Chapter 4

"Why would I need to say anything when you made a grand spectacle yourself by having all of these things brought over?" Piper snorted. Molly's actions were nothing short of highway robbery.

"If you want to treat Ms. Tanner like your daughter, that's your business. What does it have to do with me? And why don't you give up your own master bedroom, Mrs. Ludlow? This little house of mine simply isn't big enough to accommodate a princess like Ms. Tanner."

Molly's hands trembled with rage. "Why, you! Get out right now!"

Piper eyed her coldly and declared clearly, "Look at you, behaving like a shrew while standing in someone else's house. So all that talk about maintaining decorum and propriety was just for show? You hold others to high standards, but you don't have to follow those rules yourself?"

"How dare you call me a shrew!" Molly had never imagined Piper would have the nerve to push her buttons like this.

"Please calm down, Mrs. Ludlow," Cecilia chimed in, feigning an attempt to mediate. She hadn't even done anything yet, and Piper was about to get herself thrown out of the house.

With an insincere smile, she continued, "I'm really just here to make a painting, Ms. Steele. I don't know why you're reacting so strongly. If you're unhappy, then fine, but please don't upset Mrs. Ludlow so much. You'll be putting Harvey in a difficult position."

Piper felt like throwing up just looking at Cecilia. With an impatient expression, she raised her hand and pointed at Molly.

"Get out."

Then she pointed at the sanctimonious Cecilia.

"You too. Get out! This is my home. Live wherever you want and paint whatever you want. I couldn't care less. But don't come over here and get on my nerves!"

The fake smile on Cecilia's face finally slipped.

"Ms. Steele, Mrs. Ludlow is Harvey's mother. She's your mother-in-law. She was only saying a few things in anger. At the end of the day, this house belongs to the Ludlows. You have no right to throw anyone out."

"Cecilia's right! You live off our money, yet you dare throw your weight around in front of me?" Molly grew increasingly convinced that Piper was an ungrateful wretch. She had always believed Piper had been blinded by the Ludlow family's wealth and influence and deliberately bewitched Harvey.

"It hasn't been that long, and you've already shown your true colors. You think you can get your hands on our house? Dream on!"

Cecilia added sarcastically, "Ms. Steele, it's not too late to apologize. We wouldn't want to air the family's dirty laundry in public. If you get thrown out, you'll be the one humiliated."

"You two are the ones who need to get out." Piper's expression turned cold, her eyes icy. "As I said, this is my home. This house is in my name, and I purchased it entirely on my own. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Ludlows or Harvey.

"I'm already being very polite by asking you to leave. I could call the police if I wanted to. I just don't know whether you two can bear the consequences of being charged with trespassing."

Piper had fallen in love with the house the moment she laid eyes on it. No matter what Harvey had said back then, she had insisted on buying it herself.

She had wanted to show Harvey that she wasn't some fragile woman who had to live off him. She had also wanted Molly to think more highly of her.

Anyway, since their marriage certificate was fake, they had no shared marital assets.

Thinking of this, Piper curled her lips mockingly.

Cecilia saw the smile, and her expression stiffened. Even for the sake of putting on an act, Harvey didn't need to put the house under Piper's name. Why did she deserve to have the house?

Gritting her teeth, she said, "Ms. Steele, I understand that you consider this your home, but there should be a limit to your ego. This is an affluent neighborhood. Do you really think anyone will believe you when you claim this house is your personal property? Even if you got Harvey to put the house in your name, essentially it's still an asset of the Ludlow family."

Cecilia thought she had exposed Piper's lie and smugly wondered how she could possibly continue being so stubborn now. But Piper wasn't the least bit flustered.

"Not everyone is like you, Ms. Tanner. Despite being the daughter of the Tanner family, you still need to steal someone else's house to live in."

Cecilia choked. "What did you say?"

Piper made herself clear. "I said I don't have a habit of sleeping in someone else's marital bed. And I certainly don't have Mrs. Ludlow's shamelessness in trying to steal someone else's house while claiming that she's doting on you like a daughter, Ms. Tanner.

"Anyone who didn't know better would think this is the only house left in all of Southgrove."

"Piper Steele!" Molly's chest heaved violently. She looked as though she wanted to kill Piper. "I dare you to repeat yourself! Have we been too nice to you this whole time?"

Piper rolled up her sleeves and shoved the two of them toward the door. "Nope. I'm the one who's been showing you guys too much grace all these years. That's why you've repeatedly trampled all over me! Now get out!"

She didn't know where she found the strength, but she pushed both women out of the living room in one go and slammed the door shut behind them.

Caught completely off guard, Molly and Cecilia had to grab onto each other to steady themselves. They nearly passed out from sheer fury.

Cecilia's eyes reddened. "Harvey has really spoiled Ms. Steele, hasn't he? Otherwise, how could she have the nerve to speak to you like that? If it weren't for my studio, you wouldn't have had to endure this humiliation. In the end, an outsider like me shouldn't have let my own situation damage your relationship."

Molly rubbed her chest and slowly caught her breath before saying viciously, "You're right. It's all because Harvey has indulged her far too much! I'll call Harvey right now and have him take the house back. Then you can move in and paint for as long as you want!"

As soon as the call connected, Molly said furiously, "That Piper you always said was sweet, sensible, and knew her place just threw Cece and me out of the house! She even had the nerve to say this house has nothing to do with the Ludlow family!

"I told you from the beginning that woman was only after our money, and you refused to believe me. She has disgraced the family completely. You have to divorce her as soon as possible!"

Piper leaned against the door, catching her breath. She'd thought she could finally enjoy some peace and quiet, but Molly hadn't even waited until she got back to the car before calling Harvey to complain.

She let out a mocking scoff. Divorce, huh? For that to happen, they needed to be married first. Would Harvey dare tell everyone that their marriage certificate was a forgery?

The noise was becoming unbearable. Piper picked up her phone and called the security office.

Soon, Molly could no longer keep yelling.

At first, Harvey didn't believe what he was hearing. But when he heard the security guards angrily ordering his mother and the woman he loved to leave, his brows immediately drew together.

Molly didn't like Piper, but Piper had always been sensible. She had never put him on the spot or made things difficult for him. Why was she being so unreasonable today?

…

Piper packed her belongings and went straight to the airport to meet William. Before boarding the plane, Harvey sent her two messages.

"Cece's only going to stay for a couple of days to complete her painting. Why did you make such a big deal out of it?"

"Hurry up and apologize to Mom, then invite Cece to move in. I'll put in a good word for you, and we can put all this behind us."

Piper snorted in disbelief. She deleted the messages and turned off her phone.

Meanwhile, having seen the messages too, William wore an even colder expression. Harvey had already infuriated him by leaving Piper alone in the hospital to undergo surgery. After learning the details of her life, he'd been sorely tempted to rip Harvey apart.

"Harvey Ludlow is completely unworthy of you, Ms. Steele," William declared furiously. "Once we return to Gemdale, I'll have the lawyers send the divorce papers to him for you at once."

Piper let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Our marriage certificate is fake. I've really been an idiot all these years."

A fake marriage certificate? Piper had been deceived for five years!

William clenched his fists, suppressing his anger. His voice softened with sympathy. "It wasn't your fault. I failed you. I didn't find you sooner, and that's why you had to suffer so much.

"From now on, no one will ever hurt you again. All of the wealthiest and most eligible heirs in Gemdale will be lining up for miles just to have a chance with you. And besides—"

He succeeded in making Piper laugh. "I don't need to find another man to support me."

William realized he had misspoken. "I'm sorry, Ms. Steele. I didn't mean anything by that."

Piper's expression was soft. "I know."

William breathed a sigh of relief, but it was obvious they couldn't continue with this topic. He adjusted his glasses and smoothly changed the subject by giving her a brief introduction to Clarion's current situation.

Aside from the 24% stake Jonah and Evelyn originally owned, which he was now transferring to Piper, Jonah's younger sister, Judy Crane, and her son, Henry Emerson, each held 10% shares. Rosalie Crane, the young woman raised in Piper's place, also held 10% of the company shares, and Lazarus Crane, Jonah's adopted son, held another 10%.

The remaining 36% was divided among three other shareholders.

"An adopted son?" Piper had never heard of the Crane family having a male heir.

William explained, "Mr. Crane rescued Mr. Lazarus from a war zone when he was ten years old. Mr. Crane personally trained him. Thanks to Mr. Lazarus, Clarion has gained a foothold in the Auredine market.

"It is also worth noting that although Mr. Crane and Mr. Lazarus aren't related by blood, they share a closer bond than most biological fathers and sons."

Piper remained expressionless. The fact that Lazarus held the same percentage of shares as Rosalie showed how much Jonah trusted him.

"You're Mr. Crane's only daughter. Part of the reason why Mr. Crane groomed Mr. Lazarus for the role was so that he could help secure Clarion for you." William finally got to a crucial point. "There's also a condition attached to the share transfer agreement given to you. The agreement takes effect after you and Mr. Lazarus are married."

What a father.

Jonah was giving her money, power, and even a man.

But marriage…

Piper instinctively frowned, but she soon thought it through. With 24% of the company shares, she was effectively Clarion's controlling shareholder.

Marriage was no big deal. It wasn't as though she had to develop real feelings for him. She would treat it as a business partnership. As long as Lazarus was easy to get along with, it would save her a lot of trouble. There was no harm in the arrangement.

…

At an airport abroad, Abel Johnson reported, "Sir, Ms. Steele has arrived in Gemdale. The earliest we can return is the day after tomorrow."

Inside the quiet VIP lounge, Lazarus' sculpted, well-defined face bore a stern expression. He sat on the couch in a crisp, impeccably tailored suit, undoing the buttons of his jacket with two long, pale fingers.

There was still blood on his fingertips.

Lazarus frowned in disgust.

"Keep an eye on the things in Zendovia. If they refuse to behave themselves, send them down to keep the old man company. Don't let them waste my time."

"Yes, sir." Abel's entire body tensed.

Lazarus had spent a great deal of effort turning the family's business in Zendovia into a legitimate one. Several of the other younger ones had tried to return to their old ways while he was away, only for him to find out about it. That delayed his return to Gemdale.

Once Lazarus wiped the blood from his hands, Abel handed him a tablet. "Here's all the information regarding Ms. Steele's life in Southgrove, sir."