Chapter 4

"Dad." I stood in the lounge looking at the man who'd pushed the door open.

Rivers Taylor wore a dark gray suit. Harrison followed behind him.

The two walked in side by side, like partners who'd worked together for years.

I remembered when I was little, the day he sent me to my grandmother's. He crouched down, touched my head, and said Dad will come get you soon.

I was six that year. I waited fifteen years.

Until a month ago when he suddenly called telling me to come back, saying he'd arranged a marriage for me.

"Do you know what you did today?" He stopped three steps away from me.

"I married into the match you arranged for me. The marriage certificate says eldest daughter of the Taylor family—that's me."

"Ridiculous!" He slammed his hand on the cabinet beside him.

"I already told you clearly on the phone! This marriage was arranged for Swift! What are you doing here!"

"Then why did you write eldest daughter of the Taylor family on the marriage certificate? Why not write Swift's name directly?"

He froze.

Harrison spoke at an opportune moment: "At the time, Maximiliano insisted on following ancient protocol. Your father couldn't argue, so he wrote it his way. But both families understood the bride would be Swift."

Such smooth words, pushing all problems onto an old man who was no longer alive.

"Was the breach penalty in clause seven also Maximiliano's idea?"

Harrison didn't respond.

Rivers Taylor frowned at me: "Don't think you can strong-arm the Dulles family with a piece of paper.

With Sebastian's temper, if you push him an inch, he'll make you lose ten times over."

"That's my business."

"Your business?"

His voice rose. "Since childhood, when have you ever been able to handle your own business?

Your education was paid for by the Taylor family. Your food, clothing, everything—all Taylor family. What gives you the right to fight with the Dulles family?"

"You sent me away. You called me back."

"You told me to marry. I married. Now you say it shouldn't be me."

"Rivers Taylor, what exactly do you want me to do?"

I called him by his full name. His face flushed red.

"What did you call me?"

"I called you by your name. Since you don't acknowledge me as your daughter, don't blame me for not acknowledging you as my father."

The room fell silent.

Harrison stepped forward and grabbed Rivers Taylor's arm:

"She has the same temperament as her mother. The more you reason with her, the more stubborn she gets. Better let Swift persuade her."

Same temperament as her mother—that cut deeper than anything else.

Because my mother couldn't stay in this family because of that temperament.

"Russell." Rivers Taylor took a deep breath.

"I'm telling you one last time. Sign the papers, go back to Los Angeles. I'll give you money. You can do whatever you want after that."

"If you don't sign, you're no longer part of the Taylor family."

"Why should I sign? The marriage certificate is valid, the family register has my name. Once we walk out that door and go to court, the law is on my side."

He looked at me.

That look—not at a daughter, but at someone in his way.

He turned and said something to Harrison.

Harrison nodded and walked to the door to say a few words to someone outside.

Then the door opened.

More than a dozen guests poured in, all relatives and friends of the Taylor and Dulles families.

They stood on both sides, looking me over.

"Rivers Taylor." Rudy also walked in. "Are you going to control this Russell girl of yours or not?"

"Tell everyone clearly whose marriage this is supposed to be."

Rivers Taylor turned around, facing everyone, then looked at me.

"I, Rivers Taylor, am putting this on record today." He began speaking.

"This marriage was arranged between me and the late Maximiliano for Swift.

Russell is my eldest daughter, that's true, but she didn't grow up with us. She no longer has any connection to the Taylor family."

"Her actions today are her own doing. The Taylor family bears no responsibility."

The guests nodded. The reasoning all seemed to be on his side.

"Fine, Rivers Taylor. You say I have no connection to the Taylor family."

I held up the notarized document.

"Your signature and fingerprint on this document aren't even dry yet. Tell me, will a judge believe your words or your seal?"

His gaze tightened sharply. Then, the next second, he walked toward me.

I thought he was going to grab the document.

I didn't dodge. His hand didn't reach for the document.

That slap landed squarely on my face.

The force was enough to turn my whole body half a step. My ankle twisted in the high heel.

No one in the room made a sound.

Harrison covered her mouth, making a shocked expression.

Rivers Taylor's hand was shaking.

"If you keep causing trouble, a slap won't be all you get."

I slowly steadied myself, wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand.

Swift had somehow appeared at the doorway too.

She rushed forward and grabbed Rivers Taylor's arm: "Dad, stop hitting Russell. She's just immature. Please calm down."

I kept my head down, my eyes on the notarized document I'd crumpled in my hand on the floor.

Swift walked to my side and bent down.

Her voice was only audible to me:

"Russell, still not signing?"

I didn't look at her. I was looking at the last screenshot in my phone's photo album.

The one I'd taken of the message on her phone screen ten minutes ago.

Jackson: Honey, don't worry about the baby, I'll handle it.

I slowly straightened up.

Raised my head to look at the room full of Taylor family members, Dulles family members, all kinds of onlookers.

"I won't sign. And I have something I want to ask Swift in front of everyone."

Swift's smile froze.

"Swift, who is Jackson?"