Page 73 of The Heiress
Yes, my heart had throbbed with remorse each and every beat since that fateful day, an act with dire consequences. Heck, every second person in their car was on their phone, talking, texting, you saw it everywhere. But it didn’t make it right, and all it had taken was a moment of inattention,a second!A lapse in concentration, an inability to multi-task. I lost control, the car veered, and my son bore the brunt of the collision.
He didn’t remember it...I did.
The memory embedded in my brain, the ache burning in my heart—constant reminders that I deserved the pain. Because, of course, our relationship had fractured, much like his pelvis. And who could blame him for his disdain, his distance, his abhorrence of me?
Each and every day was a battle with myself to find the courage to be the strong mother my son needed me to be, to work hard for his forgiveness. Day by day was all I could do.
“I can’t accept it,” I said, as if uttering the words out loud gave them more credence. Elisha had already left a beautiful bouquet of flowers on her departure, they’d been impressive enough. This was outright ridiculous.
I picked up the card and envelope again, but there was no address or phone number. I replaced the lid on the box, resisting the urge to touch the soft calfskin bag again, in case I got too attached. Such a shame, but I didn’t deserve it, not in the slightest. Heck, I’d provided a bed and a few meals for a couple of nights. It in no way warranted such payment!
Reaching into the pocket of my jacket, I pulled out my phone. Curiosity was brewing and I typed in the name Stephan Millar. The beat of my heart accelerated as a list of companies popped up onscreen. Bromill Properties, Bromill Construction, Olive-O, Sakkin Industries, Wholeness One. Oh, the Penningtons and Whittakers and Holbruns were the wealthy families in our town. But Stephan Millar was another league, he ruled supreme, a multi-billionaire who ran a global empire.
I sat down on the stool, taking a moment to gather my thoughts at this startling revelation. A shiver ran down my spine at the memory of guiding Elisha to the bargain rack in Daisy Chain, my insistence that she find a deal, negotiate a better price. She must have thought I was out of my mind!
I closed my eyes in embarrassment.
Elisha may have enjoyed her time here—and yes, she was a sweetheart, not the snob nor loner Phoenix had originally painted her to be. “She’s called the ice queen, Mom, because she doesn’t mix with anyone, she has no friends, no one likes her.” Those were the words he’d said to me, yet the girl who slept in our spare bedroom had been courteous, polite and genuine, and over the days they’d definitely bonded.
And yes, a confession—I did see Phoenix and Elisha in the plunge pool, sitting very close to one another, talking in hushed tones. It had taken all of my willpower not to reveal myself at the time, or to mention it to either of them later, but the hope of Phoenix meeting a nice girl and dating was as thrilling to me as him playing college tennis someday. But a billionaire’s daughter? An heiress to an empire?
“Hey Mom?” The sound of Phoenix’s voice jolted me from my reverie, my eyes popping open to see Phoenix and Elisha standing side by side, his hand clasped in hers, two gorgeous young kids who looked like they were on the verge of falling in love.
“Hi Laura,” Elisha said, smile wide.
“Is it okay if Elisha stays for dinner?” Phoenix asked, the spark in his eyes bright, almost blinding, his confidence back, his passion for life resurrected. My dearest wish.
“Oh, of...of course,” I stuttered, though I hadn’t given a single thought to the evening meal. “Elisha, it’s good to see you again,” I said, regaining some composure and stepping forward to hug her. “Actually, I think there’s something we need to talk about.”
Phoenix’s brow furrowed heavily as Elisha squeezed me back.
And at the same time that Phoenix asked, “Talk about what?” Elisha lifted her head and said, “Oh—you got it.”
Chapter 22
Phoenix
