We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Cedar’s POV

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator at Wright Creatives, a sharp slap caught me across the face. The impact was so sudden I had no time to react, Pain bloomed on my cheek, making my head spin.

You worthless little nobody, Elara Wright’s shrill voice cut through the hallway. “You have the audacity to show your face here after what you did to us? Did you think the Wright family would just let it slide?”

Elara grabbed a fistful of my hair, raising her hand to deliver another blow. This time, I reacted quickly. I stepped back, wincing as several strands of hair

tore from my scalp.

I lifted my chin, keeping my voice cool despite the throbbing in my cheek. “Damage my face, and I won’t be worth much on your precious market, will [?”

“Mom, listen to her,” Selena approached, her heels clicking on the floors. Her voice dripped with hatred. “She thinks she’s so clever now. Thinks she can escape the Wright family’s grip.” She turned to me with venom in her eyes. “Go ahead, Mom. Ruin her face. If Brad Wilson doesn’t want her, someone else

will. Maybe not for eight million, but two million would be something.”

“Hold her,” Elara commanded to the security guards who had gathered. “I’m going to make sure no one ever looks twice at that face again.”

I watched Selena’s lips curve into a triumphant smile. For years, people had compared us, always noting how my natural beauty outshone her carefully

cultivated appearance. How many times had she dreamed of destroying my face? Now, her chance had finally come.

She reached into her Prada bag and pulled out a small silver letter opener, handing it to her mother. The metal caught the light, reflecting against my face,

which I knew had gone pale.

Since childhood, I’d known Selena resented my looks. I’d seen the jealousy in my foster sister’s eyes countless times. But I never imagined they would go

this far–attempting to disfigure me in broad daylight in their own company offices.

Did they really think I would remain the docile foster daughter, accepting such cruelty without fighting back?

“I know I owe the Wright family for taking me in,” I said, each word measured and precise. “That’s why I endured your abuse all these years. But the moment

you touch my face with that blade, I will make sure every design magazine and blog in Chicago knows exactly what kind of people run Wright Creatives.

Don’t try to silence me with talk of gratitude. I’ve already agreed to pay you eight million dollars. Touch my face, and all debts between us are void.

“Mom, do you hear this ungrateful bitch? She’s threatening us!” Selena said while staring at me. “I don’t care about your face–I could end your entire

existence if I wanted to. And if that mouth of yours starts saying things it shouldn’t, I’ll make sure you never speak another word again.”

I trembled, not from fear but from rage. How could I have ever considered Selena a sister? For twenty–six years, we had lived under the same roof. I had

once genuinely tried to love her as family, but now I realized my affection had been wasted on people incapable of human decency.

‘Enough!”

Jonathan Wright’s commanding voice cut through the tension as he emerged from his office. The hallway fell silent immediately–his authority within the Wright family was absolute.

Selena transformed instantly, her expression softening into the dutiful daughter. “Daddy, we weren’t causing trouble. Cedar was threatening to go to the media about our family. After everything we’ve done for her! She needs to learn what she can and cannot say.”

“All of you, in my office. Now.” Jonathan turned and walked back inside, not waiting to see if we would follow.

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3:50 pm

Chapter 20

“Lucky you, Selena hissed, linking arms with her mother as they followed Jonathan.

I slowly entered the office, my head bowed, I already knew what awaited me inside, but I had no escape.

Jonathan’s corner office was occupied by just four people: Jonathan himself, Elara, Selena, and me.

“Cedar, I assume you know why I called you here,” Jonathan said from behind his imposing desk, his voice carrying the weight of authority that had

intimidated me since childhood.

I kept my eyes down. For the eight million dollar investment for the new product line.”

“Good. At least you’re still thinking about the company’s interests.” He slid a document across the desk toward me. As our Marketing Deputy Manager, the

company needs you to sign for a eight–million–dollar loan. The paperwork is ready–just sign and you can go.”

This wasn’t the first time I’d handled financing for new product launches. I picked up the contract, ready to sign, when suddenly I froze.

I should have known it wouldn’t be that simple.

“Previously, loans were taken out in the company’s name, with payments made by Wright Creatives,” Jonathan said coldly. “But since you’re so eager to

separate yourself from our family, this personal loan contract is your price of freedom. Once the eight million is deposited, I’ll release your legal documents

and you can go your own way.”

On the surface, the proposition didn’t sound unreasonable. Eight million dollars for my freedom seemed like a fair trade. I was young; I could find work and

pay it off eventually.

But I had underestimated the Wright family’s capacity for cruelty.

“This isn’t a bank loan,” I said, looking up. “It’s a predatory loan from an unregulated lender. I won’t sign this.”

“How naïve you are!” Selena laughed bitterly. “You think you, a nobody foster child with no assets or credit history, could qualify for a legitimate bank loan

for eight mlion dollars? This lender is only dealing with you because of Dad’s connections. You don’t get to refuse.”

Elara leaned back in her chair with a smirk. “Are you saying your freedom isn’t worth that much?”

I sat rigid, my fists clenched tightly. A standard bank loan with reasonable interest I might have managed over time with hard work. But this predatory

contract would trap me in escalating debt I could never escape. The monthly interest alone exceeded what I could possibly earn.

This wasn’t offering freedom–it was digging a pit and asking me to jump in.

I wasn’t a fool. I wouldn’t sign my life away to these people, no matter what.

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