Estate , my father was already back from his emergency flight , pacing like a storm about to break . The moment he saw the bruise on my cheek , his eyes turned murderous . " Who did this to you ? I'll kill them . Right now . " I grabbed his arm before he could storm off . " Dad , " I said softly , " how many times have I told you , no more bloodshed . I've already handled it . It's over . " He glared . " Everything else in this world I'll let slide , but not this . You're my daughter , my only child . I've never even raised my voice at you , and now someone dares lay hands on you ? I will gut them alive . " I sighed . "Killing them would be a mercy . I prefer something slower . More painful . " " Charles used to be the golden boy of Whitmore Enterprises . Now he's just a washed - up nobody . He's gonna wake up every morning hating her guts .. And you know who he's going to blame for it ? " " Bianca Sterling . " My father looked at me with pride and admiration , then finally relented . " Fine . Do it your way . Just promise me one thing . " " From now on , you don't leave the house without a bodyguard . I already lost your mother , I'm not Chapter ? Exness Global 46.75 % ex 4.5 FREE Keep more of what you make with even better pricing . Discover Exness . Google Play INSTALL losing you too . " I fell silent for a beat , then nodded . My mother had died in a car accident when I was a baby . The brakes had been tampered with , old enemies from my father's days in the Syndicate . She died shielding me with her own body . I was the only one who survived . Dad never remarried . He raised me alone , playing both mother and father , protecting me like I was the most precious thing in the world . He always said he'd never forgive himself if anything happened to me , because then he'd have no face to meet my mother in the afterlife . I hugged him tightly . " I promise . I'll take care of myself from now on . " Not long after , people began reporting back with updates on Charles and Bianca's downfall . They'd been kicked out of the company , lost all their assets , and were now living in a rundown basement unit . They could barely afford food . Charles , raised in wealth , tried applying for jobs twice , but was quickly rejected . So he gave up and let Bianca support him . Bianca worked two jobs just to keep them afloat . She still believed it was temporary , that Harold would eventually call his only son back home . She just had to suffer a little longer . Then she'd be Mrs. Whitmore for real . Three months passed . Chapter8 46.75 % HO ex Exness Global Keep more of what you make with even better pricing . Discover Exness . 4.5 FREE Google Play INSTALL No call came . Turns out , Harold had another son , an illegitimate one . After cutting ties with Charles , he'd quietly brought the other boy back and started grooming him as heir . When Bianca found out , reality hit hard . Charles was useless . Dead weight . He couldn't give her the life she wanted , and worse , he was draining what little she had left . So she ditched him . Hooked up with a sixty - year - old billionaire instead . Charles tracked her down , furious . " Bianca Sterling , you heartless bitch ! I lost everything because of you , and now you leave me?! " Bianca didn't even flinch . " The only reason I seduced you in the first place was because you were the CEO of Whitmore . I wanted a luxury life . " > " But now ? You're just a washed - up nobody living off my paycheck . I'm not your mother , I don't owe you a damn thing . " They fought . Charles snapped . In a fit of rage , he pushed her down the stairs . She died instantly . He was sentenced to life in federal prison for manslaughter . When I heard the news , I simply said , " Don't report anything else about Charles Whitmore to me . He's no longer relevant . " And I meant it . Θ Chapter ex Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!