Page 4 of Tainted Love
“Welcome home, Bea. Darren has told me so many wonderful things about you.”
That’s nice,I think wryly.As he hasn’t told me a single thing about you.
“Nice to meet you,” I say politely, shaking her proffered hand. I look up at Dad for clarification. Who is this woman, and why did they look so cosy on the day bed just now?
Dad grins down at me. “Bea, honey. While you were away, I’m afraid I might have done something a little reckless.” Elena lets out a breathy laugh, and I clench my teeth at the grating sound. When I don’t say anything, Dad steps away and wraps his arm around the intruder’s shoulders. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, and I’m sorry we didn’t wait until you got home. But honey, Elena and I got married.”
The floor tilts beneath me, and I stare at him as if he has two heads. “I’m sorry, you what?” I somehow manage to choke out.
He lets out a chuckle. “I know, I know. I’m still getting used to it myself.” His gaze drops to the woman wrapped around him like a freaking octopus, and he smiles. “But when you know, you know.”
Elena’s left hand shifts to her neck to play with the row of pearls hanging there, and I spot the massive three carat emerald cut diamond sitting on her finger.Holy shit.
“Bea?” Dad prompts.
I blink up at him. “Uh, wow. I don’t know what to say. What a surprise.” I swallow down the bitter resentment rising in my throat and force a smile. “Congratulations, I guess.”
Dad beams, and I can’t believe he cannot see straight through me. I guess he’s blinded by his feelings for his newwife. I step forward and envelop Elena in a brief hug. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thanks, Bea. My family and I are really excited about creating a new life with you and your dad.”
I bet you are.
Wait. Hang on a second. What did she just say? “Family?”
She smiles and nods. “My twins, Elias and Olivia, and my younger daughter, Athena.”
My smile tightens. Great. So now, not only do I have to share my dad with this other woman, but I also have to share him with her three bratty kids as well? I feel like I’ve just entered the twilight zone.
“Awesome,” I say with fake enthusiasm. “Can’t wait.” I glance up at Dad, but he’s still grinning down at Elena, seemingly oblivious to the fact I’m standing here at all. “Well, I guess I should go unpack.”
He finally manages to tear his eyes away from her and remembers I’m still here. “Of course, honey. I’ll help you with your bags.” He leans down and kisses Elena on the mouth—gag—in an inappropriate display of PDA in front of your daughter. He then murmurs, “I’ll be right back, baby,”— double gag—before following me to the entrance hall where the driver left my suitcases.
Unfortunately, that’s not the end of my surprises for the day, it seems, because Hunter is hovering there too.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, pressing my palm to my forehead.
Dad presses his lips to the top of my head, and I want to murder him when he grabs two of my bags and says, “I’ll leave you two to catch up.”
Hunter steps forward and pulls me into his arms. “Hey, baby. I’ve missed you.”
My stomach lurches at hearing him say the same cutesy nickname my dad just used, and I seriously worry aboutupchucking on Hunter’s designer shoes. I push away from him with a sigh and ask again. “What are you doing here, Hunter? I told you before I left, we’re over.”
He reaches up to tuck my hair behind my ear, and I flinch. “Beatrice, I?—”
Whatever he was about to say is interrupted by the front door swinging open, and the sound of a young girl chirping, “See, Eli? I told you this place is like a freaking mansion. I can’t wait to show you my room. It has a view of the ocean!”
My mouth turns dry as I stare into the most soulful, piercing steel eyes I’ve ever seen. Then my jaw drops as I realise who they belong to.
None other than Forever Summer’s front man, Elias Vasilios.
What the actual fuck?
Chapter 3
Elias
I WAS PISSED to get home from eight hours in the van with Asher, Kill, and Wyatt, to find our apartment empty; except for my little sister. Apparently, Mum couldn’t wait for me to get home to move us to the other side of Melbourne.
