shrugged. “Would you mind? I could use another cup myself.”
“Sure.” He walked over and leaned closer to kiss her, lingering over her lips. She guessed it was so her father would get the hint that he was more than just an errand boy. “I’ll be back,” he promised her.
“Is that serious?” her father asked when they were alone.
Instead of answering him, she shrugged. “Was what was between you and Bridgett serious?” she countered.
“It is.” Her father’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, was?”
“Dad, Bridgett poisoned you. She’s the reason you’re in here. You almost died.”
Her father shook his head. “No, that can’t be true.”
“I’m assuming she had you change your will?” She felt her stomach roll at the thought.
“No.” He frowned. “She didn’t have me change it, but I was going to do so after the wedding.” He jerked his hand free from hers, and she felt her heart dip. “She enlightened me about all the things you’ve done.”
“Done?” She frowned down at him. “What have I done?”
“You and your little friends. Just like Nora. She came begging for a handout as well. Of course, she didn’t want me to have any say in my own heir. I blame her for ruining you. Had I known that you were a lost cause…” He shook his head. “She spoiled you those first eight years. I believed I could turn you around, but it was obvious that first night when you showed up late for dinner that you were just like her. Wild. Nothing and no amount of money I spent on you would ever tame you.”
“Is that what you tried to do? Tame me?” Her stomach was doing small flips as she looked down at him.
“You were my only heir. It’s a fortune. I needed to make sure that you understood the responsibility that came with the name Smith.” He coughed, then waved her away when she moved to help him sit up a little more. “Over the years all you did was disappoint. First at home, then at school. I thought that forcing you out of the home at eighteen would wake you up.” He shook his head. “But you went and started art school. Art school,” he added in a distasteful tone. “Then you shacked up with those friends of yours. The only responsible one out of the bunch was the Rodgers girl. Of course, she ended up disappointing her parents as much as you disappointed me. But I was magnanimous and offered you a job anyway.” He sighed and rested his head back. “Disappointed me even further.”
At this point she felt her temper build.
“You are my father. The only thing I needed from you, you never gave me.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Nor could you ever offer anyone. You are, without a doubt, the most selfish man I’ve ever known. I was a little girl whose world had been turned upside down, and you were concerned about me being late for dinner?” She realized her voice had risen when he shifted and started to cough.
She wanted to leave him, to watch him suffocate in his own spit, but her kind heart won out and she rushed over and poured him a glass of water and then handed it to him.
He shoved it aside and it spilled onto the ground.
“I’m trying to help you.” She was growing even more frustrated.
“You’re probably the one who poisoned me,” he said firmly just as the door opened and Dr. Williams stepped in.
“Harold.” Dr. Williams rushed over to her father and frowned down at his friend. “It’s thanks to your daughter and Aiden that you’re alive right now. She’s the one who called me and asked me to stop by last night. Aiden is the one who found the poison in your bourbon decanter. The police have interviewed your staff and some of the staff have confirmed that Bridgett had been seen sneaking out of your office earlier yesterday morning. No doubt that is when she slipped the alprazolam into the decanter.”
The doctor handed her father a glass of water and waited until he took a sip.
“Now, the police wanted me to inform them when you are ready to talk to them. However, if you don’t open your eyes to what was really happening, then I’ll have to keep them at bay.” He walked over to touch Aubrey’s arm. “You are indebted to your daughter and Aiden and so am I. Do you know what it would have done to