Falling For The True Heiress

Sylvia slowly lifted her eyes and stared at her father.

There was no anger on his face, only concern. Somehow, that made his words hurt even more. If he had been angry, she could have argued with him. She could have pushed back against his words.

But the quiet concern in his eyes made it clear that he wasn’t trying to hurt her.

He genuinely believed he was protecting her.

Venny looked between them, his jaw tightening as he watched the tension in the room. "Dad, you’re assuming it won’t work before they’ve even had the chance to try."

Mr. Ashford shook his head slowly. "I’m not assuming anything." He paused, his fingers resting against his knee. "I’m looking at what your sister will be expected to carry."

Sylvia’s eyes dropped again.

Her fingers slowly rubbed against each other in her lap as her mind returned to Amelia. She could still picture her face on the phone just moments ago. The soft smile on her lips. The warmth in her eyes.

You’re always the most beautiful woman on this planet.

The words still echoed in Sylvia’s mind.

She swallowed hard, feeling a tightness settle in her throat.

"But she’s not asking me to choose between her and my family," Sylvia said quietly.

Mr. Ashford looked at her. "I know."

"Then why should I have to choose?" Her voice trembled slightly.

The question hung in the air. Nobody answered immediately.

The low hum of the air conditioner filled the room. Sylvia looked around.

Her brothers were still watching her. No one looked angry, and no one seemed ready to argue with her. But she could see the concern in their eyes, and that concern almost broke her.

She turned back to her father. "I love her."

The words came out softly. Sylvia took a slow breath, trying to steady herself.

"I don’t know what the future will look like." She paused, her fingers tightening together. "But I don’t want to give up on her just because you’re afraid it won’t work."

Mr. Ashford remained silent. His eyes stayed on his daughter, staring at her as though he were seeing something he hadn’t noticed before.

Sylvia’s eyes glistened, but she refused to let the tears fall. "If one day I have to choose between my family and Amelia, then I’ll face that day when it comes."

She lifted her chin slightly and held her father’s gaze. "But I’m not going to break up with her today just because you think we won’t last."

Her voice was quiet, but there was no hesitation in it.

Mr. Ashford looked at his daughter for a long moment.

He noticed the slight trembling of her fingers. The way she was trying so hard to keep her emotions under control. Most of all, he saw the certainty in her eyes.

He finally understood just how serious Sylvia was about Amelia. He let out a slow breath and leaned back against the sofa.

He nodded. "Fine. If that’s what you want, I won’t say anything anymore, then."

Sylvia swallowed. The tension in her shoulders loosened slightly, though the heaviness in her chest remained.

She looked away, blinking quickly before the tears in her eyes could fall.

For a few seconds, nobody moved, then Venny suddenly stood up.

"Hey, little sister." His voice was much lighter now. "Come on. Let me take you out for a date."

Sylvia blinked and looked at him. Before she could answer, Cleric stood up too.

"Hey." He turned toward Venny. "She’s mine today."

Venny’s eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"

Cleric folded his arms across his chest, looking completely serious.

Venny stared at him for a second before scoffing.

"If you don’t know where to fart, then at least close your mouth," Venny said, folding his arms across his own chest as he frowned at Cleric.

Cleric raised an eyebrow.

"Hey," he said and took one step toward Venny.

Venny’s confidence disappeared immediately. He turned and ran toward the other side of the room.

"Hey! Don’t run!" Cleric laughed and followed him.

"You think because you have muscles, you’re going to intimidate me and take my sister away from me?" Venny protested, pointing accusingly at Cleric while keeping a safe distance between them.

Cleric stopped and looked at him. "Come over first."

He lifted one hand and crooked his fingers, gesturing for Venny to come closer.

Venny narrowed his eyes. "Even if I do, you won’t do anything."

He puffed out his chest and walked forward, then jumped slightly as if trying to meet Cleric’s height.

Cleric looked down at him.

Venny immediately pointed at him again. "Don’t look at me like that."

Aldorin couldn’t hold it anymore. A laugh burst from his mouth as he leaned back against the sofa.

"Why are you standing so far away?" he teased. "Go closer first."

Venny turned toward him in disbelief. "Hey, big brother. You should be defending me."

Aldorin laughed even harder. "I’m enjoying the show."

Sylvia covered her mouth, but it was already too late. A soft laugh escaped her.

Within seconds, she was laughing properly, the sound filling the room and washing away the heaviness that had settled there only moments ago.

She watched as Venny continued arguing with Cleric, pointing dramatically while keeping just enough distance to escape if Cleric decided to chase him again.

The tight feeling in Sylvia’s chest eased. Her brothers were still being ridiculous.

But somehow, she was grateful for it.

She looked at them with a warm smile, her eyes still slightly wet from the emotions of moments earlier.

"Fine. I’m not going with anyone," Sylvia said quietly.

Cleric and Venny immediately turned toward her.

"Little sis, why?" Venny asked before pointing at Cleric. "Is it because of this muscle guy?"

Sylvia shook her head, still laughing.

"I want to go back to my girlfriend. I’m missing her already."

"Like, seriously?" Venny scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Can I please breathe a little? I will still have a girlfriend soon."

Everyone burst out laughing. They all knew too well how Venny’s relationships usually ended.

He had a soft heart, and because of that, the girls he dated often took advantage of him. His wealth only made it worse.

Whenever someone asked him for something, he would give it to them without thinking twice. If they needed his help, he would be there immediately. If they wanted something expensive, he would buy it without even asking why.

Venny simply couldn’t say no.

His last relationship had ended badly, and everyone in the family still remembered how heartbroken he had been afterward.

Yet somehow, that hadn’t stopped him from believing that the next girl would be different.

~~~~~ Flashback ~~~~~

"Hey, Nima. How’s your boyfriend?" Nima’s friend, Samanie, asked with a teasing smile.

Nima reached for the glass on the table in front of her and took a sip before setting it down. She looked up at Samanie.

"You mean that girl in a man’s form?" she asked, leaning back in her chair.

Samanie burst out laughing.

"Seriously? Is this the new name you’re using for him now?"

Nima shrugged and picked up her glass again. She took another sip before setting it down.

"Isn’t he?" she said with a smile. "He’s too soft to be called a man."

She leaned closer to Samanie, lowering her voice.

"I’m only with him because of his money and his family connections. Nothing else. I’m just using his soft spot against him and getting whatever I want."

Venny heard everything.

Every single word.

He had arrived at the same restaurant earlier than Nima because Cleric had dragged him there to meet up with his man.

Venny had known when Nima arrived. He had actually wanted to say hi, but when he saw that she was with a friend, he decided to give her some space.

He never expected to hear what came next.

His jaw tightened as his fingers slowly curled into fists.

He sat there silently, listening to every cruel word that came from the woman he thought loved him.

He blinked several times, trying to hold back his tears.

He had genuinely thought Nima was different from the others.

He knew he was soft-hearted. He knew he was too quick to help people and too willing to give.

But that shouldn’t make him less of a man.

If anything, he had always believed that being kind and caring was something to be proud of.

He never thought someone would use it against him.

Venny took a deep breath and held it for a moment. Then he slowly let it out.

He stood up. His legs felt heavier than usual as he walked toward Nima’s table. When he reached them, he stopped in front of the table.

Nima looked up, and her eyes widened.

She glanced at Samanie, then quickly looked back at Venny.

Did he hear what I said?

The thought flashed through her mind.

She immediately tried to stand, probably intending to continue the act, but there was no point anymore.

Venny had already seen through everything. There was no anger in his face, and that somehow made it worse.

"Let’s break up," Venny said quietly.

His voice was steady, but the hurt behind it was impossible to hide.

Nima froze.

And just like that, his twentieth relationship came to an end.

Not with shouting.

Not with a fight.

Just three simple words that left him feeling completely broken.

~~~~~ End Of Flashback ~~~~~

Venny’s face darkened as the memory came rushing back.

For a moment, the laughter around him faded.

He could still remember the feeling of sitting there and realizing that the person he loved had never loved him at all.

"Twentieth relationship?" He looked toward his parents with a tired expression. "I think I officially belong to my parents forever."

His family burst into laughter again.

Before Venny could complain, a male voice suddenly came from the entrance.

"How about I take you instead?"

Everyone turned toward the voice. Venny’s laughter disappeared.

His eyes widened slightly as he looked toward the person walking into the room.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!