Chapter 86 The Only Heir
Selena's POV
His scorching breath was all around me.
My mind went completely blank.
I could even smell that cool woody scent on him, mixed with the sound of my own heartbeat, pounding like drums, making my eardrums tingle.
I'm done for.
That was the only thought in my head.
I couldn't think, couldn't resist. Physical instinct overwhelmed all reason.
I closed my eyes.
I gave up.
I waited for the kiss that was about to come.
One second.
Two seconds.
Nothing happened.
Instead, there was a crisp, mechanical "click."
Right by my ear.
My eyes flew open.
Royce had already pulled back.
He'd returned to the driver's seat, looking at me with that damn cat-and-mouse smile I knew all too well playing at the corners of his mouth.
The hand that had just been lifting my chin now rested casually on the steering wheel.
And I was now wearing a damn seatbelt.
He had leaned over just to buckle my seatbelt.
"What?" He raised an eyebrow, his voice full of undisguised teasing. "You closed your eyes—were you expecting something, Selena?"
The blood rushed to my head in an instant.
Shame.
Anger.
I hated him.
"Screw off." I forced the words through clenched teeth.
"We're not there yet." His smile deepened, as if my anger was his favorite seasoning.
He started the car.
The black Bentley smoothly merged into traffic.
I turned my head, staring hard out the window. I didn't want to see his hateful face anymore.
My hands clenched into tight fists at my sides.
The car was terrifyingly quiet.
I forced myself not to care.
Finally, that familiar ornate black iron gate appeared in view.
The car stopped smoothly in front of the main building.
I practically unbuckled my seatbelt the instant the car stopped and pushed the door open.
I didn't want to spend another second in the same space as him.
"Selena."
I'd just gotten out when I heard my father's voice.
I froze and looked up.
My father and mother were standing on the steps by the entrance.
Why were they waiting for me here?
Royce also got out. He walked around the front of the car to my side.
Naturally, as if he owned the place, he nodded to my parents.
"Mr. Hart, Mrs. Hart."
My father's expression was serious. He glanced at Royce, then at me. "Come in. We need to talk."
Need to talk?
Royce got it immediately.
"I think this is a family moment," he smiled politely. "I won't intrude."
My father stood and shook his hand.
"Royce, thank you for bringing Selena home."
"My pleasure."
He turned and left.
We walked into the living room.
A servant brought coffee, then quietly withdrew.
In the huge living room, only the four of us remained.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
I sat on a single sofa. Royce sat beside me, posture casual, as if he were the one invited to discuss family matters.
"Selena," my father spoke, breaking the silence. "You handled the Robert situation very well."
I didn't say anything.
"I called a board meeting today and announced the decision regarding Robert and all his cronies. From today on, he has no place whatsoever in Hart Group."
This was all within my expectations.
"But this incident made your mother and me realize something. Hart Group needs a clear, sole heir."
"Your mother and I have decided," his voice was clear and firm, echoing throughout the living room, "we will initiate all legal procedures to formally designate you, Selena Hart, as the sole legitimate heir of the Hart family and Hart Group."
"All future assets and power of Hart Group will be inherited by you alone."
The sole... heir?
My brain buzzed.
I'd returned to this family less than a year ago.
I thought I'd need more time, more achievements, to prove myself.
But they were just handing over a billion-dollar business empire to me, just like that.
This unreserved trust, this heavy love—it was something I'd never experienced in my twenty-plus years of life.
I opened my mouth but couldn't say a word.
My throat felt blocked by something, sour and bitter.
"Dad, Mom..." I finally found my voice. "This is so sudden, I..."
"Not sudden, Selena." My mother gently interrupted me. "This is what you deserve. You're the Hart family's daughter. All of this should be yours."
"We'll hold a press conference soon to announce this decision to the world." My father added.
The next day.
[Exclusive: Hart Group Power Shift! Mysteriously Returned Heiress Selena Hart to Become Sole Heir to Billion-Dollar Empire!]
This explosive headline dominated all major news sections.
Taisia's POV
I was lying in bed, eating chips while scrolling through the latest gossip on my phone.
When I saw that news notification pop up, the smile on my face instantly froze.
"Sole... heir?"
I couldn't believe my eyes. I read that headline again, word by word.
Selena Hart.
Now she was going to become the owner of a business empire she couldn't even dream of?
No.
This was impossible!
Why!
Why did she get to have everything!
While I had to stay in this dump like a sewer rat!
"Ahhh—!"
Like a madwoman, I hurled my phone at the opposite wall.
The phone shattered into pieces the instant it hit the wall.
On the screen, Selena's name also became fragmented.