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!”

out carefully. “However hard your

your dad, but why go after the whole

eyes turned dangerous. I

orange into my hands

rest,” he ordered, walking

slammed behind him, leaving me alone with the TV droning

orange while the news

reporter said, “tomorrow’s wedding at the

close friends are expected

for the ceremony

7/2

Chapter 423

up straight when I spotted mine – paired with Henry Hartford,

my temples. The name Henry Hartford felt familiar, tugging at something buried

temples. Flashes of memory a woman laughing, a stern man in an expensive suit, myself

eased, I got out of bed. I needed

the hall, still unsteady on my feet. The mansion was quiet except for occasional staff footsteps. Turning a corner, I

Ryan Quinn?” I asked, rubbing

almost bowing. “Mr. Quinn is in his

fear flashing across her face. I

and headed toward the study, following

I raised my hand to knock but stopped when I heard Ryan

best friend’s dead, his girlfriend’s missing – he’s still in the

Ryan replied. “How else would he get justice for his friend? Never thought someone like

ex-wife’s sister’s kid? So dedicated you’d think the girl was

of a feather,” Ryan continued. “If Henry Hartford was friends with an idiot like Blake Parker all

tomorrow, right

– replied. “Blake would’ve been

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

We’ll fan those flames,

the

You take Hartford’s stuff from Henry, I get