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Hayley's heart was racing as she sat waiting for Austin's arrival Knowing that Maddie was herthat her love for Austin should no longer be forbidden She sat hoping that he had not forgotten his earlier feelings for her

She heard Maddie open the front door and escort Austin into the room She asked him to sit down next to Hayley

Cedric stood beside Maddie and took her by the hand as they both sat down opposite the young couple

"Hayley, I want you to listen to everything I have to say before you speak"

"I will listen, Father?"

His hand squeezed Maddie's while she stared at the floor "Ilady and wanted to marry her, but my father would have not approved, because she was not born to a wealthy family I decided that I didn't care if row to accept her

We wereI went to hie

He insisted that I have the e annulled, or I would lose my inheritance When I refused, he told me a story that I will share with you

My father had asked a lady froston fae fleet of ships and a huge estate on Areed toestablishreed to loanbusiness

My father signed the agree, my mother found a copy of the contract, and noticed in fine print that Mr Hamilton would receive every penny of ered that he had been duped, he confronted Mr Hamilton and asked him to release him from the contract and write a new one

When he refused, ed that his son would be allowed to reed but threatened to ruin hireeed hter Adelaide and fulfill the agreereed to hter, Caroline A short tiave birth to a baby"

Cedric cleared his throat "After the baby died, I rushed to Kingston and found that iven birth