Page 253 of Swallow Your Sorries

“I’m afraid I’ve broken him.”

“Elle can’t put him back together.”

“She can put him back in a familiar environment with a familiar face. Maybe it’ll trigger just enough to give us the answers we need.”

Back in a house with Jarett? With Jaime?

Never.

“Why? Why does it matter Mum’s reasoning? Why does it even matter why she chose Jarett anymore?” I ask, knowing damn well the question’s been plaguing me this entire time. “She’s dead.”

“But she’s still hiding something that could affect our company and your inheritance.”

My spine grows stiff, my blood coming to a standstill. Who could have a say on my inheritance? I’m an only…

“You mean?”

“There’s another player. Approximately one year older than you.”

I shake my head slowly. “It can’t be Elle. She’s younger than me.”

“Relax, you aren’t fucking your sister. Not like that degenerate you insist on hanging out with.”

I ignore him. I don’t give a fuck what he thinks about my friends. He has none.

“How do you know Mother had another kid?”

“Sealed documents from her vault.”

“You mean my vault,” I hiss, unable to keep the venom from my tone. “You opened it?”

“Before she was cold,” he says matter-of-factly. “You want to help find this bastard? Then get the girl back on your side.”

My eyes flash to the car park. The ambulance is gone, but the flashing red and blue lights still dance in front of my vision like little orbs. “Elle will never forgive me.”

He shrugs. “That’s nothing. I’ve done far worse.”

“And you’re alone.”

“By choice. As for the girl, don’t give her one. She’s yours, isn’t she? Make her come home. Bring her to the penthouse just like I know you planned. Baby her to death. Let her think she’ll have a happily ever after.”

I intend to give her a real one.

“I’ll play nice and allow it for now. Get what we need and then dismiss her to some rinky dink college in the fall. She’s temporary, Gant. Keep her on the side if you want, but girls like Stassi Beaumont, you’ll keep. She’s finally getting thin enough to become a consideration.”

I clench my jaw as he turns on his heel, ready to disappear for another few months.

“When we find this heir, what are we going to do?”

He turns to me, a smile stretching his lips at the ‘we’. “Have a tea party. I’ll even let you wear my hat.”

Ten over six.

Beaussip

It looks like L has fallen from one fairy tale into another, shapeshifting from Cinderella into Karen. Not the kind of Karen most of your mothers are, but the kind that wears red shoes. The Red Shoes.

People assume that fairytales must have happy endings, but that’s a newer standard. The originals were bloody, tragic and grim.

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