Page 6 of To Steal a Heart

Red streaks zigzagged like comets across her eyes, and she felt like her head would explode. She barked out a laugh. “I gathered that.” She threw back her head, nostrils flaring. “Let me guess. You were talking to your sick father.”

His face fell as he rose to his feet. “What you heard. I was angry at your grandmother.” He shifted his feet and then shoved his hands into his pockets. “Don’t take what I said out of context.”

Disgust churned in her stomach, making her feel like she could hurl chunks. “I heard you loud and clear,” she seethed. “You should’ve just taken the money.” She hated the tears that dribbled down her cheeks. “Grandmother was right. You are a miserable opportunist.”

His expression grew plaintive. “Don’t say that, Arden. I love you. Truly. We’re just going through a rough patch.”

A hysterical laugh riddled her throat. “Really?” She sucked in a ragged breath before hurling out the rest. “You love me?” She pointed to her chest as her voice grew shrill. “A spoiled, entitled, know-it-all?”

He held up his hands as he eyed her with a caution that suggested she was psycho. “I never said you were a know-it-all.”

The condescension in his tone was the last straw. Because Hector was analytical, he considered himself superior to most people, including her. She threw her clutch down on the couch, tromped over, and got up in his face. She pointed her finger. “You said you didn’t know how much more of me you could take.”

He drew back. “I didn’t mean that. Like I said, I was upset.” Resentment burned in his eyes. “You’re a lot, Arden. Always wanting me to be more than I am. It’s too much,” he muttered.

“So now this is my fault?”

He rushed on, “And then you picked that nonsensical fight with Josette. If you’d just kept your mouth shut, she wouldn’t hate me now.”

“What?” she screamed. “I defended you to my family. Everything Grandmother said about you was spot on.” Her voice went hoarse. “I thought you were different.” Hurt needled her insides. “Get out.”

His face fell. “Huh?”

“You heard me. Get out!” She shoved him hard in the chest. He stumbled back but caught himself on the chair before falling. His eyes tightened. “Cut it out, Arden. You need to get control of yourself. This is my suite,” he stated firmly.

Her anger shot through the roof. “Oh, no it’s not. I paid for it!” She wanted to claw his treacherous eyes out. “You’re a spineless twit. You should’ve stood up to Grandmother instead of groveling. All of those snarky comments she threw at you were a test. It’s your own stupid fault that she despises you.” White lights popped like firecrackers in front of Arden’s vision as something wild took control. Letting out a guttural growl, she marched to the nearby table and grabbed the large vase of fresh flowers, which she’d instructed the hotel staff to deliver for Hector’s arrival.

Fear colored his features. “What’re you doing? Have you lost your mind?”

Briefly, she considered throwing them at Hector but turned and hurled them at the fireplace instead. The vase shattered into bits as the flowers toppled to the hearth, and water splattered over the marble.

“You’re a lunatic,” Hector squeaked. “I’ll gladly leave. Just let me get my things, and I’m out of here.”

The sight of him made her sick. How could she have ever thought he was The One? She was a naïve fool. “You’ve got five minutes,” she snapped as she marched to the couch and grabbed her purse. “If you stay so much as a minute longer, I’ll call security and have your butt thrown out.” She looked him in the eye, hoping he would realize the depth of her fury. “Five minutes. Don’t press me, you miserable worm, or you’ll see just how forceful the mighty Chasing arm can be.”

With that, she marched out, not looking back.

CHAPTER 3

FOUR MONTHS LATER …

“You’re coming, right?” Madeline prompted with a hint of impatience. “It would mean a great deal to Sylvia … and to me. I can’t remember the last time all of my children were together under one roof,” she pouted. “After the party, Sylvia is heading back to Honeysuckle Island. She’s letting us use her home for the following week.”

Arden rolled her eyes. “How kind of her.”

“It is kind,” Mom insisted.

Kindwas a relative term where Sylvia Laramie was concerned. “Are Forge and Charlie coming?”

“Yep.”

“Wow, I’m impressed that you were able to get Forge to break away from his filming schedule. How did you finagle that?” Forge, Arden’s younger brother, was the rebel in the family. He was an adrenaline junkie who’d turned his passion for dangerous stunts into a lucrative business. His YouTube channel had over a million followers, and he had a slew of sponsors. There was a time when Mom and Dad harped on him about having no vision for the future. However, they couldn’t exactly accuse Forge of that now, considering that he was raking in the dough.

Forge and Charlotte, or Charlie as the family called her, were twins, but they were vastly different. Charlotte was a senior, studying Anthropology at Harvard, whereas Forge had dropped out of school to pursue his love of extreme sports.

“Forge recognizes the importance of getting together with family,” Madeline said crisply.

Arden’s words came rushing out in a huff. “Good grief. When are you gonna let that go? How many times do I have to tell you that I’m sorry for missing your birthday party?Geez.Don’t I get brownie points for attending the stupid Founder’s Day Celebration? Other than Talon, who had to attend and give his speech since he manages the hotel, I was the only other one of your children there.”

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