Page 52 of Reflections of Peonies
“I—” I began, studying the empty placemat. “I’ll be fine, though; I have money.”
“Do you?” Bryce asked, lowering the delicate coffee cup from his lips. “Since when?”
I turned my head and glared at him.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Bryce replied, raising his eyebrow. He did not seem to fear me. “You’re the one who said you werepoor.”
I pursed my lips. Did I? I didn’t recall this conversation. But no matter.
“I’ll be okay,” I assured them as Miles, who’d wandered off when we entered the room, returned and placed a coffee before me. He ruffled my hair before turning back to the stove. I wasn’t sure what he was making, but it smelled like bacon was involved. As Brayden glanced after him, I added, “Bryce will give me my money.”
Bryce, who’d begun sipping his coffee, choked and began to cough. It took a moment for him to compose himself, but when he did, he shot me an alarmed look. “What?”
Playing stupid, was he? I wouldn’t be fooled. “Damen told methat since you’re my Er Bashou, you’ve been in charge of my funds. I want that money.”
“Oh,” he said, pushing his coffee away. “You can’t have it.”
“Why not?” Did he spend it on something stupid? Titus said he had enemies. Perhaps he dabbled in illegal things. That might be why his luck was terrible.
“Because no one can know you’re the Xing,” Miles replied nonchalantly as he continued to cook. “Bryce can’t access those funds without a reason.”
My heart dropped. My plans were ruined. How was I supposed to get clothing and everything now? Without my money, I had nothing.
Miles was studying me. His expression was sympathetic. “You know that I have no problem paying for—”
“No,” I cut him off. This was not a decent long-term plan.
“You know—” Brayden linked his hands under his chin. There was an air of nervous energy surrounding him, and his eyes searched mine. “—our family is—”
“No,” I refused again. My voice came out harsher than intended. “I am not taking money from them.”
Brayden frowned, lowering his hands. “But it’s your money! Our father has always set aside an allowance for three—”
“I don’t want it.” I pushed back my chair and dug my nails into the table. My stomach churned painfully. “I don’t want anything to do with it.”
“But why?” Brayden sounded genuinely distraught, and it made guilt rush through me.
“Isn’t it obvious?” My heart was racing, my earlier fears flooding back into me. The prophecy changed nothing. I used to think knowing why I’d been abandoned would help, but now it was worse. “He gave me away.”
I couldn’t blame Bryce for this. He wasn’t more than ahandful of years older than me. If my parents had wanted to keep me, they would have found a way to make it work.
“Bianca,” Brayden began. “What are you—”
“Don’t make it worse in your imagination than it is. He was a bit distracted when you were born,” Bryce cut in, voice as smooth as ever.
My knuckles were turning white, but Bryce continued before I could speak. “But we are married. Use my account, and we’ll return the funds once you access your savings.”
Bryce still had that refined look to him despite his beaten face. No shame radiated from him, and he returned to sipping his coffee.
“This is still so weird,” Brayden said, laying his head over his arms. The tension fled from his frame, and he latched on to the new topic. “Did Dad say anything about you marrying her?”
Bryce shrugged. “He thinks it’s stupid. But he understands. Though—” He glanced at me. “There’s the matter of your Biology class. I’ve canceled everything for today. This afternoon, I need to go before the administration to pretend to plead with Mr. Abernathy for my job—”
“Hold on.” I held up my hand. “Damen?”
“Dean Abernathy.” Bryce’s brows furrowed. “Finn still hasn’t told you? His father is the top shareholder and superintendent of our college. The Abernathy family owns several educational establishments, including the primary and secondary schools that you attended. Dean knows who you are, of course. Damen told him last week.”
I gaped at Bryce. Finn had never even hinted…
