Chapter 3

3

Sure enough, my father blocked Caleb's path with a greasy, fawning smile.

Caleb's face turned ashen the moment he recognized him. My father, oblivious to the danger, rubbed his hands together.

"Oh, Caleb! I knew you'd make it big. Seeing as you and my daughter had such a long history, how about some cash? Just a small amount. Five grand will do."

My father held up five fingers.

Caleb's eyes darkened with pure disgust.

"Where did this trash come from? You Vances really are rotten to the core. The daughter is a gold-digger, and the father is no better. I'd rather give my money to a stray dog than to a cockroach like you."

Caleb's words were sharp and cruel. Even though he was insulting my father, I could feel the hatred he held for me in every syllable.

My father, shameless as ever, grabbed Caleb's sleeve and began shouting for everyone to hear.

"Look at this! This man slept with my daughter for five years, and now that he's rich, he won't even recognize me! My poor daughter! She died and got nothing for it!"

Caleb froze. He grabbed my father's arms with a sudden, violent intensity.

"What did you say? Aria Vance is dead?"

My breath hitched. I thought that if he knew I was dead, maybe he would stop hating me. But I was still terrified.

Would Caleb actually be sad for me?

My father's eyes darted around, and he immediately changed his tune.

"Mr. Thorne, my daughter has been waiting for you. If you give me the money, I'll take you to see her."

My heart sank. I should have known better. My father would never miss a chance to extort someone.

Besides, he vastly overestimated my importance to Caleb.

Caleb let go of my father and let out a cold, cynical laugh.

"You two really will do anything for money, won't you? You'd even lie about her being dead. Go back and tell Aria that she isn't some goddess. Me, wanting to see her? Not unless I go blind first!"

Caleb signaled for his assistant to shove my father aside. My father realized that Caleb only reacted when he thought I was dead, so he kept chasing him.

"She really is dead! She died six years ago! Look at how rich you are now. Shouldn't you help take care of her only living relative?"

I couldn't watch anymore. Having a father like this was the ultimate curse.

I hadn't moved far when I heard Caleb's freezing voice again.

"You're trying the same trick twice? Let me tell you, if Aria Vance is dead, it's just karma for what she did. I was already planning to make the Vance family pay. Since you walked right into my trap, I'll happy to oblige."

Caleb nodded to his security team. They pinned my father to the ground and began beating him mercilessly.

I looked back. Caleb didn't even turn his head as he walked away. My father's attempt at extortion had ended in a brutal thrashing.

I felt a slight sense of justice, but the pain in my heart lingered because of Caleb's final words.