Chapter 3My Wallet, His Rules

After a restless night, I was woken by a call from my best friend.

"Have you seen the news?" she urged.

I groggily opened my phone. The screen was flooded with headlines: Aiden Vance had officially announced Georgia Summers as his fiancée. A grand wedding was imminent.

The internet was abuzz with congratulations, though a few industry insiders posted comments asking: But what about the Thorne heiress?

Aiden himself had replied to one: Her? She can go to hell for all I care.

I stared at the comment, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. Tears welled in my eyes, but I stubbornly refused to let them fall. All those years… even if he didn't love me, did he really think I was that worthless?

A knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts. "Miss Isabelle, your grandfather wants you downstairs immediately. He says it's urgent."

I took a deep breath and splashed cold water on my burning face. The girl in the mirror looked presentable enough, aside from the slight redness around her eyes.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I heard my grandfather's furious roar from the living room. "Aiden Vance! You will explain this to me right now!"

I paused on the landing, hidden from view. Aiden stood in the center of the room, a defiant look on his face, while Georgia cowered behind him, the very picture of pitiable innocence.

"There's nothing to explain," Aiden sneered. "Georgia and I are in love. Why should I sacrifice myself for Isabelle?"

My grandfather's hand, gripping his cane, trembled with rage. "If I hadn't taken you out of that orphanage, you'd be—"

"So what?" Aiden cut him off. "Just because you did me a favor, I have to sacrifice my own happiness?" He wrapped an arm around Georgia's shoulders. "I can sign the papers with Isabelle for the sake of the company, but the first wedding of my life, the real one, will be with Georgia!"

His shameless declaration stunned everyone in the room. I saw Caleb Blackwood's knuckles turn white. A second later, he surged forward and drove his fist into Aiden's face.

"Have you got no fucking shame?" Caleb roared.

Aiden staggered back, wiping a smear of blood from his lip, his eyes dark with hatred.

That’s when I descended the stairs, my voice calm and quiet. "Grandpa, it's alright. Let him have his wedding."

Aiden froze, his head snapping toward me in surprise. But I met his gaze with a placid expression, as if looking at a complete stranger. A flicker of unease crossed his face. He clearly hadn't expected me to let go so easily.

I helped my trembling grandfather back to his room. The entire way, I could feel Aiden’s stunned gaze on my back, but I didn’t turn around.

"Isabelle, I've failed you," Grandpa said, his old, frail hand gripping mine as he sat on the edge of his bed. "I was blind to bring that ungrateful wolf into our home."

I shook my head, my voice soft. "Don't be angry, Grandpa. It's not worth it."

"No!" he suddenly exclaimed, his energy returning. "No one humiliates a Thorne like this! Don't you worry. I'll throw you an engagement party grander than anything he could ever dream of!"

I nodded silently, a bitter taste filling my mouth.