hapter 7
Chapter 7
Harriet’s POV
In the world of powerful families, handling matters rarely involves shouting or violence.
After leaving the banquet hall, we headed to the Harris family residence.
I had already met Damian‘ s parents at the banquet. They hadn’t said much to me then, but their disdainful looks were hard to miss.
However, once they learned my true identity, I noticed a shift–they were clearly excited but tried their best to keep it under control.
It wasn’t hard to figure out why. They were putting on an air of composure, hoping to appear dignified and avoid being looked down
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upon.
Of course, none of that mattered to me.
The Harris family’s status was so insignificant in my eyes that I couldn’t be bothered to analyze their thoughts.
I sat in their living room, facing Damian‘ s parents. Damian was seated beside me, while Vernon and his entourage had been dismissed to enjoy themselves elsewhere.
In a calm tone, I started, “If the Harris family wants to rise again, that’s fine. Give me two weeks, and I’ll make it happen.”
But before I could continue, Damian‘ s father interrupted, “Actually, we‘ re aiming to enter Washington. We-”
I raised a hand to stop him. “Uncle, I
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understand your desire to bring glory to the
Harris family, but taking too big step can backfire. Progress needs to be gradual.”
Damian’s mother frowned. “If Damian
marries Astrid, the Harris family can enter it immediately through Vernon‘ s connections. Your Armstrong family is more powerful than his–why can’t you make it happen for us?”
Damian looked distressed. “Mom, Dad, let’s listen to Harriet. Don’t push this!”
His mother slammed the coffee table. “So you‘ re already siding with her, and you‘ re not even married yet!” She turned to me with a sneer. “Miss Harriet, let me make myself clear. If you can’t get the Harris family into Washington right away, this marriage is off.”
No wonder the Harris family had fallen.
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These two were utterly shortsighted.
I was about to respond, but Damian squeezed my hand.
He spoke firmly, “Mom, Dad, our family doesn’t belong in its circles. Even if Harriet’s family forced our way in, we’d be looked down on, ignored, or worse, used as a weak spot to attack her family. What we need to do is focus on growing in Denver. Give it ten years, and we ll make it on our own.
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“You‘ re lecturing me? I’m your father!” Damian’s father roared, his face red with
anger.
Damian snapped back, “Dad, if you hadn’t been so stubborn back then, our family wouldn’t have been swindled, wouldn’t have fallen apart, and Grandpa wouldn’t
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have died. When will you learn?”
Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the house.
“Let’s go. They‘ re hopeless. Talking to them is a waste of time.‘
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This was the Damian I knew–decisive and always right.
On the way to the hotel, I asked him about the scam that had brought his family down. He gave me a brief explanation.
It turned out that years ago, someone on the fringes of Washington’s elite circles had tricked his father into investing in a scheme, promising that success would grant them entry into the prestigious social circle.
The whole family had opposed it, but his father insisted on going through with it. In
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the end, they nearly lost everything.
Since then, his father had become obsessed with the idea of joining the elite circle, consumed by the dream of elevating the family’s status.
For many families outside Washington, breaking into that inner circle was more than just ambition–it was an obsession.
But the reality was harsh. Very few ever managed to transition from regional prominence to establishing a foothold in the capital‘ s tightly knit society.
These circles were inherently exclusive, and the capital’s elite guarded their resources jealously, unwilling to share with outsiders.
Every year, however, there were individuals from Washington who dangled the promise of
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entry as bait, luring in desperate families.
Take Vernon, for instance. His target was the Holden family.
From the outside, Astrid‘ s family seemed like the wealthiest in Denver. But in truth, their fortune was just a façade–most of their earnings were funneled straight into
Vernon‘ s pockets.
