Chapter Four

Lenora

The Sinclair family. The multi billionaire family with connections through the entire country with riches no other person could touch. Other families, corporations and politicians would crouch at their feet for a sliver of the influence they had. They were powerful beyond any means.

And once upon a time, I was the heiress to the Sinclair family. 

Wealth? Riches? None of that felt like anything to me. Nothing the Hamptons had could come close to what my family had.

 It wasn't until college that I met Liam that everything changed.

And those family bonds? They had been cut out a long time ago, irreparable.”

“I can't." I shut my eyes tightly, the memories flooring in, along with the empty space. “Back then, when I left, I had cut all ties with Reese. All bridges were burned. For five years I hadn't had any contact with them. They could reach me at any time, but they wouldn't. I'm as good as dead to them. Even if I wanted to, even if I begged, they would never help me now.”

And that was what hurt the most. The fact that I had family, but had lost all my support. And it was all my fault.

A despondent air filled the room and neither of us spoke for a long time. 

“What are you going to do now?” her voice broke the silence, now quiet. Despondent. I could only shut my eyes tightly.

“A Sinclair never lets anyone trample on them.”

A voice from long ago echoed in my mind. I could recall my father's words to me from years ago. Words that would have pushed me to move forward. To get even.

But I wasn't a Sinclair. Not anymore.

“I don’t know Reese. I don't know.” I said hollowly.

I had thrown everything away to be with him, cut off all my family members and burnt the bridges and left my name behind to leave with him to his city. I had been the one to spend the last of my savings for the sake of his family business. 

A memory came to my mind. The moment before I followed him, he told me to not mention my family name or past to anyone and foolishly I did, believing that he didn't want his family to be intimidated by me. Everytime they gave me veiled barbs, I bore it all. 

Now I realized all this time, I had let them walk over me.

Somehow he had made me forget where I came from, took away my pride. And I had let him.

Something bitter filled me to the brim. Regret. Pain. Self loathing.

I wished I'd never met him. That I listened to my father's words and left him at the first chance I had. I wished that the first time I was met with his family's barbs I took it as a signal to leave  him.

If I had changed anything, been less submissive, would things have been different.

But that was the problem. 

It didn't matter who I was in the past. I had willingly turned myself into a nobody because of him and now that was what I was. A nobody.

There was nobody to turn to. Nothing was going to help me. I couldn't escape or ignore their threats when I knew that they were going to follow through and I refused to burden Reese with this.

Perhaps this was what I deserved.  

Wiping away my tears, I forced myself to remain strong, bracing myself for what I was going to do next.

I had lost everything thanks to him and I had nothing. What else was I supposed to do now but comply?

…

The week passed, and now today was the wedding day. Usually it was the groom responsible for waiting on the bride at the altar, yet here I was. 

The music grated on my ears. I couldn't tell how long I had been standing on the altar. Faced with the mocking stares of everyone scrutinizing me. Everything was in place, the guests, the priest and the bride, but as expected the groom wasn't there.

Over the past week I had already been subjected to more than enough of their press. News and gossiping of Liam 's public affair and outings with Amy had already gone viral, mocking me wherever I went. They weren't even bothering to hide it 

Everyone knew he wasn't coming to the wedding, yet I was here, forced to humiliate myself by waiting.

My eyes burned from the tears I was holding back. Tears bit my eyes at the murmurs and mocking stares I received. The only supportive look I got was from Reese, who was thankfully in the front rows telling me to stay strong.

I didn't know how to. This was too humiliating.

It had almost been nearly an hour since the ceremony started. I had been standing for that same amount of time. I saw their faces, strict and threatening, some mocking and even the flashes of cameras from the press.

Was I truly going to let this moment continue?

Something idle in my chest, a stubborn strength that I hadn't felt in a long time. 

No. I couldn't. Even if I let this moment pass, if I took it, it would push them further to the brink. If I let myself be recognized as the Hampton’s bride, for better or for worse, I would be trapped, trampled on and tormented. 

I've borne more than enough in the past five years. It was a late realization, but now I was sure. I'd had enough

Even if it meant wracking myself in millions in debt, I'd find a way to handle it. I always did.

Spinning towards them, I opened my mouth to speak-

BANG!

My heart flew to my throat as the door suddenly opened. Murmurs rose and everyone looked back in surprise. 

He looked so familiar….

My breath hitched as the realization came to me. This was Elias, Liam 's estranged older brother and Disowned son of the Hamptons.

I had only heard of him in passing due to him being the black sheep of the family. Apparently after a falling out years before I came into Liam's life, he left the family, changing his name and creating his own business which now rivaled Bellamy Cooperation. 

“You, why are you here?!” My father in law spat out but 

My breath hitched as he turned. His eyes, dark and smoldering, were focused solely on me.