Page 82 of Piece By Piece

“Oh? May I ask where you study, then?” the old man at the head of the table goes on.

“I’m afraid the answer to that is nowhere. I chose to work rather than going to University.” Never mind that it wasn’t much of a choice, in my case, but he doesn’t need to know that. He’s the kind of vulture that would jump at the notice of my dire financial situation.

He looks greatly displeased at that, and while his wife reaches for his hand, pleading with him with her eyes, and Sebastian glares, I keep my smile in place, completely unbothered by his rudeness.

So what if he doesn’t approve of me or my life choices? I’ve never cared much for the opinion of little men who haven’t known a single day of hard labor, and I don’t plan on starting now.

William is exactly the kind of privileged man that had one person or another cater to his every wish his entire life. I’d bet on it.

The two of us are locked in a staring contest, which I’m only willing to lose to look at Sofia when she speaks.

“I didn’t study either,” she throws in, smiling nervously at me. I smile back sincerely.

When her husband mutters a not-so-subtle, “Yeah, and look where that got you”, my mask slips.

With a short apologetic look at Sebastian, I allow myself to lose it. Fuck playing his game of forced niceties and and backhanded comments. Where I come from, yelling is a much more popular way to express one’s opinion.

“You never tire of hearing your own voice, do you? God, you make it so obvious no one has ever told you toshut up. The fact that you were born with a golden spoon up your ass doesn’t make you anything better than your wife or me.”

My outburst seems to snuff out the air in the room, but I’m not done. “You forgot to ask me where I work,” I remind him sweetly. “It’s a nursing home called Bloomfield living care. Does that ring a bell? It’s a great place with lovely residents.

“You might know one. Her name was Rosie and I got to take care of her for over a year before she passed. But you wouldn’t know that. No, you never bothered to visit her, no matter how often she asked about you.” My throat tightens at the mention of my old friend, but I buzz on.

“Don’t worry, she didn’t die knowing what an unlikeable, ungrateful disappointment her son turned out to be since I brought her flowers every month, pretending they were from you. Yeah, you’re welcome.” I take a deep breath, nodding to Sebastian before getting to my feet.

I turn to Sofia, who’s gaping at me. “Sofia, thank you so much for the invitation. The food was fantastic. The company too, for the most part, but I think all in all, this was a successful dinner. I hope to see you around the house soon.” Letting my smile drop, I turn back to William, nodding cockily.

“It’s been a pleasure, old man. I can only hope you take what I told you to heart and stop being such an overgrown bully to the people you’re supposed to care about. It’s pathetic.”

With that, I turn on my heels, trusting that Sebastian is right behind me as I exit the mansion. Outside, I let out a startled laugh, feeling the adrenaline cursing through me. Holy shit, I can’t believe I said all that.

I’ve never been a wallflower, sure, but talking like that to the father of my boyfriend? I can only hope Seb isn’t too mad at me.

Speaking of the devil, two strong arms come around me from behind and a face nuzzles into my shoulder. “I don’t deserve you,” he mumbles against my skin. I turn in his arms, still feeling triumphant as I kiss his soft, inviting lips.

“Maybe, yeah. But at least now I know firsthand where you got some of your most questionable traits from.” I peck his lips again, taking a deep breath as I cup his cheek, so I have his full attention. “You’re not your dad, though. And it’s a good thing too because if you ever tried undermining me like that, in front of others no less, I wouldn’t stick around long enough for you to regret it.”

He chuckles, tightening his hold on me. “Trust me, I know that. I wouldn’t dare test you like that. Especially not after the show you just put on. Honestly, I don’t think mydad will ever recover. Sweetheart, I don’t think I’ve ever been this attracted to you.”

“Really? Me yelling at your dad turns you on but when I call you grandpa, it turns you off faster than a cold shower?” I tease him.

He kisses me deeply, rather than replying. Then, resting his forehead against mine, he swallows thickly, as if bracing himself for something. “Aly?”

“Yes?” I reply, my voice lowering to match his as I keep my eyes shut.

“I love you,” he whispers hoarsely.

I smile against his lips, pecking them. “This is the part where you say it back, Sweetheart,” he tells me playfully. I huff and shove him away.

“You’re such an idiot. I was just about to do that, but you know how I feel about getting told what to do.”

“Yes, I know, I know. You only like it in the bedroom,” he announces loudly. I gasp, looking over my shoulder to make sure neither of his parents is there to hear that.

“Shut up before I refuse to let anything happen in the bedroom until you forget what my preferences were in the first place,” I threaten him playfully.

He raises his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” I’m granted another kiss. “Oh, and by the way, that’s another one of my firsts you snatched since you like them so much. You’re the only girl I’ve ever loved.”

My heart flutters happily. I hum against his lips. “I love that,” I tell him. Then, lowering my voice, I add, “And I love you.”

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