Chapter 27
Seconds pass so slowly that my thoughts swirl in my head, my erratic pulse thundering in my ears.
The longer Cassandra looks at me, saying nothing, my composure falters, and nerves eat at me like starving termites in a dying trunk. I grip the arm of the chair for support. I sense that whatever she reveals will change my life forever. It’s like the air is thickening, so much so that I nearly choke on it.
Her mouth finally opens. “Before my mother died, we had a lot of in-depth talks. Some pleasant, most not. You were a recurring subject.”
Me? Why? I don’t understand . I remain perfectly still, aware that I will soon learn why Grandmother treated me like she did. While the wound in my heart pulses, it has become bearable with time.
“You represented the epitome of what she thought was wrong with my generation,” Cassandra explains, her voice tinged with sorrow.
She must notice my confused expression because she lets out a deep sigh. “The effect, more precisely. She saw you as the greatest failure of her leadership. My mother took that personally.”
Grandmother despised failure. She raised us to be faultless, drilling into us how exactly we had to behave and what our duties were.
“And because they lied to her.”
“Who?” I ask so low it’s a scrappy, almost inaudible sound.
“Your mother, Andrew, Felix, and Caleb.”
It doesn’t go unnoticed that she referred to my father not by his role but by his name.
She stands up, her gaze fixed on the window for a moment before her eyes, brimming with sympathy, meet mine. This is the second time I’ve seen her like this—so overcome by emotions.
“Andrew is not your biological father.”
The air leaves my lungs as I collapse back into the armchair, my legs no longer able to support me.
Her reply plays on repeat in my head while I try to arrange those thoughts into something that makes sense. Nothing will ever be the same. My world is crumbling, and I don’t know how to piece it back together. Breathing out a long breath, I realize that knowledge is a relief. He couldn’t love me when I wasn’t even his. But the relief is short-lived. I am likely the product of an affair. No wonder my mother can barely look at me.
“Is it Felix?” I ask, hoping so much that it isn’t. But how else could that image make sense—of every one of my friends with a red X over their faces while my picture had a question mark?
“He thinks you’re his.”
I gulp, trying to swallow the knot of anticipation. “Who is it then?”
“Caleb.”
I shoot up. Unease threads up my legs like tentacles, weakening my knees. I reach out to support myself on the wall, but it does little to help me stay upright. All I want to do is crawl under a blanket and never resurface.
Through the mental fog, one thing becomes clear: That would make Blake my brother. It’s the only comfort I can find.
Maybe if I hadn’t been so busy falling in love, I would have found that out on my own. But I dismiss that thought—I need Hunter so much. When I am with him, everything makes sense. I wish he were here, holding me through it all.
“I’m sorry, Bailey.” She sighs. “This can’t be easy for you. Would you like a pause, a hug, something to drink?”
I shake my head. “No, just the truth. Please tell me everything.”
“I don’t know where to start…” The pause stretches as if she needs it to decide how much to reveal. “My generation’s story is a sordid tale of competition to gain the matriarch’s favor. While my birthright gave me an almost untouchable status, that doesn’t mean there was love or friendship in our group. Your mother openly hated me, and Caleb wasn’t interested in anything but his studies and his friendship with Felix.” She tilts her head to the side, lost in memories as she continues, “And Felix—well, we used to be together. I never questioned it much back then, and, for a while, we were good. But things started to change when I began to question the Family’s legacy—our way of living. He would discard any of my thoughts. Brush them aside like they didn’t matter. Then, one day, I caught them together. Your mother and Felix.”
I blink, not knowing what to do or how to reply to that.
There is not a single emotion in her eyes, nor any inflection in her tone. It’s as if she’s recounting a story that didn’t affect her personally—more like a bystander’s account.
“Rebecca did me a favor, honestly. It was what opened my eyes. I knew that was not the life I wanted for myself. None of us knew what love was. Sebastian taught me that. I don’t hate your mother. It saddens me that even though it was just the two of us women, we never got along. I am happy your group is so tight that you’d do anything for each other.”
I don’t think we could even consider something different. Ever since we were children, we have gravitated toward each other, needing to be close.
No wonder what I feel for Blake surpasses friendship. While I love and would do anything for my friends, I would do just a tad more for him. Now I know why.
“We’ll end as we began—distrusting each other. I never wanted the role of matriarch. Look what is left of my generation: one dead, another a traitor on the run, and one who helped them escape. I want to give you a better start. Not only did I promise my mother, but you have been through too much.”
She approaches me and takes my hand in hers, giving it a little squeeze.
“I had your mother followed,” she confesses.
My heart clenches at her regret. She’s genuinely a good person, ashamed of tailing Rebecca. My mother deserves so much worse for everything she’s caused.
“But Caleb? I don’t understand.” The words catch in my throat. I can’t believe that horrible man was my father.
“My guess is that it was another game for Rebecca. When she realized what happened, she tried to hide it. But I don’t know the whole story. You’ll have to ask her. I’m sorry, but I need your help, Bailey.”
“What do you need me to do?” I ask, not needing to think about my answer. Duty and revenge motivate me to do whatever it takes. The ones responsible for hurting our family will pay.
Cassandra smiles at me, relief stretching the corners of her eyes. Then she pulls me into her arms, where I remain limp for way too long. But I yearn for a maternal hug so damn much. My parents never hugged me. Tears well in my eyes, and they fall in a constant stream until I try to pull away, not wanting to ruin her blouse.
“It’s okay, Bailey. You are a beautiful, genuine, smart woman—I am so proud of you. I am so sorry you didn’t get the love you deserved. That none of you did.”
“We had each other.” That has kept us strong and focused. We have loved each other, and it has been compensation enough.
She keeps hugging me until I am ready to pull away.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. How are you feeling?” she asks, and we both settle back into the armchairs.
“I don’t know.” It’s the truth. My mind is too much of a mess to see through the thick fog clouding my judgment.
“We know for sure that Rebecca was the one who helped Caleb and Felix escape. And that she is the one in contact with Felix.”
“What will happen to her?” I ask more out of curiosity than of concern for my mother.
“Normally, the bigger the affront to the Family, the harder the punishment. This betrayal overshadows everything. I haven’t decided yet, but we still need her help to find Felix.”
“Whatever you need from me, I’ll do it,” I say resolutely.
To find some modicum of peace, I must confront her. I’ll never know freedom if I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. I’ll also do it for the child in me who never got parental love. Maybe then I can put the feeling of being unwanted behind me. I am my mother’s biggest mistake. I am the reminder that she cheated on her husband and lied to her lover about who my real father is.
I feel my brows furrowing. “Why did it take you so long to tell me?”
A broken smile paints her face. “I had my suspicions about whether Felix was really your father and recently confirmed them. But you were finally starting to be happy, Bailey. I wanted it to last longer, but the Family’s secrets get out eventually, dampening everything. You and Hunter… He is a good man, and I like how you two have evolved since you met.”
“Were you trying to play matchmaker with the vacation?” I ask, genuinely interested.
“I guess I wasn’t as subtle as I thought.” She tries to hide her satisfied grin, but her knowing look gives her away. “I saw how you two looked at each other when neither of you thought the other was watching. Those glares didn’t fool me. There’s no stronger bond than love. You deserve that. And so does he.”
I shrug, sighing. “We’re broken like that.”
“Broken people love the hardest. They cherish it more and hold on to it once they find it.”
I nod, knowing deep in my soul that it’s true.
“Ready to confront them?”
“Ready,” I reply. Cassandra calls for Samuel, who comes inside and brings her a small box. When she opens it, I stare at the metallic bracelet inside.
“I’ll make Rebecca wear it. It will be her prison. She can’t ever take it off without my permission. If she refuses to comply, it will release a shock that will make her recoil in pain. It will monitor her heart rate, location, conversations—everything.” Cassandra sighs, staring at the bracelet as if she doesn’t want to do it. But I do. Maybe I am a petty and vengeful person, after all. But my loyalties lie with my friends, and for them, I’d cross every boundary. I did it once, and I’d do it a hundred times over if needed.
“What about Andrew?”
“He will have to play along to preserve the Family’s image. He loves nothing more than leading the media company. I don’t know yet. All of you will need guidance as you enter the business world. My husband offered his support. Sebastian and Cillian will be there for every single one of you. I wish I could tell you that you can do whatever you want. But leading the media company is your duty. The legacy will have to continue.”
That notion has been ingrained in my head for a long time. Knowing my parents never truly wanted me to lead the company infuses me with a new sense of duty. Not only will I lead it, but I will make it even better than they both dreamed of.
I refuse to let them affect me anymore. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have parents. Steeling my spine, I let my heart harden.
The corners of Cassandra’s eyes soften with care. “I’m right here. We’ll do this together.”
“Thank you,” I say, grateful to have her by my side.
Once outside, Samuel opens the back door for us, and we slide into the black Mercedes SUV.
Leaving the compound behind, thoughts of Hunter infuse me with strength, even if I am ripped to pieces inside. He must be worried. But I have to get through this meeting, and I am afraid if he says he wants to be there, I won’t be able to refuse him. This is something I need to do for myself.
When Samuel parks the car in the underground garage of my parents’ downtown apartment building, sadness grips my throat, suffocating me. I’ve never even been here.
As we take the private elevator to the top level, I inhale deeply, fortifying myself. You have this.
When the doors slide open, we walk inside the penthouse and stop in the living room. It’s airy and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows. Overhead, intricate lighting hangs in large circular designs, shining so brightly it’s almost blinding. Flower vases and handpicked art match the overall sophisticated look. It’s clear my mother put more thought into this place than the house at the compound.
Andrew’s brows bunch together while Rebecca steps back before quickly resuming her position by the window, ignoring me. Neither is pleased to see me, and I am too desensitized to care.
“What is she doing here?” she asks in a nasal tone, ringing of annoyance.
“Lovely seeing you too, Mother.” My sarcasm isn’t lost on anyone.
She glares at me. “Watch your tone.”
I march over to her and get in her face. “Or what?”
“Let’s move to the dining room,” Andrew says, sounding tired as he gestures toward the long hall.
“What is this all about, Cassandra?” my mom asks haughtily.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Now, keep moving,” she commands.
The ripple of fear crossing her features gives me tremendous satisfaction.
Silence descends as we take our seats in the velvet chairs, making the nerves even more present, like a fifth guest.
Cassandra places the box and a file of documents on the mahogany table while my mother gulps some wine.
“Jittery, Mother?” I ask, smirking.
“You ins—”
Cassandra cuts her off immediately by saying, “Don’t say something I will make you regret.”
An indignant look crosses my mother’s face. “She’s my daughter.”
“And Caleb’s,” Cassandra states, sucking the air from the room. I glance at Andrew, who sighs in relief.
“That’s a false accusation. One—”
Cassandra shoves the documents in her face. As she rifles through them, I catch a glimpse of the DNA test.
“What do you want?” she snaps, gripping her glass so tightly her knuckles turn white.
“To know where Felix is,” Cassandra says matter-of-factly.
“I told you to stop,” Andrew says to my mother, sipping leisurely from his glass of wine as he leans back in his seat. When our eyes connect, there is neither parental love nor hate in his gaze. I have always been nothing to him.
My mother slams the glass down, and the contents spill over. “It’s all your fault!” she yells at Cassandra, who points at herself in mock incredulity.
“My fault? What happened when I caught you and Felix together? I told you that you deserve each other, so you have my blessing, but Felix went and married Christine. You never wanted to accept that he is incapable of love. He manipulated me like he did you.”
Her chin quivers, her words coming out shakily. “You know nothing. What we have is something special.”
I snort at her delusion, and she sends me a frosty glare. It’s a wonder an icicle doesn’t materialize to pierce my chest.
Cassandra tilts her head at my mother, compassion flashing in her eyes before it quickly vanishes. “That will cost you everything.”
“I think you just lost, my dear,” Andrew says to her with no trace of empathy.
“What is that supposed to mean?” she hisses.
“It means that I won’t sink with you.”
Her chest puffs out with her harsh breathing, losing her composure by the second. “You would be nothing without me.”
He waves a dismissive hand her way. “You forget that our marriage was arranged to unite two powerful media companies. I am the one who made it into what it is. And I don’t even have a damn heir of my own.”
“This is not why I came here,” Cassandra says, stopping their fight.
“What will happen to us?” he asks, his tone, as usual, collected and devoid of inflection. I wonder if anything could ever rattle him.
“I will let you know once we catch Felix.”
My mother thrusts her chin out. “He should have been the patriarch, and I refuse to betray him.” I almost pity her. Almost.
Cassandra shakes her head at her. “He would discard you and claim all that power for himself.”
“That’s not what he said,” she says in a small voice. The house of cards is crashing down around her, entombing her—she’s out of reach and lost to me for good.
I don’t even think as I pluck the bracelet out of the box and slap it around her wrist. Done. Inhaling deeply, I accept the fact that I won’t get any resolution. I won’t tie my capacity to love myself and my worth to their inability to love me.
“What is that?” my mother shrieks.
Slapping my palms on the table, I lean into her, reaching the end of my patience. “You will start helping us, or so help me, if something happens to one of my friends, I will make you regret the day you decided to keep me.”
“I already regret that.”
Eyes locked, neither of us breaks contact. She’s mistaken if she thinks she can intimidate me any longer.
“Good. Now, what is it he wants from me?” I ask in a cool, unaffected tone.
Her eyes droop, and she stares at her fingers, fidgeting at the table. Her tone becomes calmer, as though she’s accepting her fate. “Felix doesn’t know you’re not his. He would kill me.”
“You have bigger fears to worry about at the moment,” Cassandra reminds her.
“He wants the entire Family dead, but because I told him that Bailey is his daughter, he wants her as his new heir. He can’t have any more children.”
The picture becomes clear. It’s not because of any feelings for me—which I didn’t even think he had but because he knows he’s not immortal.
“Where does Eric fit into all of this?” I inquire, needing all the information to know what I’m working with.
“His father helped Felix financially in exchange for Bailey’s hand,” she says, not sounding apologetic at all.
Disgust simmers low. She sold me for Felix. She wouldn’t know what maternal instinct was if it slapped her senseless.
“Where is he?” Cassandra asks, voice laced with impatience.
“I don’t know. He calls occasionally to ask me how it’s going and to threaten us if we don’t finally go through with it,” she says, sounding broken before she whips around to face me, her eyes glimmering with malice. “All you had to do was accept that marriage, and then everything would have been fine.”
I exchange a look with Cassandra. I have to do this. If we want to catch Felix, I need to agree to the engagement. I slump back in the chair, thinking of Hunter. While I know it’s the only viable option, it’s also the hardest thing to do. He will understand. I am doing this for us, for our future together, but the voice in my head blares with the truth and won’t be silenced. I know Hunter better than that. Currents drag me under while I try to stay afloat, clawing at a safety net that is made of paper, disintegrating and slipping through my fingers.
“Eric is not happy. If you want to sell it, we must convince him that you’re serious about the engagement. Fooling Felix will take even more time. I will help you if I have the same privileges as before,” Rebecca demands as if she’s in any position to make any.
Cassandra pins her with a serious expression. “You’ll stay alive and enjoy your life in exile if it works out.”
“What?” she screeches.
“That’s final.”
“You fucking b—”
“Don’t forget who you’re talking to. Now, call the Whitneys up for a meeting.” Cassandra doesn’t have to raise her voice to get her point across, and that’s real power.
While my mother makes the call, Cassandra turns my way. “You don’t have to do this. We’ll find another way.”
There’s no other way I can think of, but being separated from Hunter will hurt so badly that my insides will wither.
An hour passes as we wait for the Whitneys to arrive. My hopelessness increases by the second. Cassandra and my parents speak every so often, but it’s just sounds. Knowing what’s about to happen, everything becomes muffled and distorted—just how I feel.
It’s like I am watching my life from the outside as the Whitneys step inside the penthouse. On autopilot, I greet them.
Eric grins so widely I want to smother him. The small talk grates on my nerves, and I have to constantly remind myself to smile. In my head, I shout and shout, but no one hears. The sounds are swallowed by a vacuum—emptiness spreads inside of me. I am hollow.
Everything unfolds in a blur.
My gaze falls to the engagement ring in the box. It’s grotesquely big and flashy. He grins at me triumphantly. “Only the best for my fiancée. We’ll be very happy.”
He couldn’t be more wrong. My heart, body, and soul belong to someone else. If I lose Hunter, I will lose everything.
“I hope you understand why I asked for that condition,” he says, looking at me expectantly.
Breathing slowly and precisely to keep myself in check, I nod. He insisted that I live somewhere else during our engagement so there wouldn’t be any temptation between me and Hunter. My parents, ever generous, offered the apartment beneath them.
I would be trapped and alone, but Cassandra decided I would live at the estate. Knowing she has my back is the only reason I haven’t succumbed to despair.
I will survive. Our love is strong. Knowing Felix will be caught soon is what motivates me.
As Eric leans in to kiss me, I turn my face, giving him my cheek instead. His eyes narrow, his jaw tightening. He obviously has a problem with it, but he remains silent.
“We have time,” I say to placate him. Keeping the charade up drains the last of my patience.
“Did you take it slow with him as well?” he snarls, and I stare right back at him until he’s the one who says, “I’ll give you some time, but then you’re all mine. I don’t share, Bailey.”
I am not his, and every molecule in me recoils at even thinking of belonging to someone other than Hunter.
I try to regulate my breathing, helplessness caging me in. Eric takes my hand in his, and I can’t stop him. With every second in his company, nausea threatens to make me throw up all over him.
Cassandra must notice my state. “We have an engagement party to plan, and Bailey needs to rest.”
I will be officially engaged soon and not to the person I want. As Cassandra and I leave the penthouse, that’s all I can think about. With each step, my chest threatens to cave in on me, burying my heart in despondency.
“Bailey?” Cassandra asks me once we’re in the car and driving to my new home for the foreseeable future.
“It’s okay. I mean, I am not okay, but…”
She palms my arm. “It’s the hardest thing to do, isn’t it? Doing the right thing when it’s everything we don’t want to do?”
I offer a slight nod. Once we reach the estate, she tells Samuel, “Bring her to the west wing. Thank you.”
I follow him up the curved staircase. Every step drags slower as if my legs transform into stumps of lead, making me stop after every step. My heart refuses to go along with what I know is the only viable choice I have.
Once Samuel opens the door, the spacious room unfolds before me—Italian-crafted furniture, high ceilings, and sophisticated curtains perfectly match the wide rug that stretches across the hardwood floor. Samuel excuses himself, reminding me to call for him if I need anything.
I climb into the queen-sized bed, sniffling into the pillow. Emotions roll over me, and my chest rocks with silent tears.
Not ready to face Hunter, I send him a text, hoping he will give me the time I need, knowing he won’t while my heart shrivels to a damn raisin forgotten in the sun.
He calls me right back, and pushing through the conversation is so hard I can barely suppress my sobs. All I want is for him to tell me we’ll be fine, but will we? I drag out that conversation we need to have in person because I can’t meet Hunter yet.
I am a damn coward, so I call Blake next, and he answers right away. We’re brother and sister, and I need to share that news with him first.
“I am at the estate. Could you come over, please?”
It doesn’t even take him a beat to reply, “I’m on my way.”
“Tell Mia I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
I hang up, my phone dropping to the floor with a loud clack. I don’t bother picking it up.
One talk changed everything. One choice alters everything. The disconnect between my heart and my brain leaves me stranded in this quagmire I will live in indefinitely.
It doesn’t take long for Blake to show up.
In the silence, only the moon casts a dim light over the room. The trees outside paint a scene of shadows haunting the living’s dreams.
Sobs rip through my chest, and he rushes to my side, holding me close.
“What happened, Bailey?” His tone is gentle.
I don’t even know where to start, but I gather the strength to calm down and tell him everything.
“We’re siblings?” he asks, sounding incredulous but excited, putting a smile on my face.
“Well, half…”
“There is no half between us. We’re brother and sister.”
I throw myself in his arms and in my brother’s embrace, I let it all out until the emotional turmoil tsunami that has been ravaging my insides sweeps into a smoother ebb and flow becoming bearable. I am not alone in this world and never will be. I might not have parents anymore, but I gained a brother tonight. Blake is the only blood relative I need. Plus, I already have a found family and the man of my dreams by my side which strengthens me. This whole messed-up situation won’t break me. I am a survivor. I am a fighter. I am a winner.
He holds me close to his chest, his soft voice warming my insides. “I have a sister. And not just any sister, but the best one.”
A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “That’s the only good news. I couldn’t have picked someone better to be my brother, either.”
“This is so fucked up, but it doesn’t even surprise me. So much betrayal and secrets, no wonder we inherited a corrupt legacy.”
We’ll change that though. All the sacrifice and fighting can’t be for nothing.
“Hunter won’t react well to your engagement.” He voices what I’ve refused to acknowledge.
“I don’t know what to do…” I feel so lost.
One word from Hunter, and I won’t be able to continue the farce. That’s why I prefer to hide. He deserves an explanation, but I’m terrified because I promised I’d never hurt him. That thought cuts me open, slicing at my heartstrings, bleeding the life essence out of me.
Blake places a kiss on top of my head. “Go to sleep. We’ll find a way.”
“Thank you for being here.”
“I’m always going to be here for you.”
But will Hunter?