12:09 Sun, 13 Apr
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
“You have no right to tell me which woman I can choose.” Ethan growls, the anger in his voice making me diver.
His secretary wipes at her tears. She had to know this was coming. There are so many women around Ethan I mean, he’s momentarily interested in me, but she should remember he’s a billionaire with everything. He could snap his fingers and have any woman he wants
Being around Ethan every day imust’ve given her a false sense of hope. Either that or the’s delusional, but I don’t think hanging all over Ethan and screeching like a hansher will make him want to be with her
“I need to get back to work.” Ethan says calmly as if the woman isn’t a puddle at his feet.
“Do you need a car?” Ethan asks, and I only realize he’s speaking to me when he leans close
“Um, no. My friend dropped me off,” I say. I’d forgotten about Isla offering to pick me up, so I pull out my phone and inwardly curse. Three missed calls and a text message. The timestamp tells me the message was sent nearly three hours ago saying she’d gotten a flat tire and couldn’t pick me up.
“There’s a car out front waiting to take you home
“ME” I ask, surprised. I knew he wouldn’t offer to take me home, but I also didn’t think he’d call me a car. Ethan confirms there is a car sitting out front by showing me the notification.
After saying our goodbyes, we part ways, and I head out
“Look who decided to show up,” my stepmother, Megan, croons as I walk into the house. Her dissatisfied gaze finds me the moment I enter, watching me walk toward them. Jack and Jessica turn to glare at me too.
Unfortunately, I have to walk past them to get to the safe.
“I’m just grabbing something and leaving,” I state before turning and heading toward the hallway.
Of course, that wasn’t enough for them because Jessica stands and blocks my path. Her bony finger pokes into my shoulder, and her bright red lips curl back in a sneer.
“What could you possibly need, Fiona?” She asks, pushing me again. I stumble a bit but stand straight. “Haven’t you already found someone rich? Why not let Ethan settle everything for you?” Her mother perks up at this question and walks over.
Jessica glances at her mother then faces me, saying “Or have you already been dumped?”
Rage bubbles up in my gut as she cackles. Wanting to ignore Jessica and get out of here quickly, I step around her, but Megan grabs me by the arm.
“Did he put you out with the rest of the trash this morning?”
“You should worry about yourselves first,” I snap back then shove her hand away. “The only trash I’ve seen today is you.”
The moment the words leave my mouth, Jack jumps in to defend his mistress. He gets between the three of us and narrows his eyes.
No doubt he believes I’m the one in the wrong here, like last night.
Like always.
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“Do not talk to my woman
ccloure and closer until he’s in my fire. “Was never should have
gone to that party last night and faunted your affair to embarrass me I step back, but the wall is to near, and fedorance. let g
He cages me against the wall
“I work with those people. What are they going to think about me now that they know my wife has been sleeping around And with my hosal
Turning my head, I flinch away at the volume and the rage. If anyone shredd be angry here, it’s me
“Acheater like you has no right to accuse me of anything I spit, poaching back at him “You tamed this Jack, so get used to it I’m not your little toy to play with as you see fitt
My stepmother laughs, and 1 look at her. She shakes her head like she’s disappointed, before adding in her opinion, “You’re climbed the social ladder, yet you didn’t buy your father the luxury car he wanted Last month She risks. “Selfish as ever.”
“Selfish?”
“You’re the most selfish bitch ever,” Jack accuses, curling his hands into fists at his side.
I shrink back at the never–ending insults, unable to keep up with their attacks. They may not be physical attacks, but they spit insult after insult, leaving no room for me to get a word in
“Enough” A loud voice booms through the room. We all turn to find my father stepping out of his office.
“Sir-
“I won’t allow you to bully my daughter in front of me,” my father declares. He walks over and takes my hand, pulling me away from Jack. Jessica, and Megan.
Relief washes over me when I get out of the danger zone created by people I used to trust. My father hasn’t always been helpful, but at this moment, he’s here just in time. Any later, and Jack may have used those clenched fists instead of his
words.
We were happy at one point, I thought, but seeing Jack so heated makes me wonder. Was our happy life ever real?
“Step back. Jack,” my father warns as 1 stand at his side. The protective tone makes my heart squeeze when I remember how much time he used to spend with me and my mother. We were a happy family when I was a kid. ‘It’s not like that anymore.
Since mom died and Megan and Jessica came into the picture, I’ve been set aside like the less shiny, old toy.
“Daddy, you shouldn’t take her side.”
I roll my eyes at my whiny stepsister. She’s always like this, pulling the attention to her as if she’s more important than everyone.
“And why shouldn’t he?” I ask, glaring at my stepsister. “He’s my dad.”
“Fiona has caused too much trouble,” Jessica says, scurrying to my father’s side and curling in close. “But me? I’ve been working hard to make you proud! I’ve made $50,000 from my small investment the other day in the XX Project and can make us even more money. When I cash out, 111 buy you that car you want, Daddy.”
“That’s
‘s great, pumpkin,” my father says, immediately forgetting about the bullying when money is mentioned. “I’m proud of you.”
The words hit me right in the gut, I can’t remember the last time my father said something kind to me. Any time he talks to me lately, it’s about how I can do better or change. I haven’t heard him say he’s proud of me in years.
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Chapter 10
“Proud of her I scoff “Dad you shouldn’t invest in the XX Project The XX Project has been under scrutiny lately for possible animal endangerment
“As if we’d take your advice,” Jessica snaps. “Daddy, I plan to invest $100,000 in the XX Project. I know this one is a good one,” she adds. Enther she doesn’t care about the charges or she doesn’t know about them.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I mutter. If she doesn’t know, I won’t be the one to tell her. She can go down with her sinking ship for all 1 care.
“Let’s all get along. We’re family after all,” my father says, waving his hands to placate all of us.
“Family! My husband was taken from me, my inheritance is gone, and I can’t understand how you’re okay with this,” I shout, turning to my father. “Dad, can you be my witness for court?”
He watches me with slightly confused and barely interested eyes as he shakes his head.
“Sorry, honey. I don’t know the details, and your mother didn’t leave me much, so I can’t”
His words and the happy family mask fall away. Nothing was about me, and I realize he never meant to help.
Without another word, I turn and march up the stairs to his office. The group below laughs happily as if they weren’t just tearing my heart to shreds. Were other families unfeeling like this?
It doesn’t matter. As soon as I find the will. I’m out.
Opening the safe, I sift through the papers until I find the yellow folder at the bottom. I grab the file, shut the safe, and rush out of the office. If I move fast enough-
“What is that, Fiona?” Megan pauses, narrowing her eyes. It takes her two seconds before she’s on her feet and rushing at me. “You can’t take that!” She panics and reaches for the file, but I dodge and make for the door.
I’m only a few steps outside when my stepmother grabs me by the arm, and she yanks me back. The file flies through the air and hits the ground as she shoves me.
Like the file, I slam to the concrete.
Pain shoots up my hands while I scramble across the ground. Before I can reach the file, her hand is pulling hair. My scalp burns, and I cry out, raking my fingernails over her hand.
As I struggle to get my stepmother off me, a black Camaro pulls up to the house, stopping in front of it. I don’t have time to think about the car before Megan kicks me to the ground and plants her foot on my back.
I scramble forward, grab the file, and slide it beneath me to where she can’t get it. She can pull all my hair out, but she’s not touching this file.
“Get off of her!” Ethan yells, climbing out of his car.
My stepmother gasps, and suddenly, more weight is pushing me to the ground. I groan and drop my head, pushing her up to get her off me.
Then the weight is gone.
“Ethan,” I mumble and look up to find him standing above me.
Pushing myself up on my knees, I glance between Ethan and his car. There’s no way he could cover twenty feet in two
seconds.
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Chapter 11
