The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 258

“What happened?” I asked at glice. “Are you okay?”

Tears welled in her eyes. “Can Isne in? Is Ava here?”

“She’s in physical therapy,” I said. I stepped back, allowing Hannah to enter. She moved to one of the chairs and slumped down. Her suitcase flopped down too, onto the floor.

“Hannah. What’s going on? How did you get that black eye?”

“Grandfather and Aunt Adelaide figured out that I helped you,” Hannah said. “They knew I’d been in Vanessa’s room.”

“Victor hit you?” My blood ran cold.

“Adelaide did,” Hannah said. “But grandfather didn’t do anything to stop her.”

I glanced at the bag. “Did you run away?”

“I can’t go back there,” she said.

“No, you can’t,” I agreed. “But what about Jessica? Is she coming too?”

Hannah’s face went pale, as the tears in her eyes finally spilled over. “She’s just like them. She turned on me too. I tried to talk to her, but… all she cares about is the money and the name.” Hannah covered her face with her hands. “It’s like I don’t know her at all. It’s like I never knew her. How could she do this to me? How could she take their side? It’s always been the two of us, but now… Now, I’m all alone.”

I moved at once, pulling her into my arms. I had to stand awkwardly, half draped over the chair, but I managed. Hannah wasn’t a little girl anymore. She was a full grown woman now, but still she held onto me like Ava would, crying herself hoarse.

Hannah had lost her mother far too soon, and then the sister who loved her so much. Jessica’s betrayal must have cut her down to the already wounded core.

I wasn’t a relation by blood, but I loved Hannah like she was my own sister, my own daughter. So I held onto her as I would Ava, until she calmed down. Then I leaned away, but stayed close, in case she needed more mom hugs and comfort.

“Where are you going to stay?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I didn’t think much farther than getting away from them.”

“Then you’ll stay with me. I have room, and Ava will be home soon, I hope. We’ll have a full house. Plus, if you stay at my house, you can still commute to college and finish your courses.”

Hannah shook her head. “How will I pay for it? Victor always footed the bill, and I know that you gave him the money, but…” Hannah sniffled. “When all this came out… didn’t you get fired?”

I was sure, if I checked my email inbox, there would be a formal termination of employment letter in there. Even with the charges dropped, I wasn’t Vanessa Harper as I was pretending to be. My lies would reflect badly on the company that had been established in Vanessa’s name. I didn’t know how the clients would take the news.

And then, of course, Adelaide was still in charge.

There was no way I could return to that life.

“I’ll find another way to pay for it,” I said. “Without Victor or the Harper money. I might not have the company anymore, but I still have my skills. I just have to rebuild.”

“From scratch?” Hannah asked.

“Vanessa did it,” I said.

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“Vanessa had the Harper name,” Hannah said.

+30 Bonus

“Well, I’ll make a new company, with my name this time,” I said, my determination kicking into overdrive. I had no idea how I would make this work, but was going to try. “Besides, we just paid your last tuition payment didn’t we? You should be good for the rest of the semester.”

“That’s only another month.”

“Believe in me, Hannah. Please. Go to school, and trust me to take care of this.”

Hannah looked at me with hope, and I never wanted to disappoint her more than I already had.

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