Chapter 1624
Nora leaned in towards Kalene, her voice laced with urgency. âYou canât be so nonchalant! Look at Sierra. The moment dad finished his dinner and let out a yawn, she was all over him, fussing like attentive waiters.â
Kalene, with her ever-so-gentle voice, replied, âIf those two are willing to look after Hudson, it takes a load off our shoulders. Why not be happy about it?â
Noraâs anxiety peaked. âBut look at our situation. My oldest nephewâs gone, and my brotherâs been hit hard by the tragedy. Heâs been sick and homebound, unable to get involved with the companyâs affairs. And Zavier, stubborn as a mule, is always butting heads with granddad even when he knows heâs on thin ice. If you keep this laid-back attitude, weâll end up with nothing.â
At the mention of the eldest son, Kaleneâs composed facade wavered, but her voice remained soft. âWeâve got a roof over our heads, a car, and savings. Even if we donât get a penny more, we wonât starve. As for the inheritance, if itâs not meant to be, so be it. Right now, I just want Zavier to be healthy and safe.
Unconvinced, Nora switched tactics. âDo you want your family line to end, then?â
âWhat do you mean?â Kaleneâs voice carried a hint of confusion.
Youâve got only one son left in Zavier. If he marries a girl who canât have kids, your family name dies with him.âe2
Kalene paused before replying, âIâll have the doctor help Skyler with her health immediately. If in two years, when theyâre of legal age to marry, thereâs still no baby, then Iâll consider other options.â
Nora scoffed. âYouâre willing to give the Blue girl two years, but whoâs giving you two years?â
Kalene didnât respond.
Nora persisted, âListen to me. Give the Blue girl six months max. If thereâs no sign of a baby by then, Iâll step in. Dad might not listen much, but he listens
to meâ¦â
Before Kalene could reply, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted them. Skyler hurried towards the source, nearly bumping into the stern-faced butler. He glanced behind Skyler with a frown. âMiss Skyler, your bags are packed. The driver will take you to Mr. Zavierâs residence.â
Skyler hadnât expected to be sent off to Zavierâs place so suddenly. Despite her reluctance, she simply nodded and said, âOkay.â
On the ride to Zavierâs place, Skyler replayed the conversation between Kalene and Nora in her head. She remembered reading about Kaleneâs eldest son, Zavierâs brother, who had suddenly passed away earlier that year at the age of twenty-four.
Now, with only Zavier left, Kalene would undoubtedly want him to settle down and continue the family line soon. Skyler didnât know how Kalene would respond to Nora, but she was painfully aware that to the Riveras, just like the Blues, she was nothing more than a means to an end. A tool to be used, and if no longer useful, could be easily replaced or discarded.
Being sent back to the Blue household would be a dead end for her. She knew she had to find a way to survive before that day came.
She wanted to live, to live well, and with dignity.