Harrison’s tone was icy. “Are you really holding a grudge against a child now? Dames’s throat is swelling he could die
Mr. Vaughn, all you have to do is transfer a million. It’ll take you three seconds
Harrison exhaled sharply through his nose, hating the feeling of being manipulated “Selene! You’re completely heartless! You don’t deserve to be a mother!”
Despite his outrage, Harrison wired the million dollars to Selene
The moment the transfer went through, Selene relayed Dames’s allergy history to the doctor over the phone.
“Harrison,” she said, her voice coming through the speaker.
Harrison’s reply was dripping with scorn. ‘What? You get your money and suddenly you’ve had a change of heart?”
“Forget it. I was going to warn you, but honestly, what’s the point?” Selene hung up without another word.
She’d intended to tell him about Dames’s trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places. If he needed to stay in the hospital, he’d need his own pillow, sheets, blanket, and pajamas from home. It was always Selene who took care of these little things–she’d drive Dames to the hospital herself, and the house staff never bothered with any of it.
Harrison probably didn’t have a clue.
Selene couldn’t be bothered to say another word to him. Let him deal with Dames’s
tantrums on his own.
After the doctor administered the medication, Dames’s condition quickly stabilized. But late that night, Dames tossed and turned in the VIP hospital room, unable to sleep. He started crying, begging to go home. Harrison, worn down and exhausted, finally gave in and took him out of the hospital.
The black Maybach pulled up to the gates of the Azure Vista Estates. Harrison gazed out the window at the house, moonlight spilling across his sharply defined features.
He’d ordered an investigation into everything Dames had eaten that day
As out.
1/3
Felicity had loaded him up with dairy. If Selene had been there, none of this would’ve happened.
But that woman was always playing games, waiting for him to beg her to come
back.
Harrison looked again at the stately home in Azure Vista. His eyes grew colder.
Selene was still enjoying everything he’d given her.
She needed to understand that without the Vaughn family’s protection, she and Daph would never survive on their own.
Dealing with Selene was like training a dog–let her go cold and hungry, and she’d finally learn her place. Only then would she truly understand who gave her food, warmth, and a roof over her head.
Before long, the ALI Math Competition began.
The contest was online, and participants could choose when to begin; but once the test started, they weren’t allowed to leave the camera for any extended period.
After dropping Daph off at preschool, Selene returned to Azure Vista Estates, powered up her laptop, entered her registration code, and began the exam.
Two hours in, the power abruptly cut out.
Her screen flashed: wifi connection lost.
Frantically, Selene grabbed her phone to try and set up a hotspot–only to find she had no signal at all.
How could this be happening?
She couldn’t finish her test!
Selene grabbed her laptop and rushed outside.
She quickly realized the entire Azure Vista Estates was without power. She tracked down the property manager.
“The electric company didn’t announce any maintenance today. What exactly caused this outage?”
“I’m not sure,” the manager replied uneasily.
“When will the power be restored?”
2/3
10.90‘?
He only shook his head. “I really can’t say.”
He hesitated, then gave her a strange look. “Miss Thompson, you do realize the whole Azure Vista Estates was developed by the Vaughn family. Have you ever considered that you might be the reason everyone’s having problems right now?”
Selene’s eyes widened in shock.
So this blackout–it was Harrison targeting her on purpose.
10.22
