From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace novel Chapter 53

Things were getting tense, and Jim looked at Finn with growing anxiety, silently begging him to step in and say something.

Finn honestly hadn’t planned to get involved. But after hearing the recording Jared had, it was clear Fabian was mixed up in this, and Finn didn’t want things to get any messier. That was the only reason he agreed to come. Still, he hadn’t expected these parents to suddenly change their stance.

He cleared his throat, trying to break the ice. “Um… can I say something?”

Everyone went quiet immediately, all eyes on him. Finn’s reputation spoke for itself, and nobody wanted to cross him.

He rose from his seat, offering a gentle, almost fatherly smile. “Laurinda, would you mind having a quick word with me in private?”

Finn figured that since he and Laurinda had met a few times before, and considering her old relationship with Fabian, she’d at least hear him out.

“No.”

She shot him down without a second’s hesitation. For Laurinda, Finn had zero leverage.

Her blunt refusal caught Finn off guard. He felt a wave of embarrassment, but he managed to keep his friendly smile in place. “Sorry, maybe I was out of line. It’s just, we’ve known each other for a while. You and Fabian were pretty close back then…”

He was trying to use Fabian as a bridge, but he had no idea that just mentioning Fabian only made Laurinda more annoyed.

She cut in, not even letting him finish. “Finn, you don’t have to play the friend card with me. I’m not part of the Austin family anymore, and I have absolutely nothing to do with the Gates family. If you want to talk about marriage arrangements or whatever, you should go find Laura. She’s the Austin heiress now.”

“But since we’re on the topic, let me ask you for a favor. I wish your son and his girlfriend all the best, but please don’t drag me into their story.”

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