Page 153 of Lush

“Ashbourne Capital belongs solely to me and Jennie now. You’ll forfeit all stocks, investments, and equity in the company. You don’t get a say in anything related to our business anymore.”

“I fucking made this company!”

“I could sue you. But I’m letting you bow out with ease you don’t fucking deserve. You either go to jail for your crimes or you go to rehab. If Mom wants to divorce you, you’ll accept it with no resistance, and if she doesn’t, you go to every fuckingmarriage counseling session. If you miss a single one, I’ll be right back on your ass like a tick.”

Harold glared at me.

“What will it be?”

“You think I’m going to let you take everything from me?” he sneered. “You’re just a kid playing at being a man. You don’t have what it takes.”

“Maybe not,” I replied, my tone unwavering. “But I have a wife whose side I need to be back next to. I need to make sure Jennie and yourgranddaughtersurvive. I can be the man you and Conrad couldn’t be. All this ends with me.”

Finally, he gave me a look, one of pure defeat. “Fine. I’ll sign it over. Just…I want to speak to your mother. Explain everything to her first.”

I just nodded once, and without another glance, I walked to my car and slammed the door. The driver took off immediately, leaving Harold standing there in the dust.

The phone buzzed in my pocket. I looked at the caller ID. Nathan. I answered it without a second thought, leaning back in my seat.

“Reese.” Nathan’s voice crackled over the line. “We found something else.”

“What?”

“It wasn’t just Conrad and Harold,” Nathan said.

I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Who else?”

There was a pause, and I could almost hear Nathan swallowing on the other end.

“Your mother, Reese. She’s been taking money too.”

CHAPTER 31

Laurene

“Hello,Laurene. Looking as beautiful as ever.” Dante stepped in my room holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Don’t lie to my face,” I muttered, switching off the TV, some reality dating show Gigi had insisted on putting on for me.

“Late to the party,” he remarked, glancing at the flowers all around the room. “You’ve got quite the collection, I see.”

“What brings you here, Dante?” I asked, not bothering with pleasantries.

“Just checking in, making sure everything’s alright. Did you like what I did?” He gave a small, inscrutable smile, and placed the bouquet on my bedside table as he took a seat next to the bed.

I blinked, thinking about the news with Harold.

“That was you?”

“We’re partners, remember, and you’ve been through a lot recently. Of course I kept my name out of it, but…”

“Partners don’t lie to me about their involvement. Especially when my father-in-law is involved.”

Dante’s eyes flickered with something. Amusement? Annoyance? Hard to tell, but he didn’t look caught off guard. “Youknow the game, Laurene. There’s always a bigger play. A bigger plan. I rather you found out on your own.”

“Cut the crap,” I pressed, sitting up straighter. “I don’t know if we can be partners anymore. I can’t trust you, truly. You may be worse than my own mama. Playing games.”

He remained cool, his gaze steady. “The Kings will always be Lush’s first family. Don’t worry about it.”

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