Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,40

such memories, I say, “No matter how cloudy or sunny the day, I loved to play hide-and-seek with him. One of my tricks was to lie on the grass and remain quiet. I always thought he wouldn’t find me like that.” I let out a quick giggle, but Dad remains silent, replying with just a polite smile. Switching to another subject, I say, “Did you enjoy the evening?”

“It was wonderful. Emma did a great job. I never knew she was so talented at event planning,” he replies, just as calculated as before.

“Yeah, she’s great.” After a few more steps, I decide to cut the bullshit and get straight to the point. “Dad, I need to ask you a favor.”

Dad stops walking, and, looking me straight in the eye, he asks, “What’s going on?”

There aren’t a thousand ways to say it, so I make my request as straightforward as possible. “Can you fly to Rotterdam and let Mom know I don’t want to see her? Like, ever again?”

Dad twitches his head to the side, sighing in exasperation, and maybe also disbelief. “Petra…”

“Please?” I insist. “Can you do that for me? Alex told me she’s planning to visit me soon. Can you go before that?”

Dad’s eyes widen in shock. “You mean, you want me to go to Rotterdam this week?”

“Please tell her I don’t want to talk to her anymore. I wish her well, but I don’t want her in my life.”

But Dad shakes his head, not even bothering to consider my request. “I’ve got a lot to do here.”

“Please,” I plead once more as I take his hands and confront him face-to-face. “It’s really urgent.”

“Petra… She’s your mother. She loves you a lot. I can’t tell her that. She’s going to be devastated.”

“Then tell her to leave me and my fiancé alone,” I press on. “If she does so, I might even invite her to the wedding.”

Dad drops his stare to the ground, drawing in a breath. I know it’s not easy for him to be in the middle of such a fight, but I need him on our side more than ever. His eyes meet mine again, and, after noticing the distress laced in my gaze, he says, “Alright. I will talk to her.”

My brows lift in surprise. “Really?”

“I can’t promise anything,” he admits. “But I will do my best.”

Jumping into his arms, I whisper, “I’m sure you’ll manage. I trust you.”

Chapter 10

Bedford Hills, September 12, 2020

Petra Van Gatt

Mornings have always had a special scent in Bedford Hills, especially when I have to spend the week on Park Avenue and can only be here during the weekends. I’ve noticed there’s always a trace of Alex’s cologne left on the pillows and maybe all over me when I wake up. Slowly stretching my arm over to the left side of the bed, I find nothing but emptiness. Oh God! The hunt! Gasping, I open my eyes wide, my heart already pounding anxiously fast. There is no way I’ll let him kill a poor bear! In a quick move, I leap out of bed, grab my iPhone from the nightstand, and call his number. Since he doesn’t answer, I’ve got to find him and fast. I put on the first pair of jeans and sweater I can get my hands on, no bra— there is no time for that—and after running down the stairs, I start looking around for him while shouting his name. But I get no answer. Nope, nothing. Damn it! I rush to the kitchen in the hope of finding Maria there.

“Ah! Maria,” I call as I find her chopping vegetables. “I need to know where Alex is.”

But Maria doesn’t even bother to look in my direction, and, keeping herself just as focused as always, she just says, “I have no idea, Miss.”

“Of course you do,” I press on. Seeing how she keeps ignoring me, I put my hand on her shoulder, turning her to face me. “Maria…”

“Okay, maybe I do,” she confesses. “But I can’t tell you.” She tries to dodge me, walking toward the fridge to take something from there. Too bad I’m the most stubborn between the two of us.

“Look, the hunt starts in an hour. Please, I need to talk to him.”

“I’m not allowed to tell you where he is,” she admits. “I’m sorry, Miss.”

I’m so furious at the instructions he gave her that I just want to strangle him, but instead, taking a deep breath, I try to keep my temper in check. “Please,”

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