ENGAGEMENT 18

CHAPTER 18 

The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to the air as I pushed open the heavy hospital door. The steady beeping of machines filled the silence, in a way that felt like the beginning of a horro 

story. 

Uncle Henry laid against the raised bed, pale and weak, but still radiating the arrogance that had poisoned him all his life. One leg was elevated and wrapped in thick bandages, his wrists were cuffed to the rails on either side. A uniformed officer sat by the door, flipping idly through hi 

phone. 

Henry’s eyes flicked to me the second I entered. He smirked. 

“Well, if it isn’t my darling niece.” His voice was raspy, but laced with venom. “Have you come t gloat?” 

I didn’t answer right away. I moved closer to him, each step heavy with the weight of years. Th officer barely looked up; he knew there was no escape for the man chained to the bed. 

“I came,” I said softly, “to look at the man who ruined my family. To look at you, and tell yo exactly what I’ve held inside me for years.” 

His smirk twitched, but he leaned back lazily, eyes gleaming like he was being entertained. “Gc on, then. Entertain me.” 

I swallowed, curling my hands into fists at my sides. “You killed my 

His smirk widened into something cruel. “Ah. So you heard.” 

father.” 

“You murdered your own brother,” I pressed, my voice shaking, “just so you could steal his company. Just so you could feed your greed. Do you even realize what you did to us? To me?” 

Henry’s gaze hardened. “Your father was a weak man. He didn’t deserve Sinclair Industries. He treated it like some fragile thing instead of an empire… with his morals and ethics. I was the one who built it with him, but he never saw me as his equal. Always second. Always his shadow. Sc yes, I took what should’ve been mine.” 

“He paid you more than you deserved! He made sure you lived a comfortable life!” My stomach turned. “You didn’t just take the company, you destroyed everything. You left me fatherless. You tried to kill me. You tried to use me like a pawn so you could wear a crown that was never yours.” 

“Spare me your dramatics,” he spat. “You think you’re some saint? You think you’ve kept Sinclai alive on brains alone? Everything you are, everything you own, it came from the same empire | built. You’re no different than me.” 

I laughed bitterly. “The difference is I never had to put a bullet in someone’s head to prove myself. I earned my place. You stole yours.” 

He jerked against his cuffs, face contorting with rage. “I did what was necessary. That’s what real leaders do. Sacrifice. Blood. Power. That’s what keeps a dynasty alive.” 

“No,” I whispered fiercely, leaning closer. “That’s what destroys it.” 

For the first time, my voice cracked. “I hate you, Henry. I hate what you did. I hate what you took. But most of all, I hate that you were my family. Because no matter what you do, no matter how 

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much you burn, you’ll always carry the Sinclair name. And I’ll always have to live with the stair you left on it.” 

His lip curled in disgust, but there was no remorse in his eyes. Not even an ounce. 

“Get out,” he muttered finally, turning his face away from me. “You think you’ve won, little girl, bu you’ll see. They always come crawling back. Men like Matt don’t let go of their possessions. Anc you? You’ve always been one. And as long as he lives, he will do my bidding. You will neve escape me!” 

I straightened, my stomach churned into something bitter. “You’re wrong. I don’t belong to anyone. Not anymore. And if the last thing I ever do is make sure your name rots in history, ther so be it.” 

He laughed low and bitter, shaking his head. “We’ll see.” 

I turned sharply on my heel before my tears could fall in front of him. 

The officer looked up as I left, but I didn’t stop until I was halfway down the hall, the weight o that confrontation pressing on my chest. I’d gotten the words out. I’d said what I needed to say But it didn’t feel clean. There was no satisfaction in looking evil in the face. There was only the 

ache of what had been lost forever. 

Still, I forced myself forward. Toward the only thing that mattered. 

Asher. 

His room was at the end of a quieter wing, guarded but not like Henry’s. They knew he wasn’t a threat, he was the one who’d been shot trying to save me. 

I steadied myself as I reached for the handle, exhaling slowly before I pushed the door open. 

And then I froze. 

The room wasn’t empty. 

There, standing beside Asher’s bed, was Matt. 

His hand rested casually against the monitor, his fingers brushing over the buttons like he was toying with them. His suit jacket was gone, his shirt sleeves were rolled up, his hair slightly disheveled like he’d slipped past security in a rush. 

He turned his head slowly, and a cold smile spread across his face as his eyes met mine. “Hello, Jada,” he murmured. “Miss me?” 

My heart slammed against my ribs. 

“Asher…” My gaze darted to the bed. He was still unconscious, pale but breathing steadily, tubes and wires snaking across his body. 

Matt’s hand hovered over the machines, his smile never reaching his eyes. “Careful. Don’t scream. You wouldn’t want anything… happening… to him, would we?” 

The door clicked shut behind me. 

And just like that, I was trapped again. 

CHAPTER 18 

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