Chapter 1
Veronica
I can’t stay here anymore. Being twenty-three and living with my parents isn’t ideal.
Well, living here is a loose term since I haven’t settled in one place.
When I’m not living abroad, I’m here in Veridian Bay, drifting between my childhood home and my cousin’s penthouse.
Usually, I’m traveling, so I miss a lot of what’s going on, especially with my mom.
The memory of her falling weeks ago still haunts me.
If I’m being honest, traveling is an excuse to run.
Standing here and looking at my old bedroom is like going back in time.
When I went away to boarding school, I’d visit home, and nothing had been changed, just like when I went to college.
My mother, being sentimental, never redecorated it.
I guess the room is a representation of how naive I was and still am.
I take in the light-pink walls, the floral decorations, and the photographs displayed throughout the room.
I don’t recognize who that person was; shit, I don’t recognize myself now.
I’m so lost, I lost myself a long time ago.
I’m a twenty-three-year-old college dropout who parties and drinks her life away. I don’t know what I want in life.
When I’m not staying here, I go to my cousin Caleb’s penthouse.
I hoped it would give my family the hint that I needed space and freedom, but if anything, it just made them worry more.
It feels like I’m suffocating. I need my own place.
Somewhere that’s not owned by my family.
I know that might be limiting, since my family practically owns this city.
My father retired and passed his empire to my brother Ian, who is CEO of Kayde Investments, among other things.
At first, Dad was still struggling with letting go of the reins.
Now, he’s enjoying hovering over Mom even more than before.
My parents’ love is one for the ages. The thought makes my stomach turn because I know I’ll never have one of my own.
My brother Gabriel is the corporate lawyer, but he’s on standby in case the family needs him for anything, and I mean anything.
As the youngest and only daughter of Abigail and Miguel Kayde, I live a very sheltered and privileged life, which is why my entire family takes it upon themselves to butt into it.
The overprotective brothers, cousins, and uncle.
I even have a fucking watchdog, or more like a lapdog, who’s just waiting to take orders at my brothers’ beck and call.
And who I especially hate. He’s ruined my fucking social life.
My dating life is nonexistent. Any friends I had don’t speak to me.
Fuck him! He takes orders, like the good pet he is.
My phone alarm goes off, and I look at the appointment reminder for today.
I’m meeting with a real estate agent to find my own place because I need to start living my own life.
I hope I have better luck with this one.
Of course I don’t have a job to pay for the apartment, but I’m not as stupid as everyone thinks.
Between partying and traveling, I’ve managed to invest and have a good amount saved up.
I can thank my cousins for that. I could go to my father for help, but it would just be another conversation about how I don’t have my life together.
I know I’m a disappointment and the weakest member of my family.
I don’t contribute anything to it. My parents built their empire, and my brothers keep growing it.
They all have a role. Me, I’m just the reckless daughter and sister.
Living here is just another reminder of how I’ll never measure up.
I close the door behind me and walk downstairs when I hear my mother’s laughter along with my father’s voice…
and someone else. It’s not any family member I recognize, especially not my brothers.
Ian is always too busy with work or his new girlfriend, Serena, who I love.
Gabe is traveling again, so it’s not him.
I follow the voices that lead to the balcony.
My mother’s favorite spot in the entire house.
It’s such a beautiful day. The ocean view is incredible; the blue water and bright sun cascade over the clear sky.
I loved growing up here, away from the city and any prying eyes.
Mom is sitting next to my father and another man, whose face I can’t see.
I see my mother smile; she’s so beautiful.
All my life, people have told me I look just like her when she was my age, but I don’t see it.
We are both blonde and average height, but that’s where the similarities end.
My eyes are from my father—blue, like the ocean water in front of me.
Unlike my mother, I’m very curvy; some have said too curvy.
“Veronica, come, we have a guest.” My mother motions for me to join them, so I take a seat next to her. “You remember Cam, don’t you?”
I look at the douchebag, who I haven’t seen in years.
His curly brown hair is shorter than the last time I saw him.
His gray eyes lock onto me. He’s friends with my brothers, but he hasn’t been around for a long time.
The last time I saw him was when I came home for my mother’s birthday, before my freshman year of college.
It was a hazy night; the pieces I do remember I know weren’t my best moments.
Truth be told, I don’t have a lot of them.
But the way he treated me that night—that I can’t forget.
“Vaguely,” is all I say.
He holds out his hand. “Well, it seems that I didn’t leave a memorable impression. So let me reintroduce myself.” He extends his hand to me. “I’m Cam Villanueva. It’s a pleasure to meet you again.”
I shake his hand, faking formalities, and he knows it. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment I can’t be late for. I’m going to look at apartments.” I look at my mother; she’s always been so supportive. When I told her I planned on moving out, she seemed happy for me.
“How are you going to afford it?” my father asks.
“I have savings.” I can see he wants to respond, but my mother tugs on his arm, signaling for him to stop.
“Don’t worry, if I need cash, I’ll just sell photos of me partying.
The media loves those.” I can feel the mood shift.
“That was a joke.” There’s an awkward silence, and I see Cam’s head turn to my mother.
Shit. The last thing I want to do is embarrass her.
I turn to my father and look at him. “I have two very smart brothers and cousins who have taught me to invest.” I don’t bother to look in Cam’s direction.
I don’t need his judgment, but he still speaks.
“Well, Veronica, if you’re looking for a place, my family owns some properties. I can arrange for you to look at some.”
Of course he does. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be fine.” I see the smirk on his face, and it only adds to my irritation.
“Okay, but my offer still stands. Anything for Mrs. Abigail Kayde.”
Ugh, I think I’m going to be sick. Kiss-ass. I look at my father, who shoots Cam a death stare. Good. Overzealous asshole. I try not to smile. My father can see through all the bullshit. It’s a curse and a blessing. That’s why I keep my distance from him, but not just him, everyone.
“Veronica, is everything all right?” my mother asks, her arm around my father’s.
“Yes, sorry, I was just thinking I need to check on Tabitha. I haven’t heard from her. She didn’t make it to my birthday party and hasn’t responded to any of my messages.”
“The party that you had without inviting your family.” My dad’s voice is stern.
I almost roll my eyes at him. Almost. “Dad, I told you, it was last-minute. Plus, Mom needed to rest. It was something small.”
“Small? It was all over social media, Veronica Kayde.”
I wince at the mention of my full name. I flew to Miami last month and had a party because, if anything, I feed into the stereotypes that people say about me: rich party girl who lives off her parents’ money.
This time, I did intend for the party to be small, but things got out of control, people were drinking—a lot—then pills started getting passed around.
Things went downhill after that. I was in the bathroom getting fingered by a girl I met.
By the time I realized what was going on, it was too late.
My cousin owns the club; it’s the only reason I wasn’t skinned alive.
He also took it easy on me because it’s been a tough year.
A few months ago, two men attempted to blackmail me with photos they took of me in a dressing room.
It was humiliating and degrading; what’s worse is that it was two people I let into my friend circle.
A circle that has withered. Again, I needed my family to come to the rescue.
“Excuse me, but I think this is my cue to leave,” Cam announces. He stands up and looks at me. “My offer still stands, Veronica.” He pulls out a business card and hands it to me, then turns toward the door to take his leave.
I turn and look at my parents, disappointment etched in my father’s face, and my mom looks so defeated.
“I’m sorry about the party. I’m sorry I’m such a goddamn wreck, but I’m trying.
” My voice is raw and jagged, breaking under the weight of a thousand unspoken failures.
My mom passes me a tissue, and I instinctively lean into her.
She holds me, just like when I was a child.
“You are not a wreck,” she whispers. “You’re just lost.”
“I’m trying, I really am,” I say loud enough for my father to hear.
“We know you are.” She places a kiss on my forehead.
“I have to go,” I blurt out, pushing back from the table. I need to leave. I can’t stay any longer. I feel like I’m suffocating with the weight of my secrets and shame.