Awakening the Hawthorne Name

"Claire, I haven't eaten yet…"

I turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. "Then go eat. Why are you telling me?"

Did he really expect me to be the same as before? To have a home-cooked meal waiting for him, no matter what?

Holding my daughter, I glanced back at him. "Oh, right. If you're hungry, there's a frozen pizza in the fridge. You can heat it up yourself."

The baby fell asleep quickly. After settling her in her crib, I received an email from my father.

"Claire, you've turned me down many times, but I'm not getting any younger. I need you to take over the company for me. Please, do this for your old man."

"I know you don't want Cole to feel like he's been deceived—that the career he's so proud of was actually built on our family's resources. But at the end of the day, you're my only child. If you don't take over, who will?"

A hollow ache echoed in my chest. My parents had sacrificed so much for me, and I had nearly thrown it all away for a man like Cole.

I took a deep breath and typed my reply. "Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm taking over the West Coast project."

Hawthorne Holdings had investments in major corporations across the country. My parents had mentioned many times that they hoped I would take over when they grew older.

But I had always refused—all for the sake of Cole's pathetic pride.

I met Cole in college. He came from a modest family in the Midwest and put himself through university on scholarships and student loans.

He was a hard worker. And his hard work had brought him what most people would call success.

But he never knew that my family had secretly paved every step of his career. Someone with no connections could never have navigated the treacherous waters of the financial world alone.

I thought I had done everything a wife should. I gave up my burgeoning career as an architect in New York City and moved to this boring suburb just so he could feel like the provider, the man of the house.

My father must have sensed something was wrong, because he sent me a text.

"Are you and Cole okay?"

I didn't reply. A moment later, another message came through.

"Claire, whatever you decide, your family is here to back you up."

After dinner, Cole came into the bedroom. I turned my back to him.

"Lily is still so small. It’s easier for me to care for her at night without you in here. You should sleep in the guest room."

In the past, whenever Cole returned from a business trip, I would cling to him, unwilling to be apart for a second.

Now, the sight of him made my stomach turn.

To my shock, he flew into a rage, his voice rising without any regard for our sleeping daughter.

"That's enough! How long are you going to keep this up? I already explained! A week ago, Sienna and I were together for work. This business trip was for work, too—what the hell else am I supposed to do?"

"If I don't work, who supports you? Who supports Lily? Nothing in this life is free! How long are you going to act like a childish, paranoid brat?"

"You're no help with my career! You do nothing but get in my way!"

Oh, yes.

If Cole hadn't brought it up, I might have forgotten just how foolish I'd been.

A week ago, Cole had disappeared for an entire night.

I was burning up with a high fever from a postpartum infection. The doctor advised me to go to the ER immediately, preferably with a family member.

But no matter how many times I called, Cole didn't answer.

Helpless, I called my best friend. She found him in a booth at a high-end bar—with his arm draped around Sienna.

The next day, we had a massive fight in my hospital room.

Cole trotted out the same old excuses, acting as if I were the one overreacting.

"I was drunk. Besides, there were tons of people there—what could have possibly happened between us? You've been so hormonal ever since the pregnancy. Are you sure this isn't postpartum depression?"

"If there was really something going on between Sienna and me, don't you think we would've gotten together years ago? You wouldn't have even been in the picture."

"Sienna even came to the hospital to see you after you gave birth. And this is how you think of her? Maybe you're the one with a twisted mind—always assuming the worst. Stop being so unreasonable."