Chapter 17
COLTON
Four years later…
My coffee grew cold as I sifted the thick, glossy envelope through my fingertips. I knew what was waiting for me inside. After all, I’d been preparing for this exact moment for nearly four years.
Despite the hidden bomb within, I remained eerily calm, as if nothing could touch me, like I was invincible. And in a way, I was.
I had made it so.
Through gruesome tempering, I forged myself into a soulless robot, consumed with one primary directive. And in order to achieve that, I had to transform into someone else—a person who was unrecognisable to my former self.
Unfeeling, cold, indifferent.
At first, the metamorphosis helped to numb the agony. However, the emotionless escape soon became a need, a way to survive.
I refocused my energy on my business economics degree and began interning at Stella Financial Management, networking and honing my skills, which I utilised to further my end goal.
I never forgot my driving force, always keeping check, guaranteeing that William was where he was supposed to be. And based on my latest delivery, at least he didn’t disappoint in one thing. He was nothing if not predictable.
Avery called my vendetta unhealthy and psychologically unstable, but as my best friend, he always supported me, no matter how batshit crazy he thought I was. Avery was the singular good thing I selfishly kept close. He was also a stubborn bastard who refused to let me push him away.
Over the years, he had become as close as a brother, earning my trust and surprisingly keeping it. He’d be pissed that he wasn’t present to open my mail with me, and disappointed that I was proven right once again.
Avery had returned to his hometown to surprise everyone at his parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary party. He asked me to join, trying to sweeten the deal by celebrating our graduation along the way. I refused, not in the mood to fake it with his picture-perfect family.
Instead, I took the plunge and ripped the thick envelope open to catch the soft pink hues beneath.
You are cordially invited to the wedding of
Nikita & William
I quickly shut my eyes, inhaling a long, deep breath, refusing to allow that light tingling of forbidden feeling to resurface after so long. No! You are in control!
After a few moments of restacking that internal brick wall, I opened my eyes, gaze catching on my name handwritten on a plain piece of paper that didn’t match the invitation. William’s handwriting.
Colton,
I’m not sure if this invitation will find you since my many attempts of communication have been blocked over the years. But if it does, let me start by saying, I’m sorry.
I know I hurt you, son. I know my actions caused you to run away, but I never forgot you, never stopped searching.
You’ve been hidden for so long that I ache to see you, to hug you, to hear your voice. I miss every day that I’ve been without you and wish we could talk and have a conversation.
But since we can’t meet face to face, this will have to do.
I’m getting married, Colt.
Please know that this was never my intention—to fall in love, to find happiness in another. But I am, son. I’m truly happy. And I think your mother would be happy for us too.
This in no way diminishes the love I have for you, or the love I continue to hold for my Bethy. You will always be my family, a part of me.
Therefore, I humbly request beg that you accept this invitation, Colt. I know we have a lot to get through, but I’m willing to work hard to be together again.
There would be nothing in this world that would make me happier than having you by my side, standing next to me while I step into this next phase of my life.
Though if I don’t hear from you, I understand. Just know that I’ll wait forever if I have to.
I love you, my son. Will always love you.
Your dad,
William
I stared and stared at the words, steadily blocking them out as my vision transitioned to red. One core emotion roiled—the only one I ever allowed when it came to him. Rage, pure and potent rage.
Everything I had been preparing for had culminated in that very moment. However, with each step I got closer to my goal, I slipped further away from my humanity.
I didn’t care.
Each sacrifice I’d made was a price I was willing to pay in order to rip every facet of happiness away from the so-called father who claimed to love me.
William didn’t know the meaning of the word. But I did.
You could only hate someone you truly loved. And I hated him.
Revenge was close, and retribution was upon us, the tease of satisfaction causing me to pick up a pen with steady fingers.
I placed the RSVP note on the table and ticked Accept.