Billionaire Wolf's MateDate - Serena Meadows Page 0,14

with.”

Reggie had to take a deep breath before he spoke. “If what you’re referring to is me taking my place on the council, that won’t be happening,” he said, throwing out his plan to be cooperative. “I’ve only come here today to tell you that there’s no need for you to petition the council to reinstate my marriage contract. I won’t be bound by something I had no say in.”

After another long silence, his father said, “I anticipated we might have these problems, so I’m going to forgive your insolence for now. The council will be meeting in a few days; you can plead your case in front of them. Until then, you will behave with all the dignity your position requires. Your old bedroom is ready for you. We still dress for dinner, and I’ll expect you in the front parlor for drinks.”

Reggie knew he’d been dismissed when his father picked up a stack of papers in front of him and began to read. Getting to his feet, he debated telling his father to go to hell, but Janice popped into his mind, and instead, he walked out of the study, his head held high, knowing that then wasn’t the time to fight.

***Janice***

Janice watched out the window charmed by the countryside around her, thinking that it did remind her of Stoney Bridge. When they turned off the little two-lane highway and started up the dirt road, her stomach filled with butterflies. Suddenly nervous, she began to question her rash decision to come here, wondered if she was making a mistake like Jacob said.

She looked over at him but he stared straight ahead, his jaw tight with tension, the veins on his neck sticking out. “Do you really think it’s going to be that bad?” she asked. “You’re so tense, I can see it from here.”

Jacob finally looked over at her. “I’m afraid that you’re taking on more than you can handle, Janice,” he said. “I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”

She didn’t believe him, knew that he was hiding something, but the house came into view before she could challenge him. At first, all she could see was bits and pieces of the house, a glimpse of a window, a little bit of brick covered with vines and moss, but then they came out of the trees and she got her first glimpse of her father’s home. What had been excitement quickly turned into disappointment and confusion when she saw the dilapidated house and overgrown grounds.

Even after the car had come to a stop, she stared at the boarded-up windows, crumbling rock walls, and the garden, which was slowly being taken over by the forest around it. She looked over at Jacob, who shrugged, then got out of the car, came around, and opened her door, his silence just as confusing as the state of the estate.

“This house has been in our family for generations, but it takes a lot of money to keep it running, and I’m afraid over the years, we’ve had to cut some corners,” Jacob finally said. “Only a fraction of the house is livable right now. I’ve tried to talk father into selling it or even tearing it down and starting over, but he insists on keeping it.”

A shiver of apprehension ran through her, one she couldn’t explain, and the feeling that she’d made a mistake came roaring back, but she pushed it aside just as the front door opened. A well-dressed older couple came out of the big wooden double doors. The woman had a huge smile on her face, but the man didn’t look at all happy, a frown betraying his feelings.

Before they even reached them, Janice caught a whiff of expensive perfume in the air, then she was suddenly enveloped in the woman’s arms and the smell became almost overpowering. Crushed in the woman’s arms, she could do nothing but stand there, her arms to her sides, trying not to sneeze and choke.

“Oh, Soph... Janice, you have no idea how long we’ve been looking for you,” the woman said, releasing her to look at her. “I’m so happy you’re finally home.”

Jacob stepped up next to her. “Janice, this is our step-mother, Betty,” he said.

“And this is your father,” Betty said, beaming at her. “He’s missed you so much all these years. You’re all he ever talked about.”

She heard Jacob suck in a deep breath, but he stayed silent as her father stepped up and awkwardly put his arms around her. “It’s