“I don’t need any of this bullshit! I’m tired of being the only one who cares about the future of this family! Phoenix, I thought I could trust you. I thought you were the guy to look up to and to model myself after. But you’re not. You’re just like Dad and Jase. All sitting fucking ducks!” I shout. “Well, guess what? I’m so done with this life! I’m walking away for good. I’m taking my fucking life back!”
Chapter 21
Charlotte
“Special delivery!” I hear my mom sing out as she walks into my bedroom where I am trying to study for my French exam. I wasn’t nearly as prepared for it as I wanted to be. Monday was coming up quickly and I needed to get back on track with everything. School hasn’t been enough of a priority in my shit storm of a life, but that needs to change immediately.
Throwing my pencil down into my book to hold my place, I slam it shut and jump up to meet my smiling mother in the middle of the plush carpeting. She’s holding a huge white dress box with a beautiful blue ribbon wrapped around it.
“I can’t believe they were able to get it here in time,” I elate, taking the package to unwrap it on my bed.
“With the amount of money our family has spent in that store over the years, I am surprised it didn’t show up last night,” she giggles a little, watching as I pull the navy garment out. “That’s stunning.”
I eye the elegant dress gripped in my hands for a few seconds. “It really is, isn’t it?”
“You’re going to be the most beautiful woman in that library tonight.” Her hand lands on my shoulder making my skin ignite. After talking to my father the night before, I shut down. I turned off my phone and let my mind get lost for the fifth time on the Pequod in search of a white whale. It was a nice escape, but it was fleeting. Standing there with my mother, everything flooded back and I knew that I couldn’t keep anything from her any longer.
As my face twists from a bright smile into a furrow of complete terror, my mother eyes me up and down.
“Honey? What is it?” Sinking onto the bed, she pats the luxurious comforter to her right.
I push the box back and lay out the dress at the head of my bed. Taking my seat next to her, I sigh. “I’m worried about tonight,” I admit, not able to meet my mother’s concerned gaze.
“Worried? Why? It’s going to be wonderful. It’s about time this family threw a function. I have really missed having them.”
“Has dad talked to you at all?” My voice cracks as I try to find the words to actually explain what in the hell is going on. Even though I don’t know everything. I know enough to be worried as fuck about even breathing right now.
“Talked to me about what? Char, what is going on?”
As her dainty fingers grab around my wrist, I finally look at her. “Someone has been following me. He has shown up a bunch of times. He was at my accident. He told me that Andrew was murdered. Dad said that he is just trying to scare me to get to him and mess with our heads because of some kind of business deal. I am just so scared, Mom. I really don’t know what to think about any of this.”
My head falls onto her shoulder as tears spring from my eyes. She pulls me close, holding me for a moment. As the back of her fingers brush over my cheek, I feel her shudder a bit. She sucks in a deep breath, forcing it out slowly.
“You know that you have nothing to worry about. Your father will protect you.” Her voice is shaky as she tries to comfort me.
“Is it true? Was Andrew’s accident not really an accident?” I pull away, looking into my mother’s eyes as they grow wide. Her lips tremble a little as tears fill her eyes.
“Your brother was killed in a car accident and that is the truth. There was no conspiracy, no murderous plot. You have to trust your father on this one. This man is just trying to scare you. Don’t let it work. Horrible men are all around us. They are jealous of our success and money. It is something that this family is no stranger to, but mark my words,