Page 81 of Owen

The car keys jingle in Jade’s hand as she grabs the handles of Poppy’s stroller. My eyes stay fixed on two of the most incredible people in my life as I watch Jade stride confidently down the cobbled alleyway and round the corner of the castle with an oblivious Poppy.

Pushing down my anger, I stride toward the two people I would be happy never seeing again.

“Did you think she’d take the money?” I stare them both down. “Whatever you found out about her, you clearly didn’t dig deep enough to find out what type of person Jade is. In case you’re interested, she’s loyal, faithful, and a woman of honor. Some people you can’t buy off.” My voice is firm and strong.

My father pushes his hands into his black dress trousers. Closing the space between us, he meets me halfway with his glacial blank stare fixed on his face and sighs. “Everyone has a price.”

I laugh at his audacity. “You don’t know her like I do.”

My mother appears next to him. “We know she’s a single mom who could easily fund her daughter’s education and set them both up for life with that money.”

“I’m surprised you’re here. Did you have to ask permission to come?” I pop a brow. “Did you two talk to each other on the way here? Or did you travel separately? When exactly was the last time you spent any time together? Have you ever been on vacation with one another before? Or is this a first?” It feels liberating to finally speak my mind because I don’t care how they will react anymore.

“Son, may I remind you who you are talking to? That’s your mother and you will treat her with respect.”

I flinch, snapping my head back. “Son?” Itskthen shake it in disapproval. “Don’t call me son. Not once have you ever treated me like anything more than a disposable item that you can manipulate for your own gain. And I know exactly who I am talking to.” My nostrils flare in disgust. “I’m talking to the woman who has name-called and gaslit me since the day I was born. According to her, I am worthless, ugly, and a good-for-nothing lowlife.”

I wait to see her reaction, but her face doesn’t move, probably because of the amount of Botox and filler her skin is stuffed with. “Isn’t that what you said?” Her jaw tightens as she pretends to push an invisible blonde hair off her forehead. “Just like I thought,” I say, stating the obvious. “When Father is around, you barely say two words. Although, you always had plenty to say when he wasn’t, telling me at five years old that I was unlovable. It’s one of the highest forms of child abuse, you know? Although you would know all about that,Dad.” I look back at him. “You are the master in the art of manipulation in order to get what you want.”

As I step back, a cynical laugh leaves my throat. “You two deserve one another. You turned a blind eye”—I point at my father—“to her daily name-calling and hurtful belittling.” My angry eyes burn into his. “And you have done everything to control my education, my life, and my career. I had no one to turn to or ask for help when I was growing up. Not once did you ever tell me you loved me or ask how I was. Do you remember when I caught chicken pox? You refused to come near me for weeks, just in case you contracted shingles.” My rage flies out of my mouth. “And that sorry excuse for a mother blamed me and Camilla for you not loving her. And on the odd occasions you did ever speak to us, she would get jealous, claiming that we were plotting against her or some stupid shit. We werechildren.” My voice rises into a yell, bouncing off the yellow sandstone walls of the ruined castle, and I spot a few onlookers recording our encounter on their phones.

My parents will hate that we’ve drawn a crowd.

I wipe my brow that’s now covered in perspiration. “You should be ashamed of yourselves because you are fucking terrible parents.”

“Stop,” my father bellows, his face reddening against his white shirt.

I push my hands through my hair, annoyed at myself for letting them see how angry I am. I’ve said what needed to be said a long time ago. I’m done. “I won’t come back and I never want to see you again. Either of you.”

I finish with, “You two are miserable and proof that money can’t buy you happiness because it comes from here.” I point at my heart. “And I feel sorry for you that you will never get to experience the love and joy I have felt since meeting Jade. She’s not a possession to be bought.” I snort at my father’s lame attempt to buy her out of my life. “She’s a powerful, talented, driven woman who loves me even though I have no home, money or car to offer her.” My arms open wide into the air. “She likes me just as I am.” It fucking wrecks me inside to think these two people whose blood I share liked nothing about me, or that I was only ever an item in their lives waiting to be pawned.

I push my shoulders back, my body becoming taut with confidence as I turn to walk away. I only get five steps away when I hear, “We’re broke, Owen.” Stopping me in my tracks, my father’s voice calls after me.

I curse under my breath and turn back around. “Explain.”

He looks livid when he replies, “I made some poor investments.”

“How?”

“Gideon and Richard, they…” He stops himself. “Over a year ago, they advised me to invest in a hedge fund and it went wrong. They invested too.” Clenching his jaw together as if mad at himself, he keeps his voice low.

That would explain the money transferred into the business from Sanderson Shipping that my father told me to ignore.

Around twelve months ago, a massive amount of money appeared in the business account from Sanderson Shipping, a company owned by my sister’s father-in-law and her husband, and I’m not just talking hundreds or even thousands. I’m talking hundreds of millions.

My father assured me it was all kosher, but a niggle in my gut told me otherwise and he shut me down every time I mentioned it.

“Gideon? And Richard?” My sister’s husband and her father-in-law are Lucifer in the flesh. “How could you have trusted them?” I don’t understand. “I told you how risky hedge funds were. I told you not to invest.” I add, “Our printing business was fluid. My numbers were perfect. Our tax returns, everything, it was all legit and above board. And my books are never a penny out.” I always triple-check the ledgers. “Is that why you withdrew my access to the business savings? To hide all of this from me?”What the hell has he gotten himself into?

My father stays quiet and refuses to answer, but I keep shooting questions at him. “And what about your other investments?”

My father looks uneasy when he grabs the back of his neck, cringing. “I traded billions on the crypto exchange and the stock market, trying to save us. I sort of got carried away.”

“Did you lose it all?” I ask, not really wanting to hear his reply.

His silence speaks louder than his admission would.

“Oh, my fucking God. You stupid, stupid man,” I spit, outraged at his insanity.

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