Secretary’s your New mom? Great—Here's Your New Family Package Deal - Chapter 22: Chapter 22
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Yeah, everyone thought Alaric was the best I could ever get.
Ivy League education, old money family, movie-star looks.
But they all seemed to forget—I graduated summa cum laude from Columbia with a degree in AI and machine learning. I was the one who skipped three grades and got called a "tech prodigy" by Forbes when I was barely twenty.
During my sophomore year in New York, I filed for multiple AI patents on my own.
Before I even graduated, I'd founded what became one of the country's leading AI companies with a few classmates. I still own sixty percent of AskIQ.
Getting into a family like the Marchands?
That didn't happen because of my deadbeat, gambling-addict father or by playing some ditzy innocent act.
I earned my damn way in.
On the drive home, Viviana called.
"Hey, there's a high school reunion tonight. You coming?"
We'd all gone to the same prep school here in Manhattan. Our old crew got together every year around this time.
Figured since I was about to start a whole new chapter, I should say goodbye properly. So I told her I'd be there.
At eight-thirty, I showed up at the address Viv had texted—room 603 at the Platinum Club.
Right away, people started asking where Alaric was.
Someone laughed it off: "Come on, when has Mr. Hotshot CEO ever shown up to one of these things?"
That's when this woman sitting in the corner let out this snide little snort.
"Actually, Alaric's here tonight. I just saw him next door playing white knight—blocking shots for some little college girl."
"Damn, Isolde, sounds like your perfect husband's cheating. Guess your golden days are over, huh?"
I knew exactly who was talking—Camille Ashford.
She'd been my biggest competition all through high school, always coming in second place to me.
She'd actually thrown herself at Alaric before we got together.
When he chose me instead, she decided I'd "stolen" him from her and held a grudge ever since.
Now she finally had her chance for payback.
Everyone else immediately jumped to my defense:
"Bullshit! Alaric's completely obsessed with Isolde. That man would die before he'd cheat!"
"I don't buy it either. Remember how hard he pursued her back in the day? When Isolde got in that accident, Alaric lost his damn mind!"
"And when his parents tried to break them up by cutting off his trust fund, he worked at McDonald's for a month just to buy her a birthday present."
They kept listing all the ways Alaric used to love me.
All those memories flashing through my mind like some cruel highlight reel.
Their disbelief just pissed Camille off more. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
"You don't believe me? Fine! Let's go check out the room next door!"
"Hell yeah, let's go! We're not scared of your drama, Camille."
"Come on, Isolde, let's go shut her up once and for all!"
Someone grabbed my arm, trying to drag me along to prove Camille wrong.
But I couldn't move.
Because I knew damn well that Camille might be telling the truth.
Viviana started to jump in and make some excuse for me, but when Camille saw me frozen in place, she crossed her arms with this smug look.
"Oh my God, what's wrong, Isolde? Are you actually scared?"
"I always knew girls like you—always scheming and manipulating to get what you want—would lose everything in the end. Looks like karma's finally catching up with you!"
Just then, the door swung open from the outside.
Ivy League education, old money family, movie-star looks.
But they all seemed to forget—I graduated summa cum laude from Columbia with a degree in AI and machine learning. I was the one who skipped three grades and got called a "tech prodigy" by Forbes when I was barely twenty.
During my sophomore year in New York, I filed for multiple AI patents on my own.
Before I even graduated, I'd founded what became one of the country's leading AI companies with a few classmates. I still own sixty percent of AskIQ.
Getting into a family like the Marchands?
That didn't happen because of my deadbeat, gambling-addict father or by playing some ditzy innocent act.
I earned my damn way in.
On the drive home, Viviana called.
"Hey, there's a high school reunion tonight. You coming?"
We'd all gone to the same prep school here in Manhattan. Our old crew got together every year around this time.
Figured since I was about to start a whole new chapter, I should say goodbye properly. So I told her I'd be there.
At eight-thirty, I showed up at the address Viv had texted—room 603 at the Platinum Club.
Right away, people started asking where Alaric was.
Someone laughed it off: "Come on, when has Mr. Hotshot CEO ever shown up to one of these things?"
That's when this woman sitting in the corner let out this snide little snort.
"Actually, Alaric's here tonight. I just saw him next door playing white knight—blocking shots for some little college girl."
"Damn, Isolde, sounds like your perfect husband's cheating. Guess your golden days are over, huh?"
I knew exactly who was talking—Camille Ashford.
She'd been my biggest competition all through high school, always coming in second place to me.
She'd actually thrown herself at Alaric before we got together.
When he chose me instead, she decided I'd "stolen" him from her and held a grudge ever since.
Now she finally had her chance for payback.
Everyone else immediately jumped to my defense:
"Bullshit! Alaric's completely obsessed with Isolde. That man would die before he'd cheat!"
"I don't buy it either. Remember how hard he pursued her back in the day? When Isolde got in that accident, Alaric lost his damn mind!"
"And when his parents tried to break them up by cutting off his trust fund, he worked at McDonald's for a month just to buy her a birthday present."
They kept listing all the ways Alaric used to love me.
All those memories flashing through my mind like some cruel highlight reel.
Their disbelief just pissed Camille off more. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
"You don't believe me? Fine! Let's go check out the room next door!"
"Hell yeah, let's go! We're not scared of your drama, Camille."
"Come on, Isolde, let's go shut her up once and for all!"
Someone grabbed my arm, trying to drag me along to prove Camille wrong.
But I couldn't move.
Because I knew damn well that Camille might be telling the truth.
Viviana started to jump in and make some excuse for me, but when Camille saw me frozen in place, she crossed her arms with this smug look.
"Oh my God, what's wrong, Isolde? Are you actually scared?"
"I always knew girls like you—always scheming and manipulating to get what you want—would lose everything in the end. Looks like karma's finally catching up with you!"
Just then, the door swung open from the outside.
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