Khalia's vision blurred with unshed tears as she stared at her grandfather, her chest tightening with overwhelming emotion. The weight of his words pressed down on her like a mountain, and in an instant, she was no longer at the grand dining table, surrounded by family.
Instead, her mind transported her back to warm afternoons spent in her grandmother's workshop, the scent of polished wood and molten gold filling the air.
She could almost hear the delicate chime of gemstones clinking against each other as Noelle Austin, with her ever-elegant poise, guided her hands over intricate designs.
"You have your mother's talent, my love." Her grandmother had often whispered, her voice filled with pride. "One day, you'll surpass even me. You were born to create beauty, just like she was."
Khalia had believed her, had dreamed of the day she could walk in Noelle's footsteps.
And now, that day had come, except it wasn't the way she had imagined.
Her heart twisted painfully.
"I don't want to get married." She thought, panic setting in. "But I can't let Grandma's company fall into the wrong hands. She trusted me with this, she wanted me to have it all. But… I don't want to get married. I just want to create. I just want to build the brand, to make her proud."
A tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another.
But Grandpa. She choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to get married."
She wasn't sure what she expected; sympathy, reassurance, perhaps a compromise.
But before Warren could utter a single word, a loud, furious voice shattered the tension in the room.
"Are you stupid?"
Khalia flinched as Ruben's voice thundered through the dining hall.
"Do you have any idea what you're rejecting?" He bellowed, his face contorted with frustration. "This is the NOELLE brand! The biggest jeweler empire in the world! You'll immediately become a multi-trillionaire! Stop being foolish!"
Stunned silence followed his outburst.
Every pair of eyes at the table turned toward Ruben, disbelief etched into their faces.
Even Warren's calm composure cracked for a fraction of a second.
Khalia, however, felt something cold settle in her chest.
Her father had never spoken to her like this before, never raised his voice in such a way. She had always known he was ambitious, always chasing wealth and status. But never had she thought he would lash out at her like that.
"Daddy." She whispered, her voice barely audible, as if she needed to confirm that this was truly the same man who had once cradled her in his arms as a child.
For the first time, she saw him clearly.
And the realization struck her like ice water.
"I guess you're finally showing your true colors, aren't you, Father?" She thought bitterly.
Across the table, Ruben's anger flickered with something else; guilt.
For a brief moment, regret flashed in his eyes.
Oh, no… Why did I do that?
His stomach twisted uncomfortably. He had let his emotions get the best of him, had let his desperation slip through. He couldn't afford to show his hand now.
He needed to regain control.
Ruben inhaled deeply, forcing his voice into a softer, more coaxing tone.
Sweetheart. He said, schooling his expression into something apologetic. "I'm sorry for yelling. I just…" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Think about it. If you don't marry and take over your mother's inheritance, half of her properties will go to someone else. We can't have that."
His voice dipped lower, firm but coaxing.
"We have to keep it within the family."
Khalia's hands clenched beneath the table.
"Of course we can't." She thought bitterly. "You greedy bastard. You don't care about Grandma's legacy, you just want it all for yourself, don't you?"
Her nails dug into her palm as she studied her father's carefully controlled expression.
"You're just like Sierra. Just like Emily. Willing to do anything for wealth and power, no matter who you have to step on to get it."
A frown formed on her face, her stomach twisting with something between anger and betrayal.
She could feel Warren's comforting hand on her shoulder, grounding her. She looked up at him, her voice hesitant but steady.
"Who is it, Grandpa?" She asked. "Who do you want me to marry?"
Warren gave her a warm, reassuring smile.
Logan Roberts. He answered. "He's a nice young man, well-mannered, and he will inherit his family's properties."
The moment the name left his lips, the entire table froze.
Khalia's mouth fell open, words failing her as shock rippled through her.
Emily let out a loud gasp, her hand flying to cover her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief.
And Sierra, Sierra looked ready to explode.
A dark, seething fury blazed in her gaze, her perfectly manicured nails gripping the edge of the table so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Everyone at the table knew who Logan Roberts was.
He wasn't just an heir.
He wasn't just another wealthy, eligible bachelor from Heavendale.
Logan Roberts was handsome, charming, powerful…
And he was.... Emily's boyfriend.
The revelation struck like a grenade, sending a silent wave of shock through the room.
The only ones who remained unfazed were Warren and Ruben, who seemed either blissfully unaware or simply did not care about the storm they had just unleashed.
But the rest of them? They knew. And judging by the murderous look in Emily's eyes… This was about to get ugly.
'Why does she always take everything from me?' Emily seethed, her nails digging into the velvet tablecloth as she struggled to contain her fury. 'Why can't I have anything good in my life? Why is it always her? Khalia, you little thief. I HATE YOU!'
Her chest tightened with unspoken rage, and for a moment, she could barely hear the surrounding conversation. Her vision blurred as she glared at Khalia, who sat there as if she were the victim. But Emily knew the truth, Khalia always won. No matter what, no matter the circumstances, she always managed to take what should have been Emily's.
And now Logan? The one person who was supposed to be hers?
It was unforgivable.
Meanwhile, Khalia finally steadied herself, forcing down the lump in her throat. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Warren, her voice quiet but firm.
Grandpa. She said carefully, choosing her words with measured calm. "I will marry anyone else, but I cannot marry Logan Roberts."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Warren's forehead creased with concern. "Why, sweetheart?" He asked, his voice gentle yet laced with curiosity.
Khalia hesitated.
She couldn't tell him the truth, that Logan was Emily's boyfriend. Her grandfather wouldn't care about something so trivial. Love, emotions, relationships, none of them would matter to him, especially if he knew Logan Roberts was Emily's boyfriend. After all, he didn't care about Emily. .
"What do I say?" She thought frantically. I don't want to lie to him, but I also can't tell him the real reason. He'll never accept it.
Her gaze flickered at Emily, who sat rigidly across from her, eyes burning with unmasked fury.
After a pause, Khalia finally spoke, choosing her words carefully.
"I can't marry Logan Roberts because… he's already in a relationship, Grandpa." She explained, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "And I don't want to ruin that for either party."
Her mind echoed with the unspoken words. I don't want to be a homewrecker.