I’d see him at school, be surrounded by strangers who were all going to be whispering about me behind my back. Hell, Maria was popular. Cain, too, from what Adam had said. Maybe I’d get the blame for what had happened. These rich bastards all stuck together, didn’t they?
I gnawed on my bottom lip. “I wish they’d just left me alone,” I whispered.
Linden seemed to sense where my mind was running. “The family’s come under great scrutiny, miss. With Cain doing what he did, and other things coming out about him—” What other things? I knew he was fucking one of the teachers. Had that come out? Wouldn’t the blame have shifted onto the teacher though? Not him? “There have been arguments, and that’s no word of a lie.” He wagged his finger. “Restitution had to be made to save face, but Mr. Robert is a good man. He’s just absent. And, I hate to say it, but they’re very wealthy people, miss. And you and I both know that in this world, that’s what it takes to get anywhere.
“So, as I’d say to my own daughter if she was here and hadn’t gone to visit her grandparents in Ireland, take everything you can get. Don’t be grasping, don’t be greedy. Work hard, but if they offer you something, take it. Take advantage of the opportunities they give you, because while Mr. Adam was certain you had success in your future, his family can make it happen.”
My brow puckered. “What do you mean?”
“It’s in their best interest for you to be a success,” he advised. “Don’t forget that, miss.”
Despite myself, my lips curved. “I think you can call me Thea.”
That was no longer Adam’s name.
It didn’t belong to him.
It belonged to me, and I was taking back ownership of it.
“If you’re okay with that, Miss Thea, I will. But not when the family is around.” He tapped his nose. “Mrs. Anna wouldn’t like that.”
I could well imagine. Having spoken with her now, one-on-one, she looked finicky and like she was inordinately difficult to please. Everything about her was pristine, even in the middle of a meltdown. The creases in her pants, the cleverly applied makeup, the perfect hair. She was nauseating to be around.
Ever since Louisa, my ability with auras had been on the blink, but instinct told me that, not unlike her son, her aura would be malevolent. She was better at hiding it though. Had years to camouflage what she was—a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The thought, along with the fact I was about to move under the wolf’s roof—had nerves taking residence in my stomach.
A little dazed by his advice as well as my thoughts, I whispered, “Thank you, Linden.” His kindness meant more to me than I thought he’d ever know.
“Peter, Thea. And my wife is Janice, don’t forget.”
“I won’t.” And I didn’t.
Janice was kind, just as much as Peter, and they both took me under their wing. Especially on the first day of school.
When I came face-to-face with the one person whom I should never have to worry about seeing.
Adam.
He looked drawn. Miserable. In fact, he looked just as drawn and as miserable as I felt on the inside.
He didn’t look at me.
If anything, he looked past me, and that hurt more than anything else.
I knew why though. Knew why he couldn’t share a glance with me, because if he did, the truth would be revealed.
The way he’d betrayed me, the way he’d betrayed us, would be rammed home.
And that was something I’d never forgive him for.
THEA
I smiled as the gold medal settled around my neck, but inside I felt dead.
I felt no joy, not right then. I was hurting so deep inside that nothing would ever heal it, and I had no choice but to move on. To just carry on and make the best of things.
Like I’d always done.
Luckily for me, I no longer had to worry about a new home, food in my belly, or a roof over my head.
I was rich.
I had earned my future, and I deserved for it to be brighter than the past.
When the national anthem blared loud and proud, and the crowd screamed their joy, I didn’t sing along. I just moved my lips like I was singing, and instead, sought him in the stands.
Of course, he wasn’t there.
Hatred for him entwined with the lingering love that was my curse to bear as I found Anna and Robert and, like he’d said he would be, he was