Chapter 59: THE DOWNFALL OF THE BLACKWOOD’S?
The next morning, Harlow woke to the relentless ringing of her cell phone. She groaned and glanced at the screen. It was a call from her father, the last person she wanted to hear from.
Without hesitation, she silenced the call and tossed the phone aside. She had no intention of answering. The events of the previous night were still fresh, the pain raw and unrelenting. Forgetting or forgiving wasn’t an option.
As Harlow stepped out of her room, she was greeted by Ava, who had a worried expression on her face.
"Miss Harlow I heard everything that happened to you on the news, are you sure you’re really okay? Frank has not always been like this but it seems money and power have blinded his eyes so much that he forgets what family is about." Ava spoke in a flurry, barely pausing for breath.
Harlow gave a faint smile, masking her emotions with practiced ease. "Good morning, Ava," she replied warmly. Even though she was hurting deeply, she knew how to wear a smile that seemed genuine. It was a skill she had perfected over the years.
"Miss Harlow, are you really okay?" Ava pressed again, following her down the stairs. She had wanted to accompany Harlow the night before, but Harlow hadn’t included her in the plans. Perhaps an extra pair of watchful eyes could have spotted Frank’s scheme in time.
"I’m perfectly fine, Ava. What’s for breakfast?" Harlow asked, steering the conversation away from her pain.
As they reached the kitchen, Richie greeted her first. "Good morning, boss," he said cautiously. His tone betrayed the lingering anger from last night. None of them had slept well after Frank’s blatant theft of everything they’d worked so hard for.
"Good morning," Harlow replied her tone light despite the heavy atmosphere.