THE BILLIONAIRE'S VENGEFUL WIFE RETURNS

Frank Blackwood looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto her. His expression darkened instantly. "What are you doing here?"

Harlow stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "I came to talk to you, Father."

Frank’s voice was cold, dismissive. "We have nothing to talk about. As you can see, I’m late for an important meeting with..."

"Miss H?" She asked.

"Your meeting is with Miss H, isn’t it?"

Frank froze. His eyes narrowed slightly, masking the sudden unease that rippled through him. No one was supposed to know about his meeting with Miss H except his assistant, Lance. Could that fool have let something slip?

"What are you on about?" Frank asked, his tone sharp, calculated.

Harlow took a measured breath, stepping closer, her emerald eyes steady. "Well, here I am. I’m Miss H," she said with a faint, defiant smile.

Frank stared at her, his expression unreadable as silence stretched between them. She pressed on, her voice quieter. "I’ve tried to tell you for years. I’m sorry I hid my identity, but you never gave me a choice. You wouldn’t let me work for the company, and I—"

Frank suddenly chuckled, a cold, derisive laugh that cut her words short. "Can you hear yourself right now?" His voice dripped with disbelief, his eyes scanning her as though she were a stranger.

Harlow tried to recall if she just cracked a joke but she didn’t.

Did he not believe her?

"How long did it take you to come up with such a ridiculous story?" Frank sneered.

"I’m not lying, Father—"

"Silence!" he barked, raising a hand to stop her.

His gaze hardened, his tone laced with venom. "Claiming an identity that isn’t yours won’t erase your failures, Harlow. It won’t make me forgive you. Like always, your mother was right about you."

Harlow’s heart sank, but she forced herself to hold her ground. "But—"

"I don’t want to hear another word of your nonsense," Frank interrupted, his voice cold and final. "I can’t believe I spent 22 years of my life raiding a liar, a criminal and a whore." Frank spat.

"I should lock you up where you belong, or better still sell you to a brothel and get my money back." Harlow couldn’t believe his words. She turned momentarily speechless.

"Now leave my office. And while you’re at it, figure out how you’ll repay that 200 million. That’s the only thing I want to hear from you."

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as a wave of frustration and betrayal surged through her. She had done everything in her power to help him, to earn even a fraction of his approval, yet it was never enough.

She snatched her purse, her jaw tight, and stormed out of the office. As she threw open the door, Lance, who had been lingering just outside, straightened. "Miss..."

Harlow brushed past him without a word, her steps swift and purposeful. Lance watched her retreating figure, a flicker of concern crossing his face.

He wondered what the father and daughter dou were fighting about this time.

Harlow reached the elevator, her breathing uneven as anger and humiliation coursed through her. She had wasted her time, her energy, her hope, thinking her father would listen. Thinking he might see her, really see her, for once.

Back in the office,

"Can you believe that girl?" Frank said, shaking his head as he paced behind his desk. "She had the audacity to come here claiming she’s Miss H." His laugh was bitter, mocking.

"The great Miss H!" he continued, gesturing grandly. "The sharpest mind in business, the woman every corporation wants in their corner. My useless daughter thinks she could be her? It’s laughable!"

Lance, standing nearby, frowned slightly but remained silent.

Lance thought about it for a minute. He had seen the girl at the reception almost the same time Miss H said she has arrived but he walked past her. And when she left, miss H didn’t respond to him anymore.

Could Miss H really be miss Harlow?

If one thought about it, the H might represent Harlow too. Frank shook his head, he was thinking too far. That’s a reach.

"Well?" Frank demanded. "Where is Miss H now? Is she already in the conference room?"

Lance hesitated. "Sir... she said she had change of plans. That she wouldn’t be coming after all."

Frank’s face darkened. "What do you mean she’s not coming? You said she arrived!"

"She did, sir," Lance said carefully, glancing at his phone. "But she left before I could meet her."

"You idiot!" Frank roared. "How do I know you didn’t scare her off yourself? Maybe you want Miss H for your own gain!"

Lance blinked, stunned. "Sir, I would never..."

"Shut up!" Frank snapped, waving him off. "This is Harlow’s fault. That stupid girl must have scared her away!"

He grabbed his phone, dialing impatiently. "Have you found out where she’s staying?"

"No, sir," came the hesitant reply on the other end.

"Then get on it!" Frank bellowed, slamming the phone down.

——

Harlow slumped into her car, every muscle in her body taut with exhaustion and fury. Her father’s words played over in her mind, each one cutting deeper than the last.

Did he truly see her as nothing more than a failure? Did he really think she was incapable, unworthy?

By the time she reached the hotel, her mind was made up. She would never waste her energy trying to win him over again. He didn’t deserve it.

As the elevator ascended, she tried to shake off the sting of his rejection. But when she opened the door to her room, all thoughts of her father vanished.

Her breath caught in her throat. The room was ransacked, drawers overturned, belongings scattered across the floor.

Who would do this?

It had to be her father. Or someone working for him. Did they think she’d be foolish enough to leave anything important here?

Without hesitation, she grabbed her bag and stepped out of the room, her thoughts racing. Alanis had been right, this hotel wasn’t safe.

"Miss Blackwood," a voice called from behind her. freёweɓnovel.com

She turned, startled, only to see a familiar face.

"Andrew," she said, her surprise evident.

Andrew smiled, his dark eyes warm. He looked nothing like the boy she remembered from high school. His once wiry frame had filled out, his confidence seemingly doubled.