Chapter 31
Victor
Iclose the door behind me and turn to face my mother. No one has to hear what comes out of her mouth next, especially not Serenity or Summer. Receiving abuse from my mom wasn’t part of the contract.
“Why have you sequestered us away?” I demand.
“I haven’t seen you in months, and the first time I do, you bring this woman who you supposedly love. Not to mention, she has a child.” She says the word “child” like it’s a curse.
“The child’s name is Summer, and she’s our daughter.”
She rolls her eyes. “She’s not in here. You don’t have to pretend.”
I narrow my eyes. “I’m not pretending. I love Summer as my own. She’s the brightest and kindest little girl I’ve ever met.”
She waves me off. “Tell me why I recognize that woman.”
My heart stops. Shit. I never thought she’d recognize Serenity. My mother has selective memory. I never had to worry about my dad or sister. They never saw her—not even on the live wedding episode. But there’s no use in hiding it. If Mother wants to find out, she’ll dig into Serenity.
“She’s Harmony’s sister,” I say, not once looking away from my mother’s dagger-glaring eyes.
Her nostrils flare. “You dare marry and bring home a gold digger? Harmony got some sense knocked into her, but this one…” She points toward the door where I pray Serenity and Summer aren’t waiting. “She has more at stake being a single mother, and she wanted the pot of gold.”
I rear back. “Never slander Serenity or Harmony again. Thank you for your time, Mother, but I think we’ll leave now.”
As I near the door, I hear a click. I jiggle the doorknob, but it’s no use.
Turning back to face my mother, I say, “Seriously? Let me out. Haven’t you grown tired of using this tactic to control me?”
“Divorce that woman. I’ll send Martha the list of suitable brides by Monday.”
“Mother,” I grind out through gritted teeth. “Serenity is my wife. She’s the only woman who has ever treated me like a man and not a step ladder.”
My mother laughs—no, she cackles—and I know I’ve pushed her over her limit. “Dear, that’s the world we live in. You also must marry up the ladder to stabilize our foothold in society. Women like her are meant for nighttime.”
I inhale sharply, my breathing halting. What. The. Actual. Fuck.
“Serenity is a respected woman. She’s a registered nurse who has a big enough heart to care for strangers, a loving mother, and a fantastic wife who has never made me feel not good enough.” I hold her gaze as I say, “If I had a heart attack, she’d be there by my side.”
My mother’s eyes widen a fraction before she schools her face again.
“When the honeymoon phase is over, you’ll see her true colors,” my mother spits. Her face is beet red now. “I can only hope she doesn’t rob you of all your money and dignity first.”
I don’t dignify that with an answer. Instead, I turn back to the closed door.
“If you go now, you’ll never be a part of this family again,” my mother screeches from behind me.
“Then good riddance.” I bang on the door and say, “Charlie, let me out of here!”
The door opens, and Charlie looks at me with uncertainty in his eyes. “I’m sorry, sir. Mrs. Barlowe told me I had to.”
“If you ever get sick of her abuse, you can come work for me.”
Charlie’s cheeks turn pink, and he nods.
I stride down the hallway and make a beeline for my family. Even though I wasn’t expecting a pleasant time, I went into a boxing ring without realizing it. And now I’m leaving with a lot more bruises than anyone else can see.
“I mean it, Victor. This is your last chance.”
I pause but don’t turn around. “Have a good life, Mother.”
Then I lead Serenity and Summer outside. Tomorrow they can spend time with my dad. The only real parent I’ve had my entire life, even though he’s not even my blood.
***
After everything that happened with my mother, I’ve been inside my library. I shot off a few emails for tomorrow but couldn’t focus any longer. So, I grabbed one of my old comfort reads, Pride and Prejudice, and haven’t moved since.
I kick a leg over my knee and lean back on my lounge chair, flipping the page.
Oh, the irony of how Elizabeth comes from a regular family and Mr. Darcy is wealthy beyond comprehension.
My phone vibrates. Turning on the screen, there’s an email from Matt.
Mr. Barlowe,
Our man wants to meet with you tonight at eleven. He’ll be in the city for one day. It’s his only day off for the next two weeks.
Matt
I immediately dial Jay and tell him to be at my house by ten thirty. My leg bounces up and down as I wait for his response. He sends me a thumbs-up—his usual form of response. I might finally get some real information on the Wilted Rose.
My library door opens, and I shoot into an upright position. I tuck the book underneath my leg before putting my phone back into my pocket.
Only one person knows about my romance reading habit, and that’s my maid. At least, I assume so since she’s the one who dusts my bookcases.
Serenity pokes her head around the door, and I wave her in. She rarely seeks me out when we’re home, so this is a welcome surprise. Maybe she’s starting to come around. At least, that’s what I’m going to convince myself.
She sits beside me. When I scoot over, my book is out in the open. I try to shove it away, but she says, “Why are you hiding Pride and Prejudice? That’s my favorite book by Jane Austen.”
I flash her a shy smile. “I’ve always been told that romance books are for women.”
Serenity’s green eyes widen. “Ignore whoever that ignorant person is.”
“I’ll give you one guess.”
She doesn’t hesitate. “Your mother.”
I nod.
The last woman I tried to tell I enjoyed romance was Ana, and she scoffed at me.
So, I laughed it off like it was a joke.
Serenity accepts me for who I am—even if she denies she has feelings for me.
She doesn’t try to mold me to her liking.
I can’t help but feel like now is the time to tell her my secret.
Something no one knows other than my parents and Isabella.
A bundle of nerves erupts in my stomach, so I just spit it out. “I’m a bastard.”
Her eyebrows inch up her forehead. “No, you aren’t. I think you spent too much time listening to your mother.”
True but …
I shake my head. “The other kind.”
She stares at me like she’s waiting for me to continue. When I don’t, she says, “So? That’s not uncommon for a lot of families. My mother wasn’t married when she had me or Harmony.”
“My father isn’t really my father.” The words rush out of me. If I don’t get them out now, I never will. “My mother cheated on my dad, and she resents me for it.”
A laugh bubbles out of her, and she clamps a hand over her mouth. “That wasn’t a ‘I find that funny’ laugh. It was a, ‘I’ll kill her if I ever see her again’ crazy laugh. She’s so lucky you told me after their party.”
I smile. I can’t believe I was so scared to tell her.
Maybe it’s because I gave her blackmail that most people would use against me.
“My father is actually a good man. He raised me as his, gave me his last name, and made me heir to Barlowe Tech.” I shake my head.
He’s foolish for not leaving my mother, but I’ll always be thankful to him.
“No one can know because my grandfather, who founded our company, stated that only a true, blood heir can inherit the company.”
Serenity reaches over and grabs my hand. “Oh, Vic, I’d never tell anyone.”
My heart swells as I look into her eyes. Her loyalty is her best quality. “I know. That’s why I’m trusting you with this secret.” I squeeze her hand and twine our fingers together. “I’m so sorry for how my mother behaved. She’s an elitest and lives by the old ways.”
I lean over and kiss her. Fireworks go off inside my heart as she meets my lips with tenderness. Our kisses are usually hot and like wildfire, but after everything, we both need a little healing.
Backing away, I open my eyes and caress her face. I don’t want her to think every time I get her alone I want to get her naked. I mean, I do, but that’s not all I want.
She meets my gaze, so I ask, “Do you want to watch a movie?”
She touches her chin for a moment. “Can it be a horror movie?”
I laugh. “You like romance books but not romance movies?”
She cocks an eyebrow. “I don’t get to watch scary movies often because I worked so much, and anytime I wasn’t working, I was either sleeping or with Summer.”
“Fine.”
She tsks at me. “I know what you’re doing, Mr. Barlowe, but I’ll let it slide since you’re letting me watch a horror movie.”
My cock twitches at her use of my last name. It almost makes me want to play out a scene where I’m the boss and she’s the—
“Are you going to put a movie on?” Her hand lands on my thigh and slides up until her fingers graze my hard-on. “Or did you want me to take care of this first?”
I groan. No—I’m a strong enough man to sit here and watch a movie with the woman I love. Shit. I love her so much my heart aches for her. Even thinking about having to go a single day without her makes my brain shut down.
Since she’s refused to go on a real date with me, this will have to be enough.
For now.
Serenity’s hand makes it to my belt before I stop her. “Tell me a movie, and I’ll put it on.”
Her eyebrows fly up her forehead. “Okay, um, how about Scream? It’s a good beginner movie. Not too scary.”
I hand her the remote so she’ll move her hand. She takes it and flips through the different streaming services before finding Scream.
Her thumb hovers over the play button, but first, she turns to me, and says, “Where’s our popcorn?”
I chuckle. “I don’t have any popcorn, but we can put it on the grocery list.”
She huffs but gives me a small smile.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tug her closer. Her head falls on my shoulder, and she snuggles closer. I try to soak up as much of her warmth as I can. That way I’ll have something of her when she’s gone.
I can’t believe her late husband left her in such financial collapse that her life was literally in danger—still is.
“Are you watching the movie?”
“No,” I say on a laugh. No use in lying to her. “I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”