Page 37 of Owen

I shiver at the very thought of her cold hands touching my body. “Fuck no. She was too young for me, and it was all fake andwrong.” So fucking wrong. “We weren’t even friends.”

“Well, that’s a damn shame. She was hot.”

“And as deceiving as a starfish; pretty on the outside, but a cold, heartless bitch on the inside.” I shudder again. That girl gives me the heebie-jeebies.

“Your parents seem to think she was right for you.” Gregor smirks, knowing that’s the furthest thing from the truth.

“That girl has the emotional capacity to love as much as a serial killer does while stalking his next victim. I’m certain they picked her out of a line of suspects at an identity parade,” I say, making Gregor laugh.

Downhearted, I prepare myself to spill the next news I learned earlier. “While we are discussing Evangeline and matters back home, I got a text from Jacob earlier telling me that my dad sold my car.”

Gregor’s mouth drops open. “Your fucking car?”

Although it hurts, I shrug it off. “He bought it for my twenty-first birthday. He’s angry at me and taking back what ‘rightfully’ belongs to him, I suppose. He had a removal company box up all my stuff from my house too and put into storage.”

“He’s trying to hurt you, Owen. Don’t let him. It’s just stuff. Stuff that is easily replaced.”

I nod in agreement and plonk my ass back down on the sofa.

Knowing me well, he asks, “I can tell there’s more. What else did Jacob say in that text?”

“That I have forty-eight hours to get my ass back to Castleview Cove or he’s cutting me from my inheritance.”

“No,” he exclaims. “He can’t do that.”

With nothing more to lose and my loyalty to the family dissolving, I spill the tea. “I couldn’t give a shit about my inheritance. I’ve decided I’m not going back.”

“You’re not?”

“I need to do something for myself, Gregor. You have this incredible career. One you wanted. I’ve never had to think for myself before. I need to discover what I want to do with my life, not what my father wants for me.”

Hoping he understands, I glance at him and wait for his response.

Eventually he does. “Do whatever you need to in order to be happy.” Pausing for a beat, he then finishes with, “Fuck them. Prove them wrong.” He then changes direction. “Do you still have your trust fund grandfather left you?”

“Yeah. Still there. I checked this afternoon.”

He exhales loudly. “Thank God for that. That’s rightfully yours. That money was left in trust for you and you alone. What about your sister? Does she still have hers? I’m assuming she does?”

Ashamed of myself for not taking more interest in my sister’s life, I answer truthfully, “I have no idea.”

If I reach out and check how she’s doing… offer her an olive branch, it could be the beginning of making amends. We could maybe patch the little tatters that are left of our relationship back together. However, perhaps now is not the time.

Gregor runs his hand back and forth across his blond buzz cut, determination written all over his face. “Do whatever makes you happy, Owen. That money will help to set you up for life.”

“It will.” Mari’s words from earlier race through my mind.Don’t play the game. Change it.

From this point going forward, I am determined to make my own choices. My strength at work is finance. I’ll invest it wisely.

He stares at the wall as if considering what his life would be like if he were in my position. “You did the right thing leaving, Owen. I’m proud of you, man.”

Embarrassment floods my cheeks, because no one has ever been proud of me. My parents didn’t even show up on the day I graduated from university.

Gregor cuts through our silence. “Stay here with me. Sort your head out.”

“Yeah,” I agree with him. I’m not allowing my parents to bully me anymore. “Then I’ll decide what my next move is.” I point at the spot I’m rooted to on the sofa. “And I don’t want the business anyway, so I don’t care if he cuts me out of it,” I confess.

My sister can have it.

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