GREEDY

Chapter 7

In the study, Oliver Norton sat calmly, taking in the writings on the document before him. He sensed Riley's presence and ushered her in with a warm smile. "Ah, Riley, dear, please come in."

Riley hadn't sat down yet when her phone rang, shrill in the silence. She apologized to Oliver and answered the call. Ruby Garrett's panicked voice was on the other end. "Riley, it's Dad... he's been admitted to the hospital. He had a heart attack."

Riley's face fell, and she quickly excused herself. "I'm so sorry, Grandpa. I need to go," she said, already hurrying out of the study. Oliver Norton's concerned voice followed her. "Riley, dear, please be careful. Let me know if there's anything I can do."

Riley rushed to the hospital, her mind racing with thoughts of her father's condition. As she rushed into the hospital, the antiseptic smell and beeping machines created a sense of urgency. She quickened her pace, her heart racing with every step.

When she arrived, she found Ethan lying on the sickbed, his blonde hair now gray with only a few streaks of its original color. He looked frail and weak.

"Dad, what happened? What caused the heart attack?" Riley asked, her voice soft. Ethan's breathing was labored, but he managed to explain.

"The company's debts... they're increasing by the day. I need the first round of financing from the Nortons, Riley. Please, you have to make it happen." Riley's eyes narrowed, a mix of emotions swirling inside her.

She still loved her father, despite his flaws and selfishness. "It's still in progress, Dad. I'll try to hurry it up," she said, trying to reassure him. Ethan's breathing became more complicated, and Riley knew she had to act fast.

She pulled out her phone and sent a text to Atlas. "I need a picture of the contract for the first round of financing with your signature on it. Please send it ASAP." Atlas wasn't surprised by Riley's request. He thought to himself, She's still manipulating me, just like she's manipulating my grandfather.

He sent the image to Riley, wondering what she planned to do with it. Riley showed the image to Ethan, who smiled weakly. "Thank you, Riley. You're the best daughter a man could ask for," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.

Riley's expression remained neutral, but inside, she seethed with anger. She knew her father was using her for his own gain, and it hurt her deeply. She left the hospital, her emotions in turmoil.

As she walked out, Ruby stared at her back with disdain. Riley didn't notice, her mind preoccupied with her father's condition and her own emotions.

On her way out, Riley overheard Zoey and Isaac talking in hushed tones. They were standing in a quiet corner, their heads bent together. "I'm scared, Isaac," Zoey whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

"What if our families find out? What if they don't accept our child?" "We'll face that together, Zoey," Isaac replied, his voice reassuring. "We'll get married before the baby is born, and we'll make sure our families understand our situation."

Riley's eyes snapped wide as the truth dawned on her. Zoey and Isaac were keeping their pregnancy a secret from both their families. Zoey's eyes narrowed, catching Riley's presence, her voice barely above a whisper. 'You won't breathe a word, will you, Riley?' Riley felt a pang of guilt for knowing Zoey's secret. She hesitated, unsure if she should keep the truth hidden.

But Riley remembered Zoey's ruthless determination to protect herself in the past and decided to keep quiet.

"It's none of my business," she said, turning to leave.

As she walked away, Riley received a call from the majordomo of the Aquashire mansion. "Missus Garrett, I need you to come to the mansion immediately. It's an emergency," the majordomo said, his voice urgent.

Riley's heart skipped a beat. What could be happening at the mansion? She agreed to go, her mind racing with possibilities. With a sense of urgency, Riley set off on the two-hour drive to the Aquashire mansion.

As Riley stepped out of her car, the Aquashire mansion loomed before her, its grandeur both impressive and intimidating. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she approached the entrance, the heavy wooden doors creaking open with an eerie slowness.

Riley took a deep breath, feeling a sense of awe wash over her. She had been to many grand estates before, but there was something about the Aquashire mansion that left her speechless.

With a sense of curiosity, Riley stepped into the mansion. The massive wooden doors swung open, revealing a warm, golden light that spilled out onto the driveway.

Riley's eyes adjusted to the light, and she saw the majordomo standing in the foyer, his expression solemn. "Welcome, Missus Garrett," he said, his voice low and dignified. "Please, come in. We've been expecting you."

As Riley entered the master bedroom, she was struck by the sea of gift bags and wraps that covered every available surface. The middle-aged servant who had led her to the room handed her a refreshing drink before explaining that the gifts were wedding presents from acquaintances of Atlas Norton's, a who's who of Northdesh's elite.

With the staff still on holiday break, Riley reluctantly began to unpack the multitude of gifts. Just as she was making progress, her phone buzzed with a message from Hazel. "Where are you? I went to your house and you weren't there!" Riley could almost see the concern etched on her best friend's face, and she couldn't help but chuckle.

She quickly typed out a response, letting Hazel know that she was at the Aquashire mansion. Hazel's next message requested that they meet up at her casino in Aquashire.

Meanwhile, Atlas arrived in Aquashire, having been informed by Senior Norton that Riley was already at the mansion. Eager to clear the air, Atlas postponed his scheduled meeting until the evening and headed straight to the mansion.

As Riley finished organizing the room, she glanced out the window to see a sleek black Sudan gliding up the driveway. Her eyes widened in alarm. What was he doing here? Grabbing her handbag and phone, Riley hastily exited the room and rushed into the hallway.

The majordomo's expression turned puzzled as he watched Riley hurry out of the room. "Is everything alright, Missus Garrett?" he asked, concern etched in his voice.

Riley swiftly concocted an excuse, citing a sudden need for some fresh air. "I think I'll take a walk outside," she said, gesturing toward the door at the far end of the hall. The majordomo promptly escorted her to a cozy guest room, slightly apprehensive that she might find it too modest.

However, to his surprise, Riley didn't utter a word of complaint. As soon as the door closed behind her, she leaned against it, letting out a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Atlas's gaze fell upon the luxurious car parked in the lot. A hint of disdain crossed his face as he assumed that Riley had squandered three million dollars from the first round of financing on the extravagant vehicle. "Greedy," he thought to himself. Dismissing the issue for the time being, Atlas stepped into the mansion.