Page 71 of Born a Billionaire

“I guess that’s true,” Oliver said. “I’m really sorry, Addy.”

“I know.” She was quiet for a few breaths. “I feel awful for my dad and furious at my mom. I just don’t know why she did this. Were her and my dad that miserable and I never noticed? I feel like it came out of nowhere, but Dad says they’ve had their problems.”

“People can be good at hiding the truth and putting on a happy face.”

“Yeah, it’s called acting, and my parents have built their life on it. But I never thought they’d put on a show of happiness for me. I never thought they’d lie to me about what was really going on.”

“I’m sure they were trying to protect you.”

“I would much rather have known the truth than to have all this sprung on me so suddenly. You know, I can remember one time when I was maybe twelve, my parents were arguing when I got home from a dance class, I think. They didn’t know I was there yet, and my mom told him she was tired of having to say no to projects because it didn’t fit with his shooting schedule. He said something about this being the plan when they decided to have a kid, that they would take turns so they could raise me and not put me with nannies, but I guess she was sick of doing that.” She shook her head in surprise. “I forgot about that conversation until right now. I feel like that little child again, walking in on my parents in the middle of a fight I wasn’t meant to hear. Only this time, Mom isn’t hiding it. She’s out in the open for the whole world to see.”

“Maybe she resented your dad for keeping her from doing what she wanted all those years.”

“Or she resents me.” Adelia’s heart sank. “Maybe she regrets even having me.”

“I’m sure that’s not the case, Adelia.”

Adelia’s throat tightened, and she pushed the emotions down. They were quiet for long moments.

“Are you okay?”

“I miss you, Olly.”

“Do you now?”

“You didn’t think I would?”

“I figured some guy with a sexy British accent swept you away over there.”

Adelia laughed a little. “I think one too many British accents has infiltrated this family.”

The end of the line was quiet for a few seconds before Oliver spoke again.

“I miss you too.”

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