Page 178 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
I’d always liked the smell. But never the taste. “No, thanks,” I said.
She hurried off as quickly as she’d come.
My dad wrapped his hand around his mug. “Your mom never liked coffee either. Just the smell of it.” He smiled at me.
I didn’t know if he knew how hard these conversations were for me. The things I knew about my mom mixed with his memories. I wanted to hear everything but at the same time none of it because it made me miss her so much that it hurt.
“You look so much like her,” he said.
I looked down at the table. I didn’t want to cry anymore today.
“Brooklyn, I know I let your mom down. I’ve spent half my life missing her. I’ve been given a second chance to do this right. And I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”
When I’d first met him, I thought he hated me. But now I was pretty sure I was his only family member he even got along with. He loved my mom. And he loved me too.
I knew I didn’t know him that well. But I did know that I needed him. Who else would keep me safe from Isabella?
Betrayal - Chapter 18
Tuesday
I bit the inside of my lips until the tears that were threatening to spill went away. “You mentioned that the new security system is in place?”
“I was hoping to give you the good news that you could come home,” said my dad. “But with Isabella…I don’t…I’m not sure it’s for the best.”
“You mean you’re scared she’ll hurt me if I come back?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
I swallowed hard. He was always so certain. How was he not confident in his ability to control Isabella?
“And then there’s the issue of your health. If Isabella really is setting off your panic attacks…it would be best to eliminate her from your life as much as possible. She’ll be going off to college next fall. Then you’ll be perfectly happy and healthy coming back home. But until then, we need to discuss some more suitable alternatives. My second apartment…”
“Can’t I stay with Matt?”
“I’m not on the best terms with Matthew’s father. I’m not sure if they’d be open to that arrangement. Plus the apartment has all the highest security…”
“I don’t want to be there all alone.”
“Of course not. I’d never let you be alone. Miller and Donnelley will always be with you.”
I couldn’t even imagine what Matt would do if he found out I was supposed to basically be living with two other guys. Especially if he knew that I’d been involved with one of them. “Please, Dad. If I can’t live with you until next fall, please let me stay at the Caldwells’ until then. I don’t think they mind me being there. I could get a job to help pay for food and…”
“It’s not about the money. I agreed for you to go there on a temporary basis. Not for a whole year.”
“But…”
“And then there’s the issue of school itself. Until Isabella graduates, I think maybe homeschooling would be best. I’ve been researching a few of the best online options and of course we could have private tutors. Then you won’t have to see Isabella at all.”
“What? No.”
“It’s the safest option.”
“But I don’t want to be in that apartment all day and all night. That’s not a solution. That’s…that’s locking me away.” This conversation was reminding me of the way he’d first treated me. Like I didn’t belong in his world. But screw that. I belonged just as much as Isabella. I was his blood too. He was acting like he wanted to hide me from the world. Like he was embarrassed of me. And I was sick and tired of everyone making me feel like Iwas trash. “Is that the deal you offered my mom if she stayed? That she could be in that apartment as long as she never left?”
“I didn’t bargain with your mother. I bought her that apartment because I loved her. I never asked her not to leave. Because she was never mine. You are. I’m trying to protect you.”
“That’s not the way to protect me. You can’t just keep me separated from the rest of the world. That’s not a solution.”
