Page 103 of Living on the Edge

“The answer is no, Alex.”

“You know it’s not just up to you, right?”

“If you ruin my marriage?—”

“What?” he asks. “What’s the worst thing that will happen? You don’t love the man, you have your own money, and your prenuptial clearly states that after twenty years of marriage, you’re entitled to half of everything outside of the business, regardless of blame.”

“I like being a Hollingsworth and the status it affords me. I’m not giving up my place as the matriarch of this family. Don’t force my hand, Alex.”

“Fuck you, Vi.”

I hear a set of footsteps and then the click of Violetta’s heels.

Then blissful silence.

Holy fucking shit.

What did I just hear?

I have to tell Angus before this blows up in his face.

And then I have to rewrite my article.

My way.

Whether Rich likes it or not.

Chapter31

Angus

My grandfather’sfuneral is harder than I thought it would be.

We were close when I was growing up, then we grew apart in my teenage years but found our way back to each other when I got to college. Our last conversation weighs heavily on me and I’m so disappointed that I never called him back. Never had a chance to talk to him one last time.

Now he’s gone.

And I’m never getting a chance to right any of the wrongs.

The worst part is that my father tried to use his father’s death as a way of dragging me into the fold, with guilt and other manipulative tactics, but it wound up having the opposite effect on me.

I have dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins who showed up, but I haven’t had relationships with them since I was a kid. And now that my grandfather is gone, I want to be around my family even less. Abe is okay, and I’d like to foster the relationship with Alden, but my sister is turning into my mother, and my mother… well, she’s always been problematic. Frankly, other than Alden, the only one I really care about is Uncle Alex.

He’s the one person who seemed genuinely happy to see me this morning. I’ve always enjoyed my quirky uncle’s company. He’s the opposite of my father, laid-back and easy-going. He has a meaningless job on the board of directors for Holland-Burke, basically getting a paycheck to show up at bi-annual meetings. He’s a consummate bachelor, but always has girlfriends, and never had any kids.

I’ve always wanted to ask him why, but those aren’t the kinds of things we talk about in my family.

Maybe it’s time to change that.

My grandfather’s death has reminded me how short life is, but it’s also made it clear that there are truly only a limited number of people I want to surround myself with. My parents aren’t part of that number.

Meeting with my dad yesterday just solidified the fact that I need and want to distance myself. My mother has been extraordinarily rude to Ryleigh, which pisses me off, and I can’t wait to finish lunch and get on the plane to meet up with the band.

“You all right?” Ryleigh asks quietly, sliding her hand into mine.

“Just sad. And a lot more self-aware right now.”

She cocks her head. “Self-aware?”

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