Chapter 26

Holding the contract documents in her hands, Hailey was going through a whirlwind of emotions at this moment. “Trust me,” Lilian said to her, “it may seem like such a horrible thing right now, but maybe someday you’ll be glad you held onto it. As I mentioned earlier, you are now part of this family, our own flesh and blood. We will now share all of its triumphs and defeats. I won’t use a piece of paper to bind you. I hope in all your endeavors, you will consider the best interests of the Harvey family.”

Everyone present clearly heard the matriarch’s words, interpreting them in their own unique ways. Hailey stared at the infernal contract that had so abruptly found its way back to her. For a long moment, she stared blankly. Then she looked bewildered at the older adult woman she called “grandmother,” her heart in turmoil. She had thought of her grandmother as an outdated relic steeped in rigid tradition, but the older adults matriarch had been willing to try anything to help her grandd