Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 423

Astrid’s POV

I stretched my legs across the fancy bed, watching the news with a frown.

Ryan sat beside me peeling an orange, his fingers working methodically as he watched my reactions.

‘Rich people are so weird,” I said, shaking my head. “Someone in their family just died, but all they care about is who gets to run the business next.”

Ryan laughed and handed me an orange slice. “That’s life. When I die after we’re married, you might end up doing the same thing.”

He winked, but his eyes stayed cold. Our Hartford family money isn’t Parker Group level, but it’s nothing to sneeze at.”

I stopped mid-chew. “Wait – you’re a Quinn. Why are you saying ‘our Hartford family’?”

“Because I’m a bastard,” Ryan said matter-of-factly. “I took my mom’s last name.”

He leaned back against the headboard. “My father’s a Hartford. Big name in New York. Pretty handsome when he was younger too – that’s what caught my

mom’s eye.”

His voice hardened. “Three months into the pregnancy, when she wanted to get married, she found out he already had a wife and an eight-year-old son.”

“She left the country pissed off, with me in her belly. That’s why I’m a Quinn.”

I studied his face, trying to connect this story to the fragments floating in my memory. “So if your mom left to cut ties with your dad, why are you – *

“Why am I back in New York claiming Hartford money?” Ryan finished, his smile not reaching his eyes. “I might be illegitimate, but I’ve got Hartford blood.

I’m still his son.”

His expression darkened. “My mom got tricked by him and had to raise me alone in a foreign country where we struggled. Meanwhile, the Hartfords lived it up in New York…”

Ryan’s voice shook with anger. “Why should they get everything? I came back to make them pay! I’m taking everything that should have been mine from my father’s precious other son!”

I pointed out carefully. “However

go after the whole

dangerous. I

orange into my hands and stood

ordered, walking to the

behind him, leaving me alone with

sat on the bed finishing Ryan’s abandoned orange while the news continued covering Blake’s death and tomorrow’s

the reporter said, “tomorrow’s wedding at the city

close friends are expected

guest list for the ceremony from Miss

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Chapter 423

for the procession. I sat up straight when I spotted mine –

sharp pain shot through my temples. The name Henry Hartford felt familiar, tugging at something buried in my mind, but

my fingers against my throbbing temples. Flashes of memory a woman laughing, a stern man in an expensive suit,

out of bed.

the hall, still unsteady on my feet. The mansion was quiet except for occasional staff

Quinn?” I

“Mr. Quinn

noticed how she tensed at Ryan’s name, fear flashing across

thanks and headed toward the study, following the signs on the

my hand to knock

really showing up tomorrow?” Ryan asked skeptically. “His best friend’s dead, his girlfriend’s missing – he’s still in the mood for a

guess,” Ryan replied. “How else would he get justice for his friend? Never thought someone like Blake Parker would get killed by his

dying to save his ex-wife’s sister’s kid? So dedicated you’d think the girl

an idiot like Blake Parker all these years, he can’t

tomorrow,

course,” a man’s voice – Vincent – replied. “Blake would’ve been my brother-in-law, wouldn’t

“You were at the press conference today, tomorrow you’ll stand with Thalia at the

be asking who you are by tomorrow afternoon. We’ll fan those

control the

Vincent replied smugly. “We help each other. You take Hartford’s stuff from Henry, I get