Part 3I Was His Secret Shame. Now I'm His Aunt.

The voice on the other end paused for a moment, then came the man's deep, slightly angry tone.

"Don't be ridiculous, Harper. You're Julian's adoptive sister, and I'm your uncle!"

I bit my lip, my voice firm. "I'm not kidding! Uncle... no, Vincent, I'm only his adoptive sister, but in the future, I don't have to be."

Vincent on the phone seemed to hesitate.

In the Reed family, the only unmarried men, besides Julian, were Vincent.

As an orphan, if I wanted to solidify my place in the Reed family, and gain a share in their business, this was my only path.

Marrying Vincent, becoming his wife, would unconditionally grant me ten percent of the Reed family's shares.

And an even more generous dowry.

Vincent suffered from a hidden ailment; unlike Julian, he was extremely detached from women.

He had tried various medications, but women simply didn't interest him.

But the Reed family had more than one male heir. The vast Reed empire would inevitably fall to the one who could secure an heir. Succession and power hinge on heirs, especially male ones.

"If, after one year, I can't bear a Reed heir, I'll leave the family!"

"But if I succeed, I want an additional five percent of the Reed family shares that the matriarch controls. And I want to study finance and work at Reed Corp. Those are my terms."

Vincent suddenly let out a burst of laughter. Just as I thought he wouldn't agree,

he finally spoke. "Alright! Come over tonight, I'll pick you up!"

I nodded. "Okay, I'll wait for you!"

After hanging up, I realized my palms were sweating.

Julian had appeared behind me at some point, his voice displeased.

"Who are you waiting for?"

I spun around, seeing him holding Sloane Hastings' hand, now dressed in a white suit that matched her dress.

I pretended not to care, offering a faint smile.

"It's none of your business, Julian..."

It had been a long time since I called him Julian. His face darkened.

He was about to say something when Sloane, by his side, cut him off.

"Julian, didn't you have something to clear up with Harper?"

Julian's tone suddenly softened as he handed me a bank card.

"I'll transfer you ten thousand a month from now on. Starting today, don't ever appear in front of me again."

I forced a bitter smile. Even though I'd prepared myself to leave,

the thought of severing fifteen years of attachment still brought tears to my eyes.

Just as they were about to fall, I hastily wiped them away, took the bank card, and squeezed out a smile.

"Okay, Julian! Thank you for these fifteen years of looking after me!"

I left everything Julian had given me behind, taking only my personal documents. I stood outside the door with my half-empty suitcase.

Sloane suddenly walked over, extending her hand.

"That bracelet on your wrist, that's from the Reed family, isn't it? Give it to me!"

I instinctively shielded it.

"This isn't from him. This is my mother's heirloom..."

"Harper Reed, you're just a cheap bed-warmer! Low-class trash! How dare you dream of the Reed family? Who gave you that right? Give it to me!"

I clenched my fingers tightly, glaring at her.

"This bracelet was my mother's! And you have no right to insult me!"

Sloane scoffed dismissively. Without Julian present, she was cruel and malicious.

I couldn't understand why Julian would like such a two-faced woman!

She leaned in close again, whispering her boast.

"What else would you be but low-class trash? Julian told me everything. He has that 'condition,' that's why he kept you around."

"I should thank you for being his personal plaything all these years, satisfying his needs!"

"But a cockroach like you, crawling out of a gutter, will never have any ties to the Reed family! I, Sloane Hastings, am the one meant to stand beside him! Don't dream of what isn't yours! Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make you regret it!"

With that, she suddenly grabbed my bracelet, twisting hard.

The loose bracelet snapped, falling to the ground and breaking into three pieces.

Smack! I slapped Sloane hard across the face.

She clutched her cheek, tears streaming down, looking utterly pitiful.

Julian heard the sound and immediately rushed out, then, without a word, he brutally returned the slap to me.

My ears rang, and I fell to the ground, the bracelet fragments digging deep into my palm.

Julian's face was grim. He then savagely stomped on the back of my hand.

"Harper Reed! Apologize!"