Page 161 of Poison Aches

Over me, over my plans, and the future of the entire Outfit.

A rejected, heartbroken, soul-shattered girl now has all the power and it hasn’t sunk in yet.

“Wait, what?” the other girl, Melissa, suddenly shrieks annoyingly.

“I don’t understand,” Governor Hughes also starts. “Whoever this girl chooses to marry will become the next boss of the family?”

“Yes, that is my stipulation,” Grandfather says. “Between my two grandsons here, whoever the girl chooses will officially become the Don of the Easton Family.”

Shock ripples through the entrance.

“But wait, I thought—” Melissa starts. “I thought the boss would be old, how come now...”

It’s obvious that she wants to backtrack but it’s over now. Grandfather dismisses her and turns to look at Angel.

“Are you up for it, little girl?” Grandfather asks.

Ivy’s laughter falters then she falls silent, but her body is full-on trembling.

“Excuse me?”

“Are you up for the task?” Grandfather questions. “You will select the one who will take after me.”

I can feel Vaughn’s gaze on me, but I don’t bother looking at him.

I already know he’s starting to calculate and maybe even trace my movements.

Then he shifts to look at Angel... and it’s then I look at him.

“W-what do you mean?” Angel questions in a high-pitched voice full of hysteria.

“In front of all present and unanimously agreed before your very eyes, your family has offered you as the one who will seal this partnership with marriage. So now the futures of both the Easton and Hughes families rests entirely in your hands.”

“What?”

“Of course, if you mess up, the consequences will be… bloody.”

This time, Angel’s body stills, and she stares at Grandfather. Then she glances at Governor Hughes and his wife and other daughter.

I already knew Angel’s mother was married to Governor Hughes.

I knew they had a spoiled daughter, Melissa.

And I also knew why Angel was abandoned and why they kept Melissa.

Spider knows too.

What I wasn’t expecting was that instead of just testing Vaughn and I to see who will get the Hughes family on board, Grandfather had already set up a plan years in advance where the agreement between the Hughes and the Eastons is sealed with marriage.

But now, the marriage is between Governor Hughes’ daughter and the heir of the Easton Family.

And the daughter…is Angel.

But who is the heir?

Me or Vaughn?

Like clockwork, Vaughn and I glance at each other.

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