Page 50 of Claiming His Wife
“Do you seriously think I would be okay with you having me followed? What’s worse is that the person you paid to follow me around got personal… Too personal!”
“I want the best for my children. Have you any idea how easily you people of this new generation toss away real opportunities for fickle dreams that will never amount to anything?”
The words inflamed her because it was offensive to all her hard work.
“You did this for yourself, and your insane need to control everything. First you threatened me when I told you that I didn’t want to marry Finn, and practically forced me to the altar. Adding Jonathan to the mix was a nice touch. Paying him to watch me? Whose idea was it for him to seduce me?”
“What? What are you talking about? How did he threaten you?” Finn asked.
Kalilah took on the task of explaining to Finn everything that happened that afternoon five years ago when her father had threatened to disown her if she didn’t go through with the wedding.
She could see his face hardening at everything she was saying.
“You never told me any of this, Kalilah,” Finn swore. “Richard what have you done? You blackmailed her into marrying me?!” His disgust colored the already tense atmosphere.
Her father bristled.
“Hold your tongue, girl; that business has been the Anderson family business and I will not stand to see the good family name go to ruin because I have the misfortune of birthing rebellious children.”
“I’m rebellious because I refuse to let you control the direction of my life!” Her voice was pitched at a conversational level, but the words were iron, and directed at the man who had given her life.
A sneer blossomed on his face as he gave her his full attention.
“I’m sure it’s been a real hardship having access to all the Anderson family funds,” he replied sarcastically.
“It has been actually, living up to your expectations, but no more. I am done.”
“Was I supposed to let you roam free and allow a slick-talker get his claws into our money?”
Richard admitted easily.
“You don’t need to worry about gold-digging men, Father; you are the biggest one of them all,” she replied.
“Mind your tongue before I take care of it, and you, permanently,” he returned hotly.
“You won’t lay a finger on her,” Finn said calmly.
Richard continued imperiously.
“Everyone falls in line Kalilah, even you. You know what happens when you don’t.”
“You’ll take away my credit cards? You can keep them!” Years of pain, disgust, and fears colored her words pitch black. “It all boils down to power, and you no longer have power over me. You can keep your money!”
“Walk out of here and you’ll never see a single penny of mine again. What is he going to feed you on then? The salary he makes as a private dick chasing people for pennies?”
“I’m washing my hands of the lot of you.” She was so tired now, and she couldn’t care less about his opinions.
“You don’t know what you are saying.”
“Oh, yes I do, Father. I’ve never seen more clearly in my life. Threats will not hold me to this family any longer. I’m no longer that girl who would easily cower at bullies.” The words came softly as she looked at her father losing his calm while she regained hers.
“Get out!”
“Richard, how can you do that to your own daughter?” Finn interrupted.
Kalilah looked at him.Who was this blonde, blue-eyed man, standing up to her father for her?
No one had ever tried to face Richard Anderson for her sake, not even her mother.
