Chapter 1
Chapter 1
I was the only heir to the Sinclair fortune, but I was a girl.
Everyone said the three fiancés my father had selected for me were the true heirs, yet they had never once looked me in the eye.
I had tried to flirt with one of them, Alexander, hundreds of times, only to receive their countless contemptuous glances.
I thought he treated all women this way, until I saw him kneeling before the driver’s daughter, swearing: “I only agreed to marry her to repay the Sinclair family for raising me. Once I become the head of the Sinclair family, I’ll divorce her with a splash and marry you instead.”
On the eve of the shareholders‘ meeting, my father asked who I’d finally choose.
I recalled how those three had avoided my gaze, and smiled:
“I’ll choose Lucas Hayes.”
Dad frowned. “Lucas was paralyzed in an accident five years ago. He’s not only in a wheelchair but also…” he hesitated, “You know, he can’t… do certain marital duties. Are you sure?”
I kept my voice soft but firm: “Look, in our circle, true love was never a thing. Since it’s all about what’s best for us, I’m going with the Hayes family–they’re the most beneficial choice.”
Dad frowned, his expression turning serious. “That’s one way to see it, but you seriously didn’t like any of them?”
Dad had loved my mom deeply, but she died from a brain hemorrhage the year I was born.
He couldn’t bring himself to remarry, but he also couldn’t stand idea of a girl running the Sinclair company.
His friend told him to adopt kids, so he took in three orphan boys.
His will was clear–whichever one I chose would help me run the company and keep the other board members in check.
Dad loved me, but that didn’t mean he believed that a woman can handle Sinclair Industries alone.
I looked at him steadily. “Lucas may be in a wheelchair and unable to… you know… but we can use IVF to have his children. He’s the sole Hayes heir. Instead of choosing some orphan to prop up the Sinclairs, why not choose a powerful ally?”
Dad nodded slowly. “If those three couldn’t win your heart, then they don’t deserve to stay at Sinclair.”
If I’d simply said I was turning down Alexander because he didn’t love me, Dad would have made him kneel before me and demanded to know what right an adopted son had to refuse his daughter.
I didn’t want Dad using years of kindness to push Alexander. I didn’t want to force Alexander to marry me,
of resentment.
and I definitely didn’t want a marriage full
Besides, Alexander’s words had completely frozen my heart.
A clean break was the kindest option for everyone.
As I walked out of the office, Dad gave Alexander a sidelong glance.
After Dad left, Alexander turned to me with a frown.
“What lies did you tell him now?” His eyes were full of disgust and impatience, like I’d committed some unforgivable sin.
Before I could respond, Dylan Parker snorted beside him.
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Chapter 1
“The usual garbage, I bet.”
“Whining that we three don’t care for her, don’t pamper her enough.”
Max Carter also looked at me with contempt. “Seriously, Princess Sinclair, this isn’t the dark ages. You think having money means everyone has to how down to you?”
The three of them presented a united front, their sharp words cutting into me.
“If none of you want to marry me, why not just tell my dad?” I asked, genuinely confused.
Dad might have raised them as potential husbands, but he’d never force them. One word from them, and he’d set them up with enough money to live comfortably anywhere.
Let’s be real, they couldn’t let go of the Sinclair fortune.
Max, always the hothead, clicked his tongue impatiently.
“Easy for you to say. We’re just strays your family took in–Sinclair dogs. What right do we have to refuse?”
Alexander’s face darkened as he looked at me. “If you want to choose me, fine. Just don’t make things difficult for these two later.”
Max and Dylan looked touched by his words.
Watching Alexander’s martyr–like expression, my heart filled with bitterness.
Before I could say anything, Penny James suddenly popped up.
When she saw me, she flinched and ducked behind Alexander.
Alexander instinctively shielded her. “She hasn’t done anything wrong. Leave her alone today.”
I stared at them in confusion, realizing all three men who should have been protecting me were standing in front of Penny, afraid I might hurt her.
Five years ago, when Penny first came to work for us, she gave me a hair clip as a gift.
I returned the gesture with a $1,000 bracelet as a welcome present.
But when I opened the gift box, Alexander snatched it away.
He snapped, “You’d even steal her mother’s keepsake?”
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