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Chapter 15
Online, Harper’s restaurant was trending for all the wrong reasons, and the Blake family had summoned Milo home.
For years. Milo had kept his distance from his family while pursuing aviation. When he’d gotten severely burned saving Harper and had to quit flying, the Blakes immediately offered him a way back–inherit the empire, never worry about money again. But at Harper’s urging, he’d rejected their offer to work as her bartender instead.
Now, less than two months later, he was on his knees in the Blake family estate.
“Look at the goddamn mess you’ve created! I warned you Harper Lennox was a gold–digging manipulator, but you had to throw yourself at her anyway. Now the entire world knows a Blake heir is working as some woman’s employee, defending her negligent establishment that nearly killed people. Are you actively trying to destroy everything our family has built?”
His grandfather’s voice was ice–cold with fury.
Milo had no defense. Every word was true.
Ever since Eliana disappeared, his mind had been chaos. He’d been ignoring Harper’s constant calls, drowning in regret. Now he pressed his forehead to the marble floor.
“I know I fucked up completely. I’ll accept whatever consequences you decide. I don’t deserve the Blake name.”
“You threw away a devoted wife who loved you unconditionally for a woman who’s using you for money and status. You abandoned your family legacy for someone who doesn’t give a damn about you unless you’re useful. And now you’ve dragged our reputation through the mud defending her criminal negligence.”
Each word was a knife twist, but Milo knew he deserved every one. All he could think about was Eliana’s face when she’d realized the flowers weren’t for her. Eliana’s devastation when he’d chosen Harper over their baby.
His grandfather wasn’t finished. “According to family charter, any heir who brings disgrace to the Blake name forfeits their inheritance and position. You are no longer my grandson. You are no longer a Blake.”
The formal disownment hit like a physical blow, but Milo accepted it. He’d destroyed his own life chasing after Harper while the woman who actually loved him had been right there.
When he finally made it back to the house, Harper was pacing frantically. The moment she saw him, she rushed
over in tears.
“Milo! Thank God you’re back! This is a complete nightmare–everyone online is absolutely destroying me. You have to make this stop. I can’t even show my face anywhere, and it’s not like I meant for this to happen!”
“These people are psychotic–they’re sending me death threats and trying to ruin my life! Milo, your family has serious power, right? The Blakes can shut this down with one phone call!”
She was hysterical with panic. Normally, seeing Harper cry would have broken his heart and made him promise
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her anything.
But now, looking at her beautiful, desperate face, all he felt was hollow recognition of who she really was.
His voice was flat when he answered. “I’m not a Blake anymore.”
Her tears stopped like someone had flipped a switch. She stared at him in horror, her voice rising to a shriek.
“What the fuck did you just say?”
She still hadn’t noticed his pale, exhausted appearance or registered that something was seriously wrong. Harper’s voice turned vicious.
“You’re not the heir anymore? What the hell am I supposed to do now? Everyone is crucifying me online–what about my reputation? My business?”
The mask was slipping fast. This wasn’t grief or fear–this was pure calculation.
“We can apologize,” Milo said quietly. “Take responsibility for the safety violations. If we handle this right, you might be able to rebuild.”
Harper looked at him like he’d suggested burning money.
“Apologize? Are you out of your fucking mind? After what those people said about me, you want me to grovel to them? Milo, you’re supposed to fix this! Use your family’s influence, throw some money around, make this disappear. That’s what you’re for!”
The words hit him like ice water. That’s what you’re for.
“Just go back to your grandfather and beg him to reinstate you. Tell him you’re sorry, that you’ll do whatever he wants. He’ll take you back if you promise to dump me publicly or whatever. I don’t care what you have to say–just get your power back so you can help me!”
“You’re not listening,” Milo said, his voice getting stronger. “I was formally disowned. There’s no going back.”
Harper’s face went through several expressions–disbelief, fury, and finally pure panic as reality sank in.
“Then what the fuck good are you to me now?”
The question hung in the air like a slap.
And just like that, Milo saw Harper Lennox with perfect, devastating clarity.
She wasn’t the love of his life. She was a user who’d seen dollar signs when she looked at him. Every sweet word, every manipulation, every crisis that conveniently required his wealth or influence to solve.
He’d thrown away a woman who’d loved him for who he was to chase after someone who only saw him as a bank
account.
Eliana had loved him when he was nobody. Harper only wanted him when he could give her something.
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He’d been such a fucking fool.
