The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 56

Chapter 50: Hart Family Returns

Bella POV

Thursday morning started like any other. I was in my temporary office at Hart Worldwide’s Silverton branch, reviewing acquisition proposals, when my assistant knocked on the door with an anxious expression.

+25 Points

“Ms. Hart, you have visitors,” Jennifer said, her voice tight. “They don’t have an appointment, but they’re insisting it’s family business.”

Family business. I had no family, not anymore. The only family I had was Tom, sleeping peacefully in the hotel suite with Maya watching him while I worked.

“Tell them I’m not available,” I said, turning back to my computer screen.

“I tried. They won’t leave.” Jennifer hesitated. “It’s Richard and Margaret Hart. They say they’re your parents.”

The pen I was holding snapped in my hand. My parents. The people who’d thrown me out pregnant and penniless, who’d chosen Jade over me without a second thought, who’d called me an embarrassment and told me I’d failed as a wife. They were here. In my building. Demanding to see me like they had any right to my time.

“Send them in,” I said, my voice cold. “And Jennifer? Stay close. I may need security.”

Jennifer’s eyes widened, but she nodded and disappeared. Two minutes later, Richard and Margaret Hart walked into my office like they owned it, dressed in expensive designer clothes that probably cost more than I used to make in a month as a maid.

Richard looked older, his hair thinner, his expensive suit hanging slightly loose on a frame that had lost weight. Margaret was as polished as ever, but there were new lines around her mouth, a tightness to her expression that spoke of stress and worry.

Good. I hoped they’d suffered.

“Isabella,” Richard began, his voice that same patronizing tone I remembered. “You look well. Success clearly agrees with you.”

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“It’s Ms. Hart,” I corrected coldly, not standing, not offering them seats. “And you have exactly two minutes to explain why you’re here before security removes you.”

“Now, darling, is that any way to greet your parents?” Margaret’s smile was strained, her eyes darting around my office, taking in the expensive furniture, the view of the city, the visible signs of my success “We’ve missed you so much.”

“You’ve missed me.” I laughed, sharp and bitter. “Is that what you tell yourselves? That you missed the daughter you threw away like garbage?”

“We didn’t throw you away,” Richard said, moving closer to my desk. “We made a difficult decision during a very complicated situation. But Isabella, that’s in the past now. We’re family, and family should stick together.”

Chapte 50 Family Returns

+25 Points

have no family,” I said, each word precise. “My family died the night you chose Jade over me, the night you called me a liar and gave me an hour to pack my things.”

“We were misled,” Margaret said quickly, pulling out a tissue like she might cry. “Jade told us things, Richard believed certain evidence. But darling, we know the truth now, We know Caleb was manipulated, that the video was fake, that you were innocent all along.”

“And that makes it better? I stood up, my hands flat on the desk to keep them from shaking. “You should have believed me from the start. I was your daughter. I’d never given you a reason not to trust me. But the second Jade cried, the second her lies were more convenient than my truth, you threw me away.”

“We made a mistake,” Richard said, and I saw calculation in his eyes. “We’re willing to admit that. And we want to make amends, Isabella. We want to be part of your life again. Part of our grandson’s life.”

There it was, the real reason they were here. “Tom,” I said flatly. “You heard about Tom.”

“The whole city has heard about Tom,” Margaret said, her fake smile widening. “A Black heir, hidden away for years. Isabella, do you understand what this means? What opportunities this presents?”

“Opportunities.” The word felt hollow. “You want to use my son the same way you used me. As a bargaining chip, a commodity, a way to elevate your own status.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Richard said, his patience clearly wearing thin. “We’re his grandparents. We have rights, connections, resources that could benefit him greatly. The Hart name still means something in this city.”

“The Hart name means nothing to me,” I said. “And it will mean nothing to Tom.”

“You can’t keep him from us,” Margaret said, her voice rising slightly. “We’re his family, we have a right to know our grandson.”

“You have no rights,” I said, my voice deadly calm. You gave up any claim to me or my son the night you threw me out. And if you think for one second that I’ll let you poison Tom with your manipulative, conditional love, you’re even more deluded than I thought.”

“Isabella, be reasonable,” Richard said, his tone shifting to the one he used in negotiations. “Think about what we can offer Tom. The best schools, connections to powerful families, a place in society that you can’t provide alone. Hart Industries may have struggled, but we still have influence. We can open doors for him.”

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